Rotary Engine Face Seals with Curled Ends for Leakage Reduction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Prior art sealing arrangements in rotary internal combustion engines, such as Wankel engines, suffer from gaps due to manufacturing tolerances and differential thermal expansions, leading to inefficiencies in sealing working chambers.
Innovation Solution
A rotor design with axially spaced end faces and a peripheral face defining circumferentially spaced apex portions, utilizing apex seals, end seals, and face seals with curled ends to ensure continuous contact and minimize leakage, along with a method of engaging these seals to maintain effective sealing between the rotor and stator, reducing the need for intermediary seals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If prior art sealing arrangements are used, then the structure is simpler, but gaps appear between seal members due to manufacturing tolerances and thermal expansion, reducing sealing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing system is divided into multiple independent seal members: apex seals at the rotor apex portions, face seals at the rotor end faces, and end seals at the chamber boundaries. Each seal member independently addresses specific sealing challenges, allowing the system to maintain reliability while managing complexity through functional segmentation
Solution Approach 2:
The seal members are designed with dynamic compensation capabilities to adapt to manufacturing tolerances and thermal expansion. The apex seals, face seals, and end seals can move and adjust their positions to maintain continuous contact with mating surfaces, ensuring sealing effectiveness under varying operating conditions without requiring overly precise manufacturing
2Reliability
If multiple seal members are used to eliminate gaps, then sealing efficiency improves, but the number of components and assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each seal member is designed to perform multiple functions: apex seals provide both radial sealing at the apex portions and structural support; face seals simultaneously seal the end faces and accommodate thermal expansion; end seals provide both chamber boundary sealing and alignment features. This multi-functionality reduces the total number of components needed while maintaining high sealing efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple sealing functions into integrated seal assemblies where apex seals, face seals, and end seals work together as a coordinated system. The seal members are positioned and configured to share load and compensate for each other's limitations, creating a unified sealing solution that achieves high reliability without requiring a large number of 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 described sealing arrangement enhances the sealing efficiency between the rotor and stator, reducing fluid communication and leakage, thereby improving the engine's operational efficiency and reducing the number of necessary seal components.
Implementation Method 1
an apex seal protruding radially from the peripheral face of the body and being biased radially away therefrom
Implementation Method 2
an apex seal protruding radially from the peripheral face of the body and being biased radially away therefrom
Implementation Method 3
first and second end seals received in a corresponding recess defined in the first and second end face, respectively, the first end seal protruding axially from the first end face and being biased axially outwardly away therefrom
Implementation Method 4
first and second end seals received in a corresponding recess defined in the first and second end face, respectively, the first end seal protruding axially from the first end face and being biased axially outwardly away therefrom
Implementation Method 5
each first face seal being biased axially outwardly away from the first end face, each first face seal having opposed curled ends each abutting the first end seal
Implementation Method 6
each first face seal being biased axially outwardly away from the first end face, each first face seal having opposed curled ends each abutting the first end seal
Implementation Method 7
each first face seal having opposed curled ends each abutting the first end seal of a respective one of the adjacent apex portions
Data Source
AI summary
A rotor for a rotary internal combustion engine with a first face seal biased axially outwardly away from the first end face has opposed curled ends abutting a first end seal of a respective one of the adjacent apex portions, and a second face seal biased axially outwardly away from the second end face has opposed curled ends abutting a second end seal of a respective one of the adjacent apex portions. A rotary internal combustion engine and a method of sealing chambers of a Wankel engine are also discussed.