Seal Ring Recessed Sections for Automatic Transmission Friction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing seal rings for automatic transmission hydraulic systems face challenges in reducing friction and oil leakage, leading to drive loss and increased fuel consumption, with existing solutions either not effectively minimizing friction or compromising leakage performance.
Innovation Solution
A seal ring design featuring peripherally spaced recessed sections with inner walls and oil introduction openings on the inner peripheral surface, which generates a lift and forms an oil film on pillar sections, reducing friction and suppressing oil leakage by creating a fluid lubrication state.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a seal ring uses a conventional design with side surfaces forming a tapered shape, then the pressurizing load is reduced and friction is minimized, but oil leakage occurs from the gap of the abutment joint
Solution Approach 1:
The contact side-surface is divided into multiple recessed sections (6) spaced around the circumference, with pillar sections (7) between them. This segmentation allows the seal ring to reduce pressurizing load through the tapered recessed sections while the pillar sections maintain sealing contact with the ring groove, preventing oil leakage from the abutment joint gap.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the seal ring are given different functions: the recessed sections (6) with tapered shapes are designed to reduce friction by minimizing pressurizing load, while the pillar sections (7) are designed to maintain sealing contact. This local differentiation allows simultaneous achievement of low friction and reliable sealing.
2Force
If a seal ring uses recessed sections with pillar sections, then friction is reduced through lift generation, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The contact side-surface is segmented into recessed sections (6) and pillar sections (7), creating a structured pattern that generates lift when oil pressure acts on the recessed sections. This segmentation reduces friction by lifting the pillar sections away from the ring groove, while the repetitive modular pattern keeps manufacturing complexity manageable.
3Loss of energy
If the seal ring reduces pressurizing load to minimize friction, then drive loss is reduced, but oil leakage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The seal ring applies different functional qualities to different regions: recessed sections (6) are optimized for friction reduction through load cancellation, while pillar sections (7) are optimized for sealing. This local quality differentiation allows the system to reduce drive loss through friction minimization while preventing oil leakage through maintained sealing contact at the pillar sections.
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 achieves significant friction reduction and low-leakage characteristics, effectively minimizing drive loss and improving fuel efficiency by synergistically combining the effects of inner walls and oil introduction openings.
Implementation Method 1
when the seal ring rotates, the oil filling the recessed sections 6 is squeezed along inclined surfaces of converging portions 52, and a lift 60 is thereby generated. In addition, hydraulic pressure acts on the recessed sections 6 on the contact side-surface. This causes a pressing load reduction effect (cancelling pressure 61), and friction is thereby reduced.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a seal ring that has low-leakage characteristics and low-friction characteristics and can improve the drive loss of the automatic transmission of an automobile to thereby contribute to an improvement in the fuel consumption of the automobile. The seal ring is attached to a shaft groove formed on the outer peripheral surface of a shaft. A plurality of peripherally spaced recessed sections are formed on at least the inner peripheral side of a contact side-surface. Inner walls are provided on the inner peripheral side of the recessed sections, and oil introduction openings that open on an inner peripheral surface are provided on the inner peripheral side of the recessed sections. The inner walls may be provided on opposite peripheral sides of the recessed sections but may be provided only on the rear side in the rotation direction.