Torsional Vibration Damper Seal Inversion for Gap and Inertia
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing torsional vibration dampers with an offset flywheel face challenges in preventing fluid leakage and heat dissipation due to the encapsulation of the flywheel, which limits the mass and thermal management capabilities.
Innovation Solution
The sealing elements are vulcanized onto the outer axial and radial surfaces of the rings, avoiding attachment to the inner surfaces, allowing for a secure and durable seal that compensates for relative movement between the flywheel and hub, using high-temperature-resistant elastomers like silicone, and a design that minimizes expansion and swelling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the sealing elements are attached to the inner surfaces of the rings, then the sealing function is achieved, but the space between the rings is reduced and the moments of inertia of the flywheel are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing elements are inverted from being attached to the inner surfaces of the rings to being attached to the outer axial surfaces. This inversion resolves the contradiction by achieving the sealing function without occupying space between the rings, thereby preserving the moments of inertia of the flywheel.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing elements are moved from a radial arrangement (inner surfaces) to an axial arrangement (outer axial surfaces). This dimensional change allows the sealing function to be achieved in a different spatial dimension, avoiding the space constraint between the rings.
2Reliability
If the sealing elements are attached to the inner surfaces of the rings, then the sealing function is achieved, but friction occurs between the sealing elements and the rotating parts
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing elements are inverted from contact with rotating parts (inner surfaces) to being stationary on outer surfaces. This eliminates the relative motion and friction between the sealing elements and rotating components while maintaining the sealing function.
3Reliability
If the sealing elements are attached to the inner surfaces of the rings, then the sealing function is achieved, but the sealing elements cannot permanently compensate for the relative movement between the flywheel ring and the hub part
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing elements are inverted to the outer axial surfaces where they remain stationary while the inner rings move relative to each other. This allows the sealing elements to permanently compensate for relative movement without being subjected to friction and wear.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible nature of the sealing elements acts as an intermediary that can accommodate and compensate for the relative movement between the flywheel ring and hub part, maintaining the sealing function over the entire service life.
4Device complexity
If the flywheel is completely encapsulated in a separate housing, then the design is simplified, but the mass of the housing is irrelevant for the function and heat dissipation is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The flywheel is extracted from the encapsulated housing design and allowed to rotate freely on the hub part. This extraction enables the flywheel mass to contribute to the moment of inertia for vibration damping while maintaining direct thermal contact with the hub part for effective heat dissipation.
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
This configuration ensures a permanent and secure seal, maintains the gap width precisely, enhances the flywheel's moments of inertia, and provides improved durability and thermal resistance, preventing fluid leakage and ensuring effective heat dissipation.
Implementation Method 1
the respective sealing element with fastening sections is vulcanized onto a respective outer axial side of the first and second ring
Implementation Method 2
the sealing element can permanently compensate for the relative movement between the flywheel ring and the hub part
Implementation Method 3
a fluid-filled gap and a sealing device are provided between the hub part and the flywheel ring to prevent the escape of the fluid
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a torsional vibration damper (1) having a hub part (2) (primary mass), which can be fastened on a drive shaft of a motor, and a flywheel ring (3) (secondary mass) which encloses the hub part (2) in the radially outer region, wherein a gap (4) filled with fluid and sealing devices (5) are provided between the hub part (2) and the flywheel ring (3), by means of which an escape of the fluid is to be prevented, wherein the sealing devices (5) comprise in each case a first ring (6), which is tightly connected to the hub part (2), a second ring (7), which is tightly connected to the flywheel ring (3), and in each case a sealing element (12) made of an elastomer, which sealing element is, on the one hand, connected in a sealing manner to the first ring (6) and, on the other hand, to the second ring (7). According to the invention, the torsional vibration damper is designed in such a manner that the respective sealing element (12) is vulcanized with fastening sections to a respective external axial side of the first and the second ring (6, 7).