Overlapping Sealing Ring Structure for Secure Compressor Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sealing rings for compressors are difficult to properly position and tend to loosen, leading to a failure in maintaining the sealing function.
Innovation Solution
A modular sealing ring with an annular body and peripherally arranged elastic members that can expand or contract to fit into a seat, featuring overlapping sealing elements and shared elastic members to ensure secure positioning and retention, while elastic springs manage thermal and mechanical stresses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional sealing rings with spaced-apart ends and peripheral elastic members are used, then the sealing ring can be temporarily tightened or loosened for insertion, but the sealing ring tends to loosen and fall out of its seat over time
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing ring is divided into multiple sealing elements (at least two) that can move independently relative to each other along the circumferential direction. Each sealing element can be adjusted individually by its associated elastic member, allowing the ring to be segmented for easier insertion while maintaining overall structural integrity for reliable retention.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing elements are designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing dynamic adjustment of the sealing ring's configuration. The elastic members enable the sealing elements to move circumferentially during insertion and then stabilize in position, providing both ease of operation and reliable retention through controlled dynamic behavior.
2Device complexity
If sealing elements are arranged adjacently without overlap, then the structure is simpler, but the sealing effect is compromised under thermal and mechanical stresses
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing elements are pre-configured with overlapping portions before installation. This preliminary overlapping arrangement ensures that when thermal or mechanical stresses occur during operation, the sealed zones maintain continuous contact and the sealing function is preserved without requiring complex additional structures.
3Reliability
If the sealing ring uses multiple separate tension springs at each contact point, then the sealing function is improved, but the device complexity and difficulty of positioning increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple separate tension springs are merged into a single shared elastic member that serves multiple sealing elements simultaneously. This shared elastic member is connected to multiple sealing elements and can adjust their relative positions, reducing the total number of elastic members while maintaining the sealing function across all contact points.
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 sealing ring can be easily inserted and remains in place, maintaining a consistent sealing effect between high and low pressure zones with temperature variations, enhancing durability and structural integrity.
Implementation Method 1
elastic members peripherally arranged around the annular body which restore the shape of the annular body once it has been positioned
Implementation Method 2
elastic springs manage thermal and mechanical stresses
Data Source
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AI summary
A sealing ring (1) comprises an annular body (2) having a circumferential profile (3), elastic members (4) peripherally coupled to the annular body (2) and configured to counteract an expansion or a contraction of the annular body (2) in the radial direction; the sealing ring (1) is characterized in that the annular body (2) comprises two or more sealing elements (5) extending along circumferential sections; wherein the sealing elements (5) are adjacent to each other to define the circumferential profile (3) of the annular body (2), and wherein each sealing element (5) partially overlaps the sealing element (5) adjacent thereto; the elastic members (4) comprise a pair of springs (41) for each sealing element (5), wherein the springs (41) are located on opposite sides of the annular body (2) and are placed each on a respective lateral surface (13) of the sealing elements (5).