Rotating Shaft Sleeve With Bore For Non-Contacting Gas Seal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing non-contacting gas seals face challenges in maintaining a minimal gap between the sleeve and seal ring while preventing contact, requiring innovative solutions to manage radial spacing and pressure distribution effectively.
Innovation Solution
A sleeve with a radially inner surface mounted on a rotatable shaft, featuring a bore that communicates gas from the axially inner surface to the radially outer surface, and a seal ring with cutouts and bores to maintain radial spacing and pressure balance, utilizing a pressure generating mechanism to keep the seal ring radially spaced from the sleeve.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the gap between the sleeve and seal ring is reduced to improve sealing performance, then leakage control is improved, but the risk of contact between the sleeve and seal ring increases
Solution Approach 1:
High-pressure gas is introduced as an intermediary substance between the seal ring and sleeve to maintain a protective cushion. The gas pressure counteracts the forces that would cause contact, allowing the components to operate at minimal spacing without actually touching. This mediator enables the system to achieve both small gap distances and contact prevention simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes pneumatic pressure by introducing high-pressure gas into the sealing interface. This gas pressure creates a hydrodynamic or hydrostatic barrier that prevents mechanical contact between the seal ring and sleeve while maintaining the minimal gap required for effective sealing. The pneumatic force balances the mechanical forces that would otherwise cause contact.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the seal ring is kept radially spaced from the sleeve to prevent contact, then contact risk is reduced, but sealing effectiveness deteriorates due to increased gap
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the pressure parameter of the gas introduced between the seal ring and sleeve. By maintaining high gas pressure, the system compensates for the radial spacing, ensuring that the gas cushion remains effective at preventing contact while still providing adequate sealing. The pressure parameter is the critical factor that allows the system to tolerate larger gaps without compromising sealing or causing contact.
3Length of stationary object
If pressure is increased between the sleeve and seal ring to maintain spacing, then radial spacing is maintained, but the complexity of pressure management increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system is designed to be self-regulating in terms of pressure management. The high-pressure gas source automatically maintains the necessary pressure differential to keep the seal ring spaced from the sleeve without requiring active control mechanisms. The pressure management leverages the existing pressure differential in the system, allowing the gas to self-adjust and maintain spacing passively, thereby reducing overall system complexity.
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 maintains a small gap between the sleeve and seal ring, utilizing high-pressure gas to form a buffer and maintain the seal ring's position, reducing leakage and ensuring efficient sealing performance.
Implementation Method 1
a bore configured to provide fluid communication between gas at an axially inner surface of the sleeve and a radially outer surface of the sleeve
Implementation Method 2
utilizing high-pressure gas to form a buffer and maintain the seal ring's position
Implementation Method 3
pressure generating means for increasing a pressure between the sleeve and the seal ring radially spaced from the sleeve
Data Source
AI summary
A sleeve mountable on a rotatable shaft and configured to form a non-contacting seal with a seal ring surrounding and radially spaced from the sleeve, the sleeve including a radially inner surface configured to be mounted on the rotatable shaft, a radially outer surface, an axially inner surface between the radially inner surface and the radially outer surface, an axially outer surface between the radially inner surface and the radially outer surface and a bore configured to provide fluid communication between gas at the axially inner surface of the sleeve and the radially outer surface of the sleeve.