Mechanical Seal Stopper Structure for Rotary Ring Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional mechanical seals face issues with the rotary ring tilting and gasket slippage under high fluid pressure, leading to compromised sealing performance.

Innovation Solution

A mechanical seal design featuring a stopper with an annular and inclined part fixed to the sleeve by welding, which restricts the rotary ring's movement and rotation, combined with a gasket and flange-shaped seal parts to prevent tilting and slippage, ensuring reliable positioning and sealing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Force

If the rotary ring is subjected to large fluid pressure toward the fixed ring, then the sealing force is improved, but the rotary ring becomes tilted and sealing performance declines

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing forceVSAvoidsealing performance
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The stopper is pre-installed on the sleeve to provide preliminary counter-action against the fluid pressure that would cause the rotary ring to tilt. By positioning the stopper beforehand, it can immediately resist the tilting force when fluid pressure is applied, preventing the harmful effect before it occurs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The inclined part of the stopper converts the harmful fluid pressure that causes tilting into a beneficial positioning force. The inclined surface transforms the axial fluid pressure into a radial component that presses the rotary ring against the stopper, ensuring stable positioning while maintaining sealing force.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Ease of operation

If the gasket is used to position the rotary ring, then the rotary ring is positioned in radial direction, but the gasket may slip out from the sleeve under high pressure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning functionVSAvoidpositioning stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The positioning function is segmented between two components: the gasket handles radial positioning while the stopper handles axial positioning and prevents slippage. This division of functions allows each component to specialize in its designated role, improving overall reliability without compromising ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The stopper acts as an intermediary component between the sleeve and the rotary ring, providing additional support to prevent the gasket from slipping out. It mediates the high-pressure forces by distributing them through its inclined surface, protecting the gasket from excessive stress.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 the rotary ring from tilting and gasket slippage, maintaining stable sealing performance even under high fluid pressure by restricting movement and rotation, thus enhancing the mechanical seal's reliability.

Implementation Method 1

the inclined part and the sleeve are fixed to each other by a welded part

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWelding: Welding

Data Source

PatentEP3623669B1Mechanical seal
Publication Date: 2022.11.30 EAGLE INDS
  • EP3623669B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3623669B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

A mechanical seal in which a rotary ring can be more reliably positioned. A rotary ring unit 100 includes: a sleeve 120 fixed to a rotary shaft 500; and a rotary ring 110 of which a movement in an axial direction and a rotation with respect to the sleeve 120 is restricted, a fixed ring unit 200 includes: a fixed ring 210 configured to slide on an end surface of the rotary ring 110; and a bellows 250 which presses the fixed ring 210 toward the rotary ring 110, and the sleeve 120 is provided with a stopper 140 which restricts a movement of the rotary ring 110 toward the fixed ring 210.