Rotary Seal Structure With Axial Misalignment-Tolerant Protrusions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sealing devices struggle to maintain sealing performance when positional deviation occurs in the thrust direction between outer-periphery-side and inner-periphery-side members that are able to relatively rotate.
Innovation Solution
A sealing device comprising an outer seal member with an annular member and a seal lip portion, and an inner seal member with a contact portion featuring multiple protrusions, designed to maintain sealing contact even with positional deviation by ensuring the contact between protrusions and tubular portions is maintained.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a sealing device with protrusions is used to inhibit foreign matter invasion, then foreign matter resistance is improved, but sealing performance deteriorates when positional deviation in thrust direction occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extends the sealing contact region from a single point or short line contact to a prolonged contact region that spans multiple dimensions. The first and second sealing contact regions are positioned at different locations along the rotating member's surface, creating a multi-dimensional sealing barrier that maintains effectiveness even when axial positional deviation occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing structure is divided into multiple independent sealing contact regions (first sealing contact region and second sealing contact region) rather than relying on a single sealing interface. This segmentation ensures that if one region is affected by positional deviation, the other regions continue to provide sealing functionality.
2Reliability
If sealing contact is maintained between seal members, then sealing performance is improved, but sensitivity to positional deviation worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces an extended contact region that prolongs the sealing interface along the axial direction. This extended region provides a buffer zone that accommodates axial positional deviations while maintaining continuous sealing contact, thereby reducing sensitivity to misalignment between sealing surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing design accommodates dynamic positional changes during operation. The prolonged contact region allows the sealing interface to adapt to varying positional relationships between the rotating and stationary members, maintaining sealing effectiveness under dynamic conditions.
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 device effectively maintains sealing performance even with positional deviation in the thrust direction, ensuring effective prevention of foreign matter invasion and leakage.
Implementation Method 1
a seal lip portion that slide-contacts the inner seal member
Implementation Method 2
a contact portion that includes a plurality of protrusions and slide-contacts the axially extending portion
Data Source
AI summary
A sealing device is provided to achieve sealing between an outer-periphery-side member and an inner-periphery-side member that are able to relatively rotate, and includes: an outer seal member to be attached to the outer-periphery-side member; and an inner seal member to be attached to the inner-periphery-side member. The outer seal member includes an annular member that includes an inner tubular portion extending along an axis direction and a seal lip portion that slide-contacts the inner seal member on a side closer to an internal space than the annular member. The inner seal member includes an inner contact portion that includes a plurality of protrusions and slide-contacts the inner tubular portion. A length of a region of the inner contact portion where the plurality of protrusions are formed is longer than a minimum interval between facing portions of the outer seal member and the inner seal member.