Sealing Arrangement Coolant Flow Direction for Hydrodynamic Machine
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Solution Overview
Problem
Sealing arrangements in hydrodynamic machines face challenges in maintaining effective sealing, lubrication, and cooling, particularly when using water or water mixtures as working mediums, leading to leakage and increased maintenance costs due to rapid wear of sealing surfaces.
Innovation Solution
A sealing arrangement with a sealing housing that includes a wall protruding into a coolant space to direct coolant flow, improving cooling and lubrication efficiency at the abutment interface, and optionally featuring additional sealing rings and locking elements to enhance durability and assembly efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sealing arrangement with sliding sealing rings is used in a hydrodynamic machine, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but the sealing surfaces wear out rapidly when water or water mixtures are used as working medium
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces coolant as an intermediary substance that flows through the coolant space between the sealing rings. This coolant acts as a mediator that reduces direct contact wear between the sealing surfaces by providing a lubricating film, while still maintaining the sealing function. The coolant space is specifically designed to allow coolant flow adjacent to the abutment interface, reducing friction and wear.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes hydraulic principles by introducing a coolant fluid flow through the sealing arrangement. The coolant flows through the coolant space, creating fluid pressure and flow patterns that enhance lubrication between the sealing surfaces. This hydraulic approach replaces dry sliding contact with fluid-film lubrication, significantly reducing wear.
2Reliability
If sealing rings are used to seal the space between shaft and housing, then leakage is prevented, but the sealing arrangement requires sufficient cooling and lubrication to avoid malfunction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the cooling function with the sealing structure by integrating the coolant space directly into the sealing arrangement. The coolant space is positioned adjacent to the abutment interface between sealing rings, combining the sealing and cooling functions into a single integrated component rather than separate systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The coolant flowing through the coolant space serves multiple functions simultaneously: it cools the sealing surfaces, lubricates the abutment interface, and removes heat generated by friction. This multi-functional approach reduces the need for separate cooling and lubrication systems.
3Ease of manufacture
If the sealing housing is manufactured with separate components, then assembly flexibility is improved, but manufacturing cost and assembly time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the sealing housing and the coolant directing wall into a single integral component. This merging of parts reduces the total number of components that need to be manufactured and assembled, thereby improving manufacturing efficiency and reducing assembly time while maintaining the necessary functional flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The integral sealing housing incorporates multiple functions within a single component: it provides the sealing structure, directs coolant flow through integrated walls, and maintains the coolant space. This multi-functional design reduces part count and simplifies manufacturing while preserving assembly flexibility.
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 provides a more reliable and durable sealing arrangement that reduces leakage and maintenance costs by improving cooling and lubrication efficiency, ensuring effective sealing between the shaft and housing, and simplifying the assembly and manufacturing process.
Implementation Method 1
The sealing housing comprises a wall protruding into the coolant space. The wall is configured to direct a flow of coolant in the coolant space
Implementation Method 2
The sealing arrangement comprises a coolant space adjacent to the first abutment interface
Implementation Method 3
improving cooling and lubrication efficiency at the abutment interface
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~6
AI summary
A sealing arrangement (1) is disclosed for a hydrodynamic machine (3). The sealing arrangement (1) is configured to seal a space (5) between a shaft (7) and a housing (9) of the hydrodynamic machine (3). The sealing arrangement (1) comprises a sealing housing (11), and a first sealing ring (13), and a second sealing ring (15). The first sealing ring (13) is connected to the shaft (7) and the second sealing ring (15) arranged in the sealing housing (11). The second sealing ring (15) is configured to sealingly abut against the first sealing ring (13) in a first abutment interface (17). The sealing housing (11) comprises a wall (21) protruding into a coolant space (19) adjacent to the first abutment interface (17) for directing a flow of coolant in the coolant space (19). The present disclosure further relates to a hydrodynamic machine (3) and a vehicle (2) comprising a hydrodynamic machine (3).