Rotary Seal Assembly Without a Bearing Sleeve
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rotary seals require a hard bearing surface and are time-consuming to assemble due to the need for a bearing sleeve and crimping of lip seals into the housing.
Innovation Solution
A rotary seal design comprising a first and second annular element with radially extending flanges forming a pocket for a seal element, which makes sealing engagements and can be fixed with an interference fit, eliminating the need for a bearing sleeve and simplifying assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If lip seals are crimped into the housing, then sealing is achieved, but assembly time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The seal assembly is divided into separate components: a seal element and a retainer, which can be assembled independently and then installed as a unit. This eliminates the time-consuming crimping process while maintaining sealing effectiveness through the retained seal element.
Solution Approach 2:
The retainer acts as an intermediary component that holds the seal element in place within the housing. This mediator component simplifies assembly by replacing the complex crimping operation with a simple retention mechanism.
2Reliability
If a bearing sleeve is used to provide a hard bearing surface, then lip seals can function, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing sleeve component is extracted/removed from the system. The invention achieves lip seal functionality without requiring the hard bearing surface of a bearing sleeve, thereby reducing device complexity and the number of components.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal element is designed to perform multiple functions: sealing and bearing support. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for a separate bearing sleeve, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining lip seal functionality.
3Reliability
If traditional rotary seal assembly methods are used, then sealing is achieved, but manufacturing and assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The seal assembly is segmented into a seal element and a retainer, allowing for simplified manufacturing of each component and easier assembly. The retainer can be manufactured with a simple retention mechanism, reducing overall manufacturing and assembly complexity while maintaining sealing performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The retainer is designed as a simple, potentially disposable component that simplifies the overall assembly process. This approach reduces manufacturing complexity by using a straightforward retention mechanism rather than complex fastening systems.
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 design allows for efficient sealing without a bearing sleeve, accommodates radial misalignments, reduces manufacturing and assembly complexity, and lowers costs by using elastomeric materials and O-ring energizers, while minimizing drag forces due to thermal expansion differences.
Implementation Method 1
the second axially extending flange may be received with an interference fit with the first axially extending flange for fixing the second annular element to the first annular element
Implementation Method 2
The seal element makes a first sealing engagement against a first surface of the first radially extending flange and a second sealing engagement against a second surface of the second radially extending flange
Implementation Method 3
An annular energiser may be located within the annular groove for energising the first sealing engagement. The annular energiser may be an elastomeric O-ring.
Implementation Method 4
The design allows for efficient sealing without a bearing sleeve, accommodates radial misalignments
Implementation Method 5
minimizing drag forces due to thermal expansion differences
Data Source
AI summary
A rotary seal comprises includes a first annular element, a second annular element and a seal element. The first annular element has a first axially extending flange and a first radially extending flange extending radially from a proximal end of the first axially extending flange. The second annular element has a second axially extending flange and a second radially extending flange extending radially from a proximal end of the second axially extending flange in the same direction as the first radially extending flange. The second annular element is fixed to the first annular element, the second axially-extending flange being received radially on the first axially-extending flange. The second radially extending flange is spaced axially from the first radially extending flange to define a pocket therebetween.