Mechanical Seal Bellows Intermediate Disc Axial Readjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mechanical seal arrangements with elastomer bellows experience deteriorated axial readjusting behavior due to material softness, potential sticking on shaft surfaces, and increased friction, leading to leakage and potential failure, especially under vibrations and contamination.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a ring-shaped intermediate disc made of a more rigid material with a partially slit design to facilitate thermal expansion and contraction, and using Z-profile angles and a spring element to enhance axial movability and stiffness, while maintaining a compact design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an elastomer bellows is used to facilitate axial readjusting, then the mechanical seal can adapt to shaft deflections, but the softness of the elastomer material causes the support shoulder to get stuck on shaft surfaces and deteriorates readjusting behavior
Solution Approach 1:
A support shoulder is introduced as an intermediary element between the elastomer bellows and the shaft. This support shoulder, made of rigid material, transfers the axial movement from the bellows to the seal assembly without allowing the soft elastomer to directly contact and stick to the shaft surface, thus resolving the sticking problem while maintaining adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical seal assembly combines elastomer material (for flexibility and sealing) with rigid materials (for structural support and non-sticking properties). This composite construction allows the seal to benefit from both the compliance of elastomer and the non-adhesive properties of rigid materials, improving reliability during axial readjusting
2Adaptability or versatility
If an elastomer bellows is used for axial readjusting, then the seal can accommodate shaft movements, but friction between the elastomer and shaft increases during vibrations, causing obstruction of readjusting behavior
Solution Approach 1:
The support shoulder acts as a mediator that decouples the elastomer bellows from direct contact with the shaft during vibration. This eliminates the high-friction interaction between elastomer and shaft, allowing smooth axial readjusting even during vibrational operation
3Reliability
If the support shoulder is made of rigid material to prevent sticking, then readjusting behavior improves, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The support shoulder is merged with the bellows assembly as an integrated component rather than a separate attachment. This integration minimizes additional parts and simplifies the overall structure while still providing the necessary rigid interface to prevent sticking and improve readjusting behavior
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
Significantly improves axial readjusting behavior, reduces leakage, and prevents jamming, ensuring reliable operation and reduced axial length, even under temperature changes and vibrations, while maintaining sealing integrity.
Implementation Method 1
the intermediate disc can thus easily expand during operation if heated up, and can contract again as it cools off. Here, the slit serves to prevent the intermediate disc from shrinking onto the rotating structural component, e.g. a shaft, as it cools off
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a mechanical seal arrangement, comprising a rotating slide ring (11) and a stationary slide ring (12), which define a sealing gap (13) in between them, and a bellows unit (2) with a bellows element (3) and an intermediate disc (4), wherein the bellows element (3) has a first connector area (31), a second connector area (32), and a bellows intermediate area (33), wherein the bellows element (3) is made of an elastomer material and provides a connection between the rotating slide ring (11) and a rotating structural component (10), wherein the intermediate disc (4) is arranged between the bellows element (3) and the rotating slide ring (11), and wherein the intermediate disc (4) has at least one slit (47) that has a slit width (B) that is smaller than a slit length (S), and wherein the slit (47) is closed at one side, so that a connection area (49) remains at the slit (47) at the intermediate disc (4).