Pre-assembled Seal Unit with Self-Reinforcing Lip Contour
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing seals for machine elements are difficult to assemble, prone to ring damage, and result in unsatisfactory sealing due to imprecise positioning and gap extrusion of the sealing ring, leading to reduced dimensional stability and performance over time.
Innovation Solution
A pre-assembled seal unit comprising a sealing ring with radially inner and outer axial sealing lips, an intermediate ring, and a support ring, where the rings are concentrically arranged and materially bonded, allowing for self-reinforcing geometry that prevents gap extrusion and ensures precise positioning for improved assembly and sealing efficacy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the seal is assembled from separate rings on the machine element, then the seal can be completed during assembly, but the assembly process becomes complex and the risk of damage to individual rings increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the sealing ring, intermediate ring, and support ring into a single pre-assembled unit with integrated geometry. The sealing ring features a continuous self-reinforcing lip contour that integrates the functions of multiple separate rings, eliminating the need for complex assembly operations and reducing the risk of ring damage during installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal components are pre-assembled into a complete unit before installation on the machine element. The self-reinforcing lip contour is pre-formed with integrated geometry that ensures proper positioning and alignment, so that when the pre-assembled unit is installed, all positioning and alignment operations have already been completed during manufacturing.
2Reliability
If separate rings are assembled on the machine element, then the seal can be completed, but imprecise positioning and gap extrusion of the sealing ring occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the sealing ring, intermediate ring, and support ring into a single pre-assembled unit where the sealing ring features a continuous self-reinforcing lip contour. This integration ensures that all rings maintain precise relative positioning without gaps, eliminating positioning errors that would occur during assembly of separate rings.
Solution Approach 2:
The self-reinforcing lip contour is designed with integrated geometry that preemptively prevents gap extrusion of the sealing ring. The continuous contour structure provides inherent resistance against radial expansion and gap formation before assembly, ensuring that no positioning or alignment operations are required during installation.
3Ease of operation
If the sealing ring is assembled separately, then assembly is possible, but the sealing ring is prone to damage during assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the sealing ring, intermediate ring, and support ring into a single pre-assembled unit. The sealing ring is integrated with the other components through a continuous self-reinforcing lip contour, so that during assembly only one complete unit is installed rather than multiple separate rings, dramatically reducing the risk of damage to individual rings.
4Stability of the object's composition
If separate rings are used, then the seal can be assembled, but dimensional stability is reduced due to warping, cold flow and creep
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the sealing ring, intermediate ring, and support ring into a single pre-assembled unit with continuous self-reinforcing lip contour. This integration ensures that all components maintain fixed relative positions and cannot warp or creep independently, significantly improving dimensional stability while actually simplifying the overall structure by eliminating the need for multiple separate components.
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 solution simplifies assembly, minimizes ring damage, and enhances dimensional stability and sealing performance by preventing gap extrusion and ensuring precise ring alignment, resulting in a reliable and long-lasting seal with minimal assembly and sealing gaps.
Implementation Method 1
a sealing ring (1) made of a rubber-elastic material
Implementation Method 2
radial expansion of its end face facing the sealing ring, so that gap extrusion of the elastomer is largely avoided
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
A seal comprising a sealing ring (1) made of a rubber-elastic material, an intermediate ring (2) made of a polymeric material, and a support ring (3), wherein the sealing ring (1), the intermediate ring (2), and the support ring (3) are arranged concentrically to one another and wherein the sealing ring (1) and the support ring (3) are each arranged on the axially opposite sides of the intermediate ring (2). The sealing ring (1), the intermediate ring (2), and the support ring (3) form a pre-assembled unit (4).