Rotary Joint Brush Seals for Tire Inflation Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rotary feedthroughs for tire inflation systems in agricultural vehicles are complex, expensive, and prone to wear due to high relative speeds and mechanical deformations, requiring complex control pressure devices and large sealing surfaces.
Innovation Solution
The use of brush seals as sealing means, which are highly flexible and adaptable, eliminating the need for separate devices to pressurize sealing means and reducing manufacturing complexity and costs, while maintaining a high sealing effect with minimal wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If conventional non-contact seals (gap seals) are used, then wear is minimized, but sealing effectiveness is insufficient and leakage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the sealing mechanism from non-contact to contact-based, utilizing the elastic deformation parameter of the sealing element to achieve both contact sealing and wear compensation. The sealing element's ability to elastically deform allows it to maintain contact pressure while adapting to surface variations, resolving the contradiction between contact-based sealing effectiveness and wear-free operation.
2Reliability
If control pressure devices are added to close the chamber, then sealing reliability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing element serves itself by using the pressure differential across the seal to enhance its own sealing action. The higher pressure side naturally pushes the elastic sealing element against the lower pressure side, creating a self-actuating sealing mechanism that eliminates the need for external control pressure devices or additional actuating systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent removes the complex control pressure device and chamber closing mechanism from the system, replacing it with a simpler elastic sealing element that achieves sealing through its material properties and the existing pressure differential, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining sealing reliability.
3Area of stationary object
If large diameter sealing surfaces are used, then sealing capacity is improved, but relative speed increases causing wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the sealing approach from relying on large surface area to utilizing the elastic deformation capability and contact pressure of a compact sealing element. This allows effective sealing with minimal contact area, thereby reducing the rotational speed at the sealing interface and minimizing wear while maintaining sealing capacity.
4Reliability
If brush seals are used, then sealing effectiveness and wear resistance are improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent simplifies the manufacturing of brush seals by changing the material parameter from metal to plastic. Plastic brush seals can be manufactured using injection molding or extrusion processes, which are simpler and more cost-effective than metal fabrication, while still providing the necessary elastic deformation capability and sealing performance.
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
Brush seals provide a reliable, almost wear-free sealing solution that maintains pressure integrity, reduces leakage, and allows for efficient pressure medium transfer without interrupting rotational movement, enabling quick and precise tire pressure adjustments.
Implementation Method 1
the core of which is a highly flexible sealing element, which consists of a large number of wires, fibers or threads or a combination of these and adapts itself to a surface to be sealed
Data Source
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AI summary
A device (30, 30'), in particular, a rotary joint for a tyre inflation unit is disclosed. The device (30, 30') comprises a rotating body (34, 34'), a fixed body (32, 32') and at least one chamber (106, 108, 106', 108'), embodied between the rotating body (34, 34') and the fixed body (32, 32'). The at least one chamber (106, 108, 106', 108') is defined by opposing boundary surfaces (48, 54, 48', 54') of the body (32, 34, 32', 34') and by at least two sealing means (104, 104') running between the boundary surfaces (48, 54, 48', 54'). At least one channel (46, 50, 52, 56, 46', 50', 52', 56') is embodied in the fixed and the rotating body (32, 34, 32', 34') which opens between the sealing means (104, 104') in the at least one chamber (106, 108, 106', 108'). According to the invention, sealing means (104, 104') embodied as brush seals are used. The device (30, 30') has the advantage over conventional solutions that no separate pressure control channel for the pressurisation of sealing means (104, 104') or to achieve a pressure-tight chamber (106, 108, 106, 108) are necessary.