Compact Mechanical Seal Drive Ring Design
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drive ring designs for mechanical seals face challenges in minimizing size while maintaining a fluid-tight seal and preventing detachment during installation, as they either require large diameter differences or additional sections that increase the seal's size, restricting their application.
Innovation Solution
A mechanical seal design featuring a drive ring with a varying outer diameter and T-profile sections that allow for axial movement and positive location, using male and female protruding portions to ensure contact with an elastomeric member and maintain rotational drive, while minimizing cross-sectional space and preventing detachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a drive ring uses set screws to provide rotational drive, then reliable drive transmission is achieved, but the minimum drive ring thickness increases requiring larger installation space
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the set screws from the drive ring design, extracting the problematic feature that required minimum thickness. Instead, the drive ring uses its outer circumference to engage with the shaft through compression of the elastomeric member, eliminating the need for set screws and reducing the required drive ring thickness to just 1-3mm.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using set screws protruding from the drive ring to engage the shaft, the invention inverts the approach by having the drive ring's outer circumference engage the shaft through the elastomeric member. The drive is transmitted through compression rather than through protruding fasteners, fundamentally changing the engagement mechanism.
2Volume of moving object
If a drive ring uses compression of elastomeric component to provide drive, then reduced size envelope is achieved, but the drive ring may become detached from the correct location during installation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces asymmetric T-profile sections with male and female portions that are not uniformly distributed around the drive ring. These asymmetric features create a keyed engagement that prevents rotational detachment while maintaining the compact elastomeric compression design. The T-profiles engage with corresponding features on the elastomeric member to provide positive location.
Solution Approach 2:
The T-profile sections are pre-formed as integral features of the drive ring and elastomeric member before assembly. During installation, the male T-profile sections automatically engage with the female portions, preliminarily establishing the correct rotational position and preventing detachment before the seal is fully compressed and operational.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a drive ring uses T-Profile sections to maintain axial restriction, then axial location is secured, but open portions require additional sections increasing seal size
Solution Approach 1:
The T-profile sections serve multiple functions simultaneously: they provide axial restriction through their protruding geometry, maintain rotational position through the male-female engagement, and eliminate the need for additional secondary sections. The same T-profile features that locate the drive ring axially also prevent rotational detachment, consolidating multiple functions into a single feature set.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the axial location function and rotational positioning function into a single integrated T-profile section design. Rather than using separate features for axial restriction and rotational positioning, the T-profiles combine both functions, eliminating the need for additional secondary sections and reducing the overall seal cross-sectional size.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design achieves a compact size envelope with secure axial and rotational engagement, preventing detachment and ensuring a fluid-tight seal, thereby expanding the application scope of mechanical seals.
Implementation Method 1
a spring biasing means, the longitudinally floating first member, a longitudinally non-floating second member, a longitudinally floating third member and a longitudinally floating seal face; the elastomeric member being in sealing engagement with the seal face and the first and second members, and the spring biasing means being longitudinally positioned between the seal face and the third member
Implementation Method 2
The drive is passed from the drive ring to the other rotary components such as the seal faces through drive pins and sleeve components whilst the compression of o rings ensure that a fluid tight seal is maintained between the various components
Implementation Method 3
the first and second members being longitudinally restrained and rotationally coupled by at least one substantially male longitudinally protruding portion in one of the said first and second members positively engaging with at least one female portion in the other of said members
Data Source
AI summary
A mechanical seal includes an elastomeric member, a spring biasing member, a longitudinally floating first member, a longitudinally non-floating second member, a longitudinally floating third member and a longitudinally floating seal face. The elastomeric member is in sealing engagement with the seal face and the first and second members and the spring biasing member is longitudinally pointed between the seal face and the third member. The first and second members are longitudinally restrained and rotationally coupled by male longitudinally protruding portions engaging with female portions.