Motorized Wheel Seal Assembly With Speed-Responsive Sealing Lips
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing seal assemblies for in-wheel electric motors in vehicles are ineffective in preventing external contaminants like water and dust from entering the motor compartment and do not ensure a long service life without causing excessive friction and power dissipation.
Innovation Solution
A seal assembly comprising a first and second radially positioned support ring with an elastically deformable gasket and annular sealing lips that provide a static seal at low speeds and detach at higher speeds due to centrifugal effect, optimizing protection and energy efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a seal assembly maintains constant contact with rotating parts to prevent contaminant entry, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but friction and power dissipation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The seal assembly transitions from a static constant-contact design to a dynamic system where sealing lips can detach from rotating support rings at high speeds. The lips are preloaded to contact the rings at low speeds for effective sealing, but centrifugal force causes detachment at high speeds, reducing friction and power dissipation while maintaining protection through centrifugal barrier effect.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a seal assembly provides strong sealing force to prevent contaminant entry, then protection against external contaminants is improved, but friction increases causing excessive power dissipation
Solution Approach 1:
The seal assembly uses speed-dependent dynamic behavior where sealing lips are preloaded to maintain contact and provide strong sealing force at low speeds, preventing contaminant entry. At high speeds, centrifugal force causes the lips to detach from the rotating support rings, significantly reducing friction and power dissipation while the rotating rings themselves create a centrifugal barrier against contaminants.
3Strength
If a seal assembly uses rigid support rings for structural stability, then mechanical strength is improved, but adaptability to speed variations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The seal assembly combines rigid support rings for structural stability with elastic sealing lips that provide adaptability. The rigid rings maintain structural integrity and rotational stability, while the elastic lips can dynamically adjust their contact pressure and detach at high speeds, enabling the system to adapt to varying speed conditions while maintaining structural strength.
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 seal assembly effectively prevents external contaminants from entering the motor compartment at low speeds while minimizing friction and power dissipation, ensuring optimal protection and extended service life by adjusting its sealing configuration with increasing speed.
Implementation Method 1
an elastically deformable gasket (18) made of an elastically deformable material, interposed between the support rings (16, 17)
Implementation Method 2
The seal assembly comprises an elastically deformable gasket (18) with at least one first and one second annular sealing lips (30, 31) that are set in a sealing configuration at low speeds and in a detaching configuration at speeds greater than a predetermined non-zero value V by centrifugal effect
Data Source
AI summary
A seal assembly configured to prevent/limit the entry of external contaminants into a motor compartment of a motorized wheel for vehicles is described. The seal assembly comprises a first support ring which is fixed, a second support ring which is rotatable and radially outermost of the first support ring, and an annular seal interposed between the support rings and including an anchor portion, attached to the second support ring and at least a first and a second annular sealing lip, protruding cantilevered from the anchor portion, mounted by interference between the support rings, defining a sealing configuration, wherein they cooperate with distinct portions of the first support ring along respective annular contact lines, and set by centrifugal effect in a detaching configuration from the respective portions of the first support ring at speeds of the motorized wheel greater than a predetermined non-zero value.