Seal Ring Torque Reduction via Foreign Matter Discharge Grooves
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing seal rings for automotive transmissions face challenges in reducing rotational torque while preventing fluid leakage, as foreign matter intrusion into dynamic pressure generation grooves impairs their function and accelerates wear-out, and existing solutions either fail to reduce torque effectively or lead to fluid leakage.
Innovation Solution
A seal ring design featuring abutment joint parts, dynamic pressure generation grooves, and foreign matter discharging grooves or holes that catch and discharge foreign matter intruding from the abutment joint part, preventing its entry into dynamic pressure generation grooves and maintaining fluid pressure by guiding it outside or to the inner peripheral surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If dynamic pressure generation grooves are provided to reduce rotational torque, then rotational torque is reduced, but foreign matter intrudes from the abutment joint part into the grooves causing wear-out and loss of dynamic pressure effect
Solution Approach 1:
The sliding surface is segmented into three distinct zones: a foreign matter introduction groove at the upstream end to capture foreign matter, dynamic pressure generation grooves in the middle section to reduce torque, and a foreign matter discharge groove at the downstream end to expel captured foreign matter. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function independently, preventing foreign matter from reaching the dynamic pressure grooves while maintaining torque reduction effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The foreign matter introduction groove and discharge groove act as intermediary structures that intercept and remove foreign matter before it can intrude into the dynamic pressure generation grooves. These intermediary grooves serve as protective barriers, capturing particles from the abutment joint part and transporting them to the discharge groove, thereby protecting the critical dynamic pressure grooves from contamination and wear.
2Reliability
If grooves are provided to remove foreign matter from the sliding surface, then foreign matter is removed, but sealed fluid leaks from the groove causing increased leakage amount
Solution Approach 1:
The grooves are designed with locally optimized characteristics: the foreign matter introduction groove and discharge groove have specific depths and configurations that allow them to capture and expel foreign matter while maintaining sealing integrity. The discharge groove is positioned and dimensioned to discharge foreign matter to a non-sealing region, ensuring that fluid leakage is minimized while still achieving the foreign matter removal function.
Solution Approach 2:
The abutment joint part, which is a source of foreign matter intrusion, is converted into a beneficial feature by designing the foreign matter introduction groove to deliberately capture foreign matter at this location. The groove system transforms the harmful effect of foreign matter intrusion into a controlled process where foreign matter is captured, transported, and discharged to a safe location, turning a potential failure mode into a protective mechanism.
3Reliability
If the groove depth is increased to effectively discharge foreign matter, then foreign matter discharge capability is improved, but the groove becomes deeper causing potential fluid leakage paths
Solution Approach 1:
The groove system is designed with careful consideration of the radial dimension (groove depth) and circumferential position. The foreign matter discharge groove is positioned to discharge foreign matter radially outward to a non-sealing region, utilizing the radial dimension to create an effective discharge path without compromising the sealing function. The groove depth is optimized to be sufficient for foreign matter discharge while maintaining sealing integrity by not extending too deeply into the sealing region.
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 seal ring effectively reduces rotational torque and prevents fluid leakage by ensuring foreign matter does not impair the dynamic pressure generation function, thereby maintaining sealing performance and reducing wear-out.
Implementation Method 1
there has been known technology for providing a groove that guides sealed fluid to the side of the sliding surface of a seal ring to generate dynamic pressure
Implementation Method 2
foreign matter discharging grooves that are capable of catching foreign matter intruding from the abutment joint part and discharging the caught foreign matter to an outside of a sliding part
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a seal ring capable of stably reducing a rotational torque while preventing the leakage of sealed fluid. The seal ring includes: an abutment joint part (110) provided at one portion in a circumferential direction thereof; a plurality of dynamic pressure generation grooves (120) provided at intervals in the circumferential direction on a side of a sliding surface thereof sliding on a lateral wall surface of an annular groove; and foreign matter discharging grooves (130) that are provided between a region in which the plurality of dynamic pressure generation grooves (120) is arranged and the abutment joint part (110) in the circumferential direction on the side of the sliding surface sliding on the lateral wall surface, and that are capable of catching foreign matter intruding from the abutment joint part (110) and discharging the caught foreign matter to an outside of a sliding part between the seal ring and the lateral wall surface.