Releasable Seal Housing With Auxiliary Scraper for Contaminants
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional linear actuators face issues with sealing lip damage due to contaminants, leading to fluid leakage and increased servicing costs, especially when a single cylinder specification is used across varying environments with different contaminant levels.
Innovation Solution
A seal housing with a releasable attachment mechanism for an auxiliary scraper seal, featuring a resiliently compressible annular flange portion and a unitary construction, allowing for easy attachment and detachment without disrupting the primary seal, and formed from Polyoxymethylene (POM) thermoplastics for durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a single specification of hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder is used across different applications, then manufacturing efficiency and cost are improved, but the sealing assembly becomes unsuitable for certain environments with high contaminant levels
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing assembly is segmented into a primary sealing lip and an optional auxiliary scraper seal that can be separately attached. This allows the basic cylinder to remain standardized while enabling customization for different environments by adding the scraper seal component when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing configuration is made dynamic by allowing the auxiliary scraper seal to be releasably attached or detached from the primary sealing assembly. This enables the system to adapt its protective features based on the specific operating environment without requiring different cylinder specifications.
2Reliability
If a scraper lip is incorporated into the sealing assembly to protect against contaminants, then reliability in high-contaminant environments is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The auxiliary scraper seal is positioned to act in advance of the primary sealing lip, scraping contaminants from the piston surface before they can reach and damage the primary seal. This preliminary protective action prevents contaminant-induced damage while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The auxiliary scraper seal acts as an intermediary component between the contaminants and the primary sealing lip. It intercepts and removes contaminants before they can contact the primary seal, thereby protecting the critical sealing function without requiring fundamental changes to the cylinder design.
3Reliability
If the sealing lips are made soft and flexible to conform to the piston, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but susceptibility to damage by contaminants increases
Solution Approach 1:
Different parts of the sealing assembly have different material properties optimized for their specific functions. The primary sealing lip is made soft and flexible to conform to the piston and create an effective seal, while the auxiliary scraper seal is made of harder, more contaminant-resistant material to protect against damage from foreign objects.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing assembly uses composite construction with the primary sealing lip made of soft elastomeric material for conformability and sealing, while the auxiliary scraper seal is made of harder plastic or metal material for contaminant resistance. This combination of materials allows each component to excel at its specific function.
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 effectively prevents contaminant-induced damage to the primary seal, allowing for adaptable use across different contaminant levels without interrupting the operation of the linear actuator, reducing maintenance costs and extending service life.
Implementation Method 1
a resiliently compressible annular flange portion
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a seal housing (102) for releasable attachment to a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder (101), the seal housing (102) being suitable for retaining a seal assembly and the seal housing (102) comprising a generally annular main body (201). The annular main body (201) defines an annular disc-shaped portion (202) having an upper surface (203), a lower surface (204), an outer peripheral edge (205) and an inner edge (206). Said inner edge (206) bounds a circular opening (207) extending the full height of said annular disc shaped portion (202) between said upper and lower surfaces (203, 204). The annular main body (201) further defines an annular collar portion (208) upstanding from the upper surface (203) of said disc shaped portion (202) adjacent said peripheral edge (205) of said disc shaped portion (202), said annular collar portion (208) extending height-wise from a base end (209) joined to said disc-shaped portion (202) to an upper end (210), and width-wise from an inner edge (211) to an outer peripheral edge (212), said inner edge (211) of said annular collar portion (208) bounding a circular opening (213) extending the full height of said annular collar portion (208). The annular main body (201) also further defines an annular flange portion (216) extending height-wise downwardly from the lower surface (204) of said disc-shaped portion (202) from a base end (217) joined to said lower surface (204) of said disc-shaped portion (202) to a distal end (218), and width wise from an inner edge (219) to an outer edge (220).