Sealing Device Lip Posture Stabilization via Bent Adaptor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sealing devices fail to stabilize the posture of the sealing lip made of rubber-like elastomer, leading to inadequate sealing performance due to vibration and potential damage from deformation.
Innovation Solution
A sealing device with a positioning member featuring a bent portion that positions the sealing lip from the outer peripheral side, preventing contact with the edge portion and maintaining the sealing lip's posture, comprising a first sealing member made of rubber-like elastomer, a second sealing member made of resin, and a positioning member that includes a bent portion to stabilize the sealing lip.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the sealing lip is made of rubber-like elastomer to ensure flexibility and sealing contact, then sealing adaptability is improved, but the sealing lip becomes prone to vibration and deformation leading to unstable posture
Solution Approach 1:
A positioning member is introduced as an intermediary component between the sealing lip and the external environment. This positioning member includes a positioning portion that contacts the sealing lip and a bent portion that extends toward the shaft outer peripheral surface, providing support and stabilization to the sealing lip without restricting its sealing function.
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning member changes the mechanical parameters of the sealing lip system by providing additional support points and constraints. The bent portion of the positioning member creates a support structure that reduces vibration and deformation of the sealing lip, thereby improving posture stability while maintaining the elastomeric material properties for sealing adaptability.
2Reliability
If the sealing lip extends freely toward the shaft to maintain sealing contact, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but the sealing lip is susceptible to damage from deformation and vibration
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning member with its bent portion provides beforehand support to the sealing lip, cushioning it against excessive deformation and vibration before damage can occur. The bent portion acts as a preventive support structure that limits the amplitude of vibrations and prevents extreme deformation that would lead to sealing lip failure.
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning member serves as a protective intermediary between the sealing lip and the harsh operating conditions including vibration and deformation forces. It absorbs and distributes these forces, protecting the sealing lip from direct damage while allowing it to maintain effective sealing contact with the shaft.
3Device complexity
If no positioning structure is provided for the sealing lip, then device complexity is reduced, but the sealing lip cannot be properly positioned and is prone to vibration and turning outward
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning member is segmented into distinct functional portions: a positioning portion that contacts the sealing lip and a bent portion that extends toward the shaft. This segmentation allows each portion to perform its specific function independently, providing effective positioning and support with a relatively simple structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning member provides partial support to the sealing lip rather than complete constraint, allowing the sealing lip to maintain its sealing function while receiving sufficient support to prevent vibration and deformation. The bent portion extends toward but does not necessarily contact the shaft, providing support only when needed.
Data Source
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AI summary
There is provided a sealing device for sealing an annular gap between a housing a shaft inserted into a shaft hole for preventing leaking of a fluid on one side in an axial direction to another side in the axial direction that is capable of stabilizing the posture of the sealing lip of the first sealing member made of rubber-like elastomer and exhibiting a good sealing performance. The sealing device is characterized by comprising: a first sealing member (120) made of rubber-like elastomer, a second sealing member (140) made of resin, an adaptor (160) including a positioning portion (161) that positions the first sealing member (120) in the axial direction, and a case (110), wherein the adaptor (160) has a bent portion (163) on one side of an inner peripheral end portion of the positioning portion (161) in the axial direction, in which an edge portion (165) at a tip (164) is bent toward an outer peripheral side so as to be spaced apart from an outer peripheral surface of a sealing lip (123) and a contacting portion (166) that is positioned further to an inner peripheral side from the tip (165) is in surface contact with the outer peripheral surface of the sealing lip (123).