Rotating Joint Seal for Molten Polymer Leakage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rotating joints are not suitable for processing highly viscous and high-temperature molten polymeric materials, as they lead to leakage and damage of secondary seals, causing machine stoppage and contamination.
Innovation Solution
A rotating joint device with a sealing arrangement featuring a deformable sealing portion that deforms under pressure, pushing a first sealing surface against a second sealing surface to prevent leakage, made from materials resistant to high temperatures, eliminating the need for elastomeric or polymeric seals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional elastomeric or polymeric seals are used in rotating joints, then the device can operate in hydraulic or pneumatic fields, but the seals are damaged by molten polymeric materials, causing leakage and machine stoppage
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the vulnerable elastomeric or polymeric secondary seal from the system and replaces it with a metal seal assembly. This extraction eliminates the component that is damaged by molten polymeric materials, thereby preventing leakage and machine stoppage while maintaining sealing functionality in high-temperature processing environments
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the material parameter of the seal from elastomeric/polymeric to metal (such as stainless steel), which can withstand high temperatures and contact with molten polymeric materials without damage. This parameter change enables the seal to operate reliably in processing environments previously incompatible with traditional sealing materials
2Reliability
If molten polymeric material contacts traditional seals, then the sealing function is compromised due to leakage, but the invention maintains sealing integrity through a deformable sealing portion
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs a deformable sealing portion that dynamically adapts its shape in response to pressure from molten polymeric material. This dynamic deformation allows the sealing surface to maintain intimate contact with the mating surface, preventing leakage while accommodating the high-temperature, high-viscosity material flow conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a thin, deformable sealing portion (such as a metal diaphragm or membrane) that can flex and deform under pressure to maintain sealing contact. This flexible component prevents material leakage through the rotating joint while being resistant to damage from molten polymeric materials, unlike rigid traditional seals
3Reliability
If secondary seals are exposed to molten polymeric materials, then carbonization occurs contaminating the material, but the invention prevents contamination through resistant sealing materials
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the carbonization-prone elastomeric or polymeric secondary seal from the path of molten polymeric material flow. By extracting this vulnerable component, the source of carbonization and contamination is eliminated, ensuring material purity while maintaining sealing function through the metal seal assembly
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs a composite sealing system combining a deformable metal sealing portion with a rigid metal seal body. This composite structure provides both the flexibility needed for effective sealing and the thermal resistance required to prevent carbonization and contamination of molten polymeric materials, achieving material purity while maintaining sealing integrity
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 device effectively prevents leakage of high-temperature and viscous materials, ensuring continuous operation in processing molten polymeric materials without damaging the seals, thus maintaining machine functionality.
Implementation Method 1
the flowable material deforms the sealing portion, thereby pushing the first sealing surface against the second sealing surface
Implementation Method 2
The sealing portion can be made of materials capable of easily resisting relatively high temperatures. The sealing portion can be made deformable by acting on its geometry.
Data Source
AI summary
A device for connecting a rotatable element to a stationary element allows a flowable material to pass from the stationary element to the rotatable element, or vice versa. The device (1) comprises a stator body (2) suitable for being connected to the stationary element and a rotor body (4) suitable for being connected to the rotatable element, a conduit (5) being formed in the stator body (2) to communicate with a further conduit (6) formed in the rotor body (4). The device (1) comprises furthermore a sealing device (7) to prevent leakages of the flowable material, the sealing arrangement (7) comprising a first sealing surface (18) and a second sealing surface (19), the first sealing surface (18) being formed on a deformable sealing portion (15), so that the flowable material deforms the sealing portion (15), thereby pushing the first sealing surface (18) against the second sealing surface (19).