Mechanical Seal Layout With Radial Spring for Shorter Axial Length
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional mechanical seals have increased axial dimensions due to the arrangement of seal rings and springs, making them difficult to apply in applications with strict axial dimension restrictions without compromising sealing performance.
Innovation Solution
A mechanical seal design where the biasing member is arranged radially outside the stationary-side sealing ring, and the engagement means includes inside and outside engagement parts spaced in the radial direction, allowing for reduced axial dimension while maintaining sealing performance through proper force transfer and deflection minimization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the seal ring and spring are arranged in a line in the axial direction, then the sealing function is achieved, but the axial length of the mechanical seal is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from axial arrangement to radial arrangement of the spring relative to the seal ring. The spring is positioned in the radial direction outside the seal ring, changing the spatial dimension from axial (1D linear) to radial (2D planar), thereby reducing axial length while maintaining sealing functionality through radial force application.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring is pre-compressed in the radial direction to store elastic potential energy before operation. This preliminary compression allows the spring to exert continuous axial biasing force on the seal ring through the engagement structure, maintaining sealing pressure without requiring axial space for the spring to extend.
2Reliability
If a rubber bellows is used to increase flexibility and sealing property, then the stationary sealing ring can follow the movement of the rotating sealing ring, but the axial length of the bellows is long and increases the axial dimension
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the rubber bellows component from the mechanical seal structure. Instead of using a flexible bellows to accommodate movement, the design employs a rigid engagement structure with radial spring positioning that achieves flexibility through the spring's radial compression capability, thereby removing the source of excessive axial length.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters from axial compression (bellows) to radial compression (spring). By altering the direction of elastic deformation from axial to radial, the system maintains the ability to accommodate sealing surface movements while dramatically reducing the axial dimension occupied by the biasing mechanism.
3Length of moving object
If the biasing member is arranged radially outside the stationary-side sealing ring, then the axial dimension is reduced, but the arrangement complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the biasing member (spring) with the engagement structure by integrating the radial spring positioning function into the existing engagement ring or holder. The spring is housed within or attached to the engagement structure, combining two functions (engagement and biasing) into a single integrated component, thereby reducing overall structural complexity despite the radial arrangement.
Solution Approach 2:
The engagement structure serves multiple functions: it provides rotational engagement, axial positioning, and radial spring housing. By making the engagement structure multi-functional, the patent avoids adding separate components for each function, thereby managing complexity while achieving the radial spring arrangement that reduces axial dimension.
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 reduces the axial dimension of the mechanical seal while ensuring secure sealing by utilizing radial space and optimizing the arrangement of the biasing member and engagement means, enhancing the degree of freedom in arrangement and reducing deflection.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing member for biasing the stationary-side sealing ring to the rotating-side sealing ring
Implementation Method 2
an engagement means for restricting the rotational relative movement between the case and the stationary-side sealing ring
Implementation Method 3
a stationary-side sealing ring provided within a case and sliding on the rotating-side sealing ring
Data Source
AI summary
The purpose of the present invention is to provide a mechanical seal whose axial dimension can be reduced without impairing sealing performance. In a mechanical seal including a rotating-side sealing ring 11; a stationary-side sealing ring 21 provided within a case 22 and sliding on the rotating-side sealing ring 11; a biasing member 24 for biasing the stationary-side sealing ring 21 to the rotating-side sealing ring 11; and an engagement means 25 for restricting the rotational relative movement between the case 22 and the stationary-side sealing ring 21, the biasing member 24 is arranged radially outside the stationary-side sealing ring 21.