Seal Stack Assembly With Support Rings for High-Pressure Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Seal stack assemblies in industrial applications face failure due to excessive pressures, which cause damage and failure of seal components, particularly under extreme operating conditions such as high pressures and temperatures.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a seal stack assembly design that includes support rings between the support retainers and lipseals, which are configured to flex and conform to the curvature of the seal components, reducing stress concentrations and preventing wear, thereby enhancing the seal's durability and preventing failure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If seal stack assembly is used to compensate for articulation and deformation under extreme pressures, then sealing reliability is improved, but seal components suffer damage and failure due to excessive pressure
Solution Approach 1:
A support ring is introduced as an intermediary component between the seal and the high-pressure environment. The support ring absorbs and distributes the excessive pressure, acting as a mediator that protects the seal from direct exposure to damaging forces while maintaining sealing functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The support ring provides beforehand cushioning by being positioned in advance to absorb and distribute excessive pressure before it can damage the seal components. This preemptive protection mechanism prevents stress concentrations from reaching critical levels that would cause seal failure.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If support rings are added to reduce stress on lipseals, then lipseal durability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support ring is designed as a flexible component that can deform and adapt to the sealing interface geometry. This flexibility allows the support ring to effectively reduce stress on the lipseal while maintaining a relatively simple structural form that does not significantly increase assembly complexity.
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 use of support rings in the seal stack assembly significantly reduces stress on the lipseals, preventing wear and prolonging their lifespan, and effectively prevents failure under high-pressure conditions, ensuring a reliable radial seal between components.
Implementation Method 1
support rings between the support retainers and lipseals, which are configured to flex and conform to the curvature of the seal components
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods include providing an annular seal stack for an assembly. The seal stack is disposed within an annulus formed between a probe and a housing of the assembly and configured to provide a radial seal between the probe and the housing. The seal stack includes a first support retainer, a first lipseal, a first seal support system comprising at least one support ring disposed between the first support retainer and the first lipseal, a second support retainer configured to support the first lipseal, a second lipseal, a second seal support system comprising at least one support ring disposed between the second support retainer and the second lipseal, and a third support retainer configured to support the second lipseal.