Rotary Union Dynamic Seal for High-Pressure Shaft Fluid Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-performance gearboxes with hydraulically operated wet clutches face challenges in sealing hydraulic fluid at high pressures and rotational rates, leading to leakage, and simultaneously supplying lubrication and cooling fluids to shaft-mounted components is difficult, especially in compact designs for high-performance road vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A rotary union with a dynamic primary seal that shifts position with pressure changes to maintain sealing at high rotational rates and separate conduits for high-pressure hydraulic fluid and low-pressure lubricant or coolant, ensuring efficient fluid supply and prevention of leakage, while allowing controlled leakage when not pressurized to prevent backflow and wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a rotary union is used to supply hydraulic fluid to wet clutches via rotating shafts at high pressures and rotational rates, then hydraulic control of wet clutches is achieved, but sealing becomes problematic and hydraulic fluid leaks from the rotary union
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic seal arrangement where the seal element is positioned to move radially inward under hydraulic pressure to maintain contact with the mating surface. This dynamic adjustment allows the seal to adapt to pressure changes and rotational movement, preventing leakage while maintaining high-pressure hydraulic fluid supply to the wet clutches
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a seal element as an intermediary component between the rotating and stationary parts of the rotary union. This seal element mediates the interaction between high-pressure hydraulic fluid and the rotating shaft, preventing fluid escape while allowing rotational movement and high-pressure fluid transmission
2Volume of moving object
If the gearbox size is reduced for high-performance applications, then compactness is achieved, but simultaneous supply of hydraulic fluid, lubricant, and coolant via the shaft becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple fluid supply functions into a single integrated rotary union structure. The rotary union simultaneously handles hydraulic fluid for clutch control and provides pathways for lubricant and coolant to shaft-mounted components, consolidating what would otherwise require separate systems and reducing overall gearbox volume
Solution Approach 2:
The rotary union is designed as a multi-functional component that performs multiple roles: supplying high-pressure hydraulic fluid to wet clutches, providing lubrication to shaft components, and enabling coolant flow to mounted components. This universal design eliminates the need for separate fluid supply systems, achieving compactness without sacrificing functional capability
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 solution effectively seals high-pressure hydraulic fluid and supplies lubrication/cooling fluids to shaft-mounted components, reducing leakage and wear, and allows for compact, efficient operation of high-performance gearboxes by maintaining sealing at high rotational rates and pressures.
Implementation Method 1
a primary seal, which may be fitted, or positioned, in the annular seat, wherein the primary seal is a dynamic seal configured to radially seal to the male part and to shift in position away from the first coupling along the axis of rotation and axially seal to the female part at an increase in pressure of the first primary fluid in the first coupling
Data Source
AI summary
A rotary union for connecting to a shaft includes a female part, a male part rotatable relative to the female part on an axis of rotation, and a first primary conduit. The first primary conduit includes a female conduit portion formed by the female part, and a male conduit portion formed by the male part. The rotary union forms a first coupling between the female conduit portion and the male conduit portion. The female part further forms an annular seat facing the male part. The rotary union further includes a primary seal in the annular seat that is configured to radially seal to the male part and to shift in position away from the first coupling along the axis of rotation and to axially seal to the female part at an increase in pressure of a first primary fluid in the first coupling.