Mechanical Seal Sliding Faces With Isolated Grooves and Dust Traps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing slide components for mechanical seals face challenges in preventing fluid leakage and dust ingress while maintaining low friction, which compromises their sealing and lubrication performance.
Innovation Solution
A slide component design featuring dynamic pressure generation grooves isolated by land portions and independently formed minute recessed sections on the sealing faces, preventing communication between the sealed fluid side and leakage side, and incorporating fluid introduction grooves for effective lubrication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If dynamic pressure generation grooves are provided to generate positive pressure and prevent fluid leakage, then sealing performance is improved, but dust may be pulled into the sealing faces and cause wear
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing face is segmented into multiple functional zones: dynamic pressure generation grooves for sealing, land portions for isolation, and minute recessed sections for dust trapping. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function independently, preventing dust from being pulled into the sealing faces while maintaining effective sealing performance.
Solution Approach 2:
Land portions act as intermediary structures that isolate the dynamic pressure generation grooves from the sealing faces. These land portions prevent direct communication between the grooves and sealing faces, thereby blocking the pathway through which dust could be pulled into the sealing faces during operation.
2Reliability
If spiral grooves are provided to catch and bring liquid toward high-pressure side, then fluid sealing is improved, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a single complex spiral groove system, the invention segments the sealing face into multiple simpler groove patterns including dynamic pressure generation grooves and minute recessed sections. This segmentation achieves effective fluid sealing through multiple simple structures working together, reducing overall structural complexity while maintaining sealing reliability.
3Reliability
If seal faces are optimized for low leakage and low torque, then sealing performance is improved, but friction and dust ingress issues persist
Solution Approach 1:
Different local regions of the sealing face are given different qualities and functions: dynamic pressure generation grooves in one area for sealing, land portions for isolation, and minute recessed sections for dust management. This local differentiation allows the sealing face to simultaneously achieve low leakage performance and resistance to dust wear, resolving the contradiction between sealing performance and friction/dust issues.
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 design enhances sealing efficiency, prevents fluid leakage, and reduces dust ingress, achieving low friction and improved lubrication performance even in static conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a dynamic pressure generation groove (10) is provided on the sealing face S of at least one of the pair of slide parts (4, 7) so as to be isolated with no communication from the sealed fluid side and the leakage side
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of independently-formed minute recessed sections (11) is provided at positions on the sealing face S between the dynamic pressure generation groove (10) and the leakage side
Implementation Method 3
isolated with no communication from the sealed fluid side and the leakage side by land portions of both the sealing faces
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention is to make sealing faces fluid-lubricant and low frictional and to prevent leakage of a sealed fluid and incoming of dust to the sealing faces at the time of normal operation. Dynamic pressure generation grooves 10 are provided on a sealing face of at least one of a pair of slide parts 4, 7 so as to be isolated with no communication from the sealed fluid side and the leakage side by land portions R of both the sealing faces, and a plurality of independently-formed minute recessed sections 11 is provided at positions on the sealing face IS between the dynamic pressure generation grooves 10 and the leakage side, the positions being separated in the radial direction from the dynamic pressure generation grooves.