Seal Assembly Connecting Channel for Shaft Bearing Lubrication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing seal assemblies for shaft bearings in azimuth thrusters face issues with wear and tear, material fatigue, and unforeseen loads, leading to potential failure and the need for a reliable, compact, and space-saving solution that can automatically control oil filling levels to prevent damage and ensure continuous lubrication.
Innovation Solution
A seal assembly comprising two seal rings and a connecting channel that forms an annular chamber, allowing for automatic fill-level balancing between the bearing-housing-side oil space and the annular chamber at a first fill level, while preventing fill-level equalization at a second fill level, enabling controlled lubrication and temporary sealing functionality without additional valves.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single seal ring is used for shaft bearing sealing, then the device structure is simple, but the reliability is reduced due to wear and tear leading to potential failure
Solution Approach 1:
The seal ring is divided into two functional parts: a main seal ring for primary sealing and an auxiliary seal ring for backup sealing. This segmentation allows the system to maintain reliability through redundancy while keeping each individual seal ring structurally simple and easy to manufacture.
Solution Approach 2:
The auxiliary seal ring is positioned and lubricated in advance before the main seal ring fails. This prior cushioning ensures that when the main seal ring wears out or fails, the auxiliary seal ring is already in place and ready to take over, preventing sudden sealing failure and allowing for planned maintenance.
2Reliability
If the annular chamber is continuously filled with oil to ensure lubrication, then the lubrication is reliable, but the device complexity increases due to need for fill level control
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting channel automatically regulates oil flow between the oil space and annular chamber based on fill level. When oil level drops, the channel allows automatic refilling without external control systems. This self-service mechanism ensures reliable lubrication while avoiding complex fill level control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting channel uses hydraulic principles to automatically balance oil levels between the oil space and annular chamber. The channel design allows oil to flow freely when needed while preventing overfilling, utilizing pressure equalization and gravity-driven flow control without mechanical valves or sensors.
3Manufacturing precision
If additional valves are added to control oil filling and sealing activation, then the control precision is improved, but the device complexity and maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the valve component entirely from the system. Instead of using valves to control oil filling and seal activation, the design relies on the connecting channel's geometric design and automatic hydraulic balancing, thereby improving control precision while reducing device complexity and maintenance needs.
4Volume of moving object
If the seal assembly is designed to be compact and space-saving, then the space efficiency is improved, but the ease of manufacture may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting channel is integrated directly into the seal housing structure, merging the housing and channel into a single manufactured component. This integration achieves compact space utilization while maintaining ease of manufacture through standard machining processes, avoiding the need for separate assembled parts.
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 provides a compact, robust, and low-maintenance seal assembly that ensures reliable sealing and lubrication of shaft bearings, allowing for easy activation of a reserve seal ring in case of main seal ring failure, maintaining efficient oil distribution and preventing wear and temperature increase.
Implementation Method 1
the connecting channel realizes a (automatic) fill-level balancing between oil space and annular chamber
Implementation Method 2
in a second possible (conceivable or settable) fill level of the oil space the fill-level balancing is prevented by the connecting channel
Data Source
AI summary
A seal assembly for sealing a shaft bearing includes a seal housing, first and second seal rings retained by the seal housing, an annular chamber formed between the first and second seal rings and a connecting channel configured to place the annular chamber in fluid communication with a bearing-housing-side oil space. When the seal assembly is installed on a shaft, the connecting channel is configured to permit a fill-level equalization between the oil space and the annular chamber when the oil space is filled to a first possible fill level (N1) and to prevent the fill-level equalization between oil space and annular chamber when the oil space is filled to a second possible fill level (N2).