Mechanical Seal Sliding Surface Grooves for Bidirectional Lubrication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mechanical seals cannot effectively handle both low-speed and high-speed rotations in both forward and reverse directions, leading to inefficiencies in lubrication and fluid leakage.
Innovation Solution
A sliding component with a pair of sliding surfaces featuring fluid-side and leakage-side grooves, deep grooves, and communication grooves that stabilize fluid flow and collection, allowing smooth operation across varying rotation speeds and directions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If spiral grooves extend in radial direction while inclining in circumferential directions to generate dynamic pressure, then lubricity is improved at high speed, but the mechanical seal cannot cope with both forward and reverse rotation directions
Solution Approach 1:
The sliding surface is segmented into multiple groove systems: forward rotation grooves (first fluid-side groove, first leakage-side groove) and reverse rotation grooves (second fluid-side groove, second leakage-side groove). Each groove system is optimized for a specific rotation direction, allowing the seal to maintain effective lubrication in both forward and reverse rotations without compromise
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the sliding surface are assigned different groove configurations tailored to specific rotation directions. The forward rotation grooves are positioned and oriented to optimize lubrication during forward rotation, while reverse rotation grooves are configured separately for reverse rotation optimization, enabling direction-specific performance enhancement
2Reliability
If fluid-side grooves supply sealed fluid into the gap between sliding surfaces to improve lubricity, then lubrication is enhanced, but positive pressure builds up in the grooves at high speed rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The excess sealed fluid that would otherwise build up as positive pressure in the fluid-side grooves during high-speed rotation is extracted and redirected into the leakage-side grooves. This pressure relief mechanism prevents harmful pressure buildup while maintaining the lubrication benefits of fluid supply
Solution Approach 2:
The leakage-side grooves serve as an intermediary channel that receives excess fluid from the fluid-side grooves. This intermediate structure facilitates pressure equalization by providing a pathway for fluid redistribution, preventing pressure accumulation while preserving lubrication function
3Reliability
If leakage-side grooves suction gas or fluid from the leakage side to generate dynamic pressure, then sliding surfaces separate and lubricity improves, but fluid leakage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The leakage-side grooves are designed to convert the potentially harmful effect of fluid suction into a beneficial dynamic pressure generation mechanism. By strategically positioning these grooves and controlling their geometry, the suction action that would normally cause leakage is transformed into a pressure-generating force that separates the sliding surfaces and enhances lubrication
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
Enhances lubricity and reduces fluid leakage by stabilizing fluid pressure and flow, ensuring efficient operation from low-speed to high-speed rotations in both forward and reverse directions.
Implementation Method 1
the lubricity between the sliding surfaces is improved mainly by a sealed fluid supplied from a closed end portion of the fluid-side groove into a gap between the sliding surfaces
Implementation Method 2
since the sealed fluid supplied from the fluid-side groove into the gap between the sliding surfaces is collected in the deep groove, a positive pressure in the fluid-side groove is suppressed
Implementation Method 3
a gas on the leakage side is suctioned from starting end portions on the radially inner side of the spiral grooves on the radially inner side, and a dynamic pressure is generated at terminating end portions, so that the sliding surfaces are slightly separated from each other
Implementation Method 4
a dynamic pressure is generated at terminating end portions, so that the sliding surfaces are slightly separated from each other, and the lubricity between the sliding surfaces is improved
Implementation Method 5
the spiral grooves on the radially outer side suction the sealed fluid between the sliding surfaces, and discharge the sealed fluid to the radially outer side, so that the leakage of the sealed fluid into the space on the leakage side is suppressed
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a sliding component that allows sliding surfaces to smoothly slide against each other from a low-speed state to a high-speed state in both forward and reverse relative rotation directions. A deep groove is provided that partitions a fluid-side region where a fluid-side groove and a fluid-side reverse groove are provided and a leakage-side region where leakage-side grooves and leakage-side reverse grooves are provided off from each other.