Mechanical Seal Sliding Ring Groove for Vortex-Free Fluid Entry
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Solution Overview
Problem
In mechanical seals with positive pressure generation grooves, the introduction of sealed fluid into the grooves is hindered by vortex formation at right-angled corners, leading to reduced fluid flow and ineffective lubrication.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates inclined surfaces and grooves on the sliding rings to facilitate smooth fluid flow between spaces, ensuring constant communication and preventing vortex formation, with dynamic pressure generation grooves and spiral grooves enhancing lubricity and fluid distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a right-angled corner is formed by the bottom surface of the fluid inlet and outlet groove and the peripheral surface on the sealed fluid side, then the groove structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but a vortex is likely to occur when sealed fluid is introduced, reducing the amount of fluid inside the groove and compromising lubrication effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature by replacing the right-angled corner with a rounded corner having a predetermined radius of curvature. This curved transition eliminates the sharp angle that causes vortex formation, allowing sealed fluid to flow smoothly into the groove without turbulence. The rounded corner maintains manufacturing feasibility while significantly improving fluid introduction effectiveness and preventing the vortex-related lubrication problems.
2Loss of energy
If positive pressure generation grooves are provided to separate sliding surfaces and form a fluid film, then lubricity is improved and friction is reduced, but the complex groove configuration increases manufacturing complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the groove configuration into distinct functional zones: fluid inlet and outlet grooves for fluid supply, positive pressure generation grooves for pressure buildup, and land portions for structural support. This segmentation allows each zone to be optimized independently while maintaining overall simplicity. The fluid inlet and outlet grooves communicate with the sealed fluid side, while positive pressure generation grooves are positioned to effectively separate sliding surfaces, achieving low friction without excessive complexity.
3Device complexity
If the sealed fluid amount inside the fluid inlet and outlet groove is reduced due to vortex formation, then the groove structure remains simple, but lubrication effectiveness deteriorates and sliding-induced energy loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rounded corner with predetermined radius of curvature eliminates vortex formation during sealed fluid introduction, ensuring smooth laminar flow into the fluid inlet and outlet groove. This maintains adequate fluid quantity within the groove without requiring complex structural modifications, thereby preventing lubrication deterioration and reducing sliding-induced energy loss while preserving manufacturing simplicity.
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 ensures efficient fluid introduction and distribution, improving lubrication and reducing energy loss, while maintaining effective sealing performance across varying rotation speeds.
Implementation Method 1
a fluid smoothly moves to the fluid space from the space on the side of the groove, i.e., one of the sealed fluid side space and the leakage side space which is on side of the groove or to the space on the side of the groove from the fluid space, along the inclined surface
Implementation Method 2
the sealed fluid concentrates on a wall portion of an end portion of the positive pressure generation groove in the relative rotation direction to generate a positive pressure, so that sliding surfaces are separated from each other, and a fluid film of the sealed fluid is formed between the sliding surfaces
Implementation Method 3
Therefore, lubricity is improved and low friction is realized
Implementation Method 4
at least one of the first sliding ring and the second sliding ling is provided with an inclined surface that is formed at an edge portion thereof on a side of the groove, that faces a fluid space formed between the groove of the first sliding ring and the second sliding ring
Data Source
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AI summary
There is provided a sliding component that allows easy introduction-in or out of a fluid between a groove and a communicating space. In a sliding component 10 in which a pair of sliding rings 10 and 20 rotate relative to each other and which partitions a sealed fluid side space S1 and a leakage side space S2 off from each other, a groove 13 opening to one of the spaces S1 and S2 is provided on a sliding surface 11 of the sliding ring 10, and an inclined surface 6 that faces a fluid space S10 formed between the groove 13 of the sliding ring 10 and the sliding ring 20 and that is expanded toward one of the spaces S1 and S2 is provided at an edge portion 10e of at least one of the sliding rings 10 and 20 on the side of the groove 13.