Rolling Stand Seal With Pressure-Adaptive Cavities
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sealing systems in rolling stands fail to adapt to varying pressure conditions in annular gaps, leading to inadequate sealing or excessive wear due to inconsistent preload, and are not effective in managing pressure differences across the circumference.
Innovation Solution
A seal with multiple cavities that are fluid-conductively connected to the lubricant space, allowing them to expand and adjust the pressing force based on pressure variations, eliminating the need for a circumferential groove and ensuring consistent sealing across different circumferential areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a predetermined preload is applied to the ring seal, then the seal is pressed against the roll journal or journal bush, but the preload does not adapt to the varying pressure of the lubricant, resulting in inadequate sealing or excessive wear
Solution Approach 1:
The seal is designed with elastic material and multiple cavities that allow it to dynamically adapt its pressing force to the varying lubricant pressure. The elastic material enables the seal to deform and adjust its contact pressure automatically in response to pressure changes, transforming a static preload system into a dynamic one that maintains optimal sealing without excessive wear.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressing force parameter of the seal is changed from a fixed predetermined value to a variable value that responds to lubricant pressure. The elastic material and cavity structure enable the seal to change its mechanical properties and contact pressure according to the operating conditions, allowing the sealing force to adapt to different pressure regimes.
2Reliability
If the preload on the ring seal is too high, then sealing is improved, but friction and wear increase, leading to excessive wear and potential seal destruction
Solution Approach 1:
The dynamic adaptation of the seal through elastic material allows the pressing force to be optimized in real-time. When pressure is low, the seal exerts less force reducing wear; when pressure is high, the seal increases force to maintain sealing. This dynamic balance prevents both inadequate sealing and excessive wear that would compromise seal durability.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal structure with elastic material and cavities enables self-regulation of the pressing force without external control. The seal automatically adjusts its own contact pressure based on the lubricant pressure it experiences, eliminating the need for complex control systems and preventing conditions that lead to premature failure.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a circumferential groove is used to equalize pressure, then pressure distribution is uniform, but the sealing effect cannot account for different pressure conditions in individual circumferential angular ranges
Solution Approach 1:
The seal is divided into multiple segments or cavities distributed around its circumference. Each cavity can independently respond to local pressure conditions, allowing different parts of the seal to adapt to different pressure regimes. This segmentation replaces the uniform pressure equalization of a circumferential groove with localized adaptive responses.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the seal can have different local properties and respond differently to pressure. The elastic material allows each section to deform according to its local pressure conditions, enabling the seal to provide appropriate sealing force in each circumferential angular range rather than forcing uniform pressure distribution.
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 effectively adapts its pressing force to match pressure conditions, preventing leakage while minimizing wear by maintaining an optimal lubricating film thickness and reducing friction, thus enhancing the sealing performance and longevity of the seal.
Implementation Method 1
The cavities are open towards the lubricant space of the oil film bearing for feeding the lubricant from the lubricant space of the bearing to be sealed into the cavities
Implementation Method 2
The seal is at least partially made of an elastic material
Implementation Method 3
The pressing force with which the seal is pressed against a surface in the rolling stand is suitably adapted or adjusted to the local pressure conditions in the annular gap
Implementation Method 4
maintaining an optimal lubricating film thickness and reducing friction
Data Source
AI summary
A seal (100) for sealing a lubricant space prevents lubricant (320) escaping. A rolling stand has a seal of this kind. The seal (100) is made at least partially from elastic material. To enable a pressing force FR, with which the bottom face (112) of the seal is pressed against an opposite contact surface (218), for example of a roll journal (212), to be variably set, the seal (100) has at least two cavities, which are separated from each other in the circumferential direction and which are open towards the lubricant space of the bearing.