Mechanical Seal Pumping Blocks for Leakage Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mechanical seals fail to prevent leakage during rotation and start-up, as they lack effective fluid capture and lubrication, leading to friction and airtightness issues.
Innovation Solution
A mechanical seal design featuring sealed-fluid-accommodating blocks with pumping parts that create a pumping action to draw in and discharge fluid, ensuring lubrication and preventing leakage by forming a continuous solid contact state during stationary conditions and maintaining fluid capture during rotation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If grating parts are formed on the sealing face to achieve fluid-lubrication state and reduce friction, then lubricity is improved, but leakage occurs due to positive pressure between sealing faces
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing face is segmented into multiple functional zones: a fluid introduction groove that divides and directs fluid flow, multiple grating parts with specific orientations, and sealed fluid accommodation spaces. This segmentation allows different regions to perform specialized functions - introducing fluid, creating lubrication, and preventing leakage pathways.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the sealing face are given different properties and functions. The fluid introduction groove area provides fluid distribution, the grating parts provide lubrication with specific slope angles, and the accommodation spaces provide fluid reservoirs. Each local region is optimized for its specific function to simultaneously achieve low friction and reliable sealing.
2Loss of energy
If sealed fluid is introduced between sealing faces to create lubrication film, then friction is reduced, but fluid flows out from positive pressure portion causing leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary fluid pathway system consisting of the fluid introduction groove and sealed fluid accommodation spaces. This intermediary structure controls fluid movement, allowing lubrication fluid to reach the sealing interface while preventing uncontrolled leakage by directing excess fluid into accommodation spaces rather than allowing it to escape externally.
3Ease of manufacture
If grating parts are formed flush with sealing face to maintain surface continuity, then manufacturing is simplified, but sealed fluid capture capability is insufficient during start-up
Solution Approach 1:
The sealed fluid accommodation spaces are prepared in advance during manufacturing, creating pre-filled fluid reservoirs before the sealing operation begins. This preliminary action ensures that when the seal starts up, fluid is already available in the accommodation spaces to immediately form lubrication films, eliminating the delay that would occur if fluid capture had to happen during operation.
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 effectively prevents leakage and maintains sealing performance by quickly forming a lubricating fluid film during start-up and operation, reducing friction and ensuring continuous lubrication and airtightness.
Implementation Method 1
pumping parts for creating a pumping action due to the fixed ring and the rotating ring sliding while undergoing relative rotation
Implementation Method 2
Friction can be reduced by achieving a 'fluid-lubrication state,' in which rotation creates dynamic pressure between sealing faces and the faces slide with a liquid film interposed therebetween
Implementation Method 3
rotation creates dynamic pressure between sealing faces
Data Source
AI summary
A mechanical seal has a structure wherein a plurality of sealed-fluid-accommodating blocks separated in the circumferential direction are formed on either the sealing face of a fixed ring or the sealing face of a rotating ring so as to communicate with a sealed fluid accommodation space. Pumping parts for creating a pumping action due to the fixed ring and the rotating ring sliding while undergoing relative rotation are formed on a bottom part of the plurality of sealed-fluid-accommodating blocks. The pumping parts formed on the bottom parts of the plurality of sealed-fluid-accommodating blocks are provided with an intake pumping part which acts in a direction in which the sealed fluid is drawn in and a discharge pumping part which acts in a direction in which the sealed fluid is discharged.