Sealing Ring Deformation for Closed Groove Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sealing rings for rotary media distributors in beverage bottling plants face challenges in assembly and replacement due to the need for opening housing grooves, leading to increased downtime and wear, especially when multiple sealing rings need to be installed.
Innovation Solution
A sealing ring design featuring areas of reduced radius on the basic seal body allows for deformation during assembly, enabling installation in closed housing grooves without disassembly, enhancing flexibility and stability while maintaining high contact pressure and integrity, and incorporating a web for additional fixation and anti-twist protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the sealing ring is mounted in a closed housing groove, then the assembly is simplified and downtime is reduced, but the sealing ring cannot be installed without deformation capability
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing base body is segmented into regions with different radial thicknesses - a first region with reduced radius and a second region with normal radius. This segmentation allows the sealing ring to deform during assembly while maintaining structural integrity in the second region, enabling installation in closed housing grooves without requiring groove disassembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The radial thickness parameter of the sealing base body is varied across different regions. The first region has a reduced radial thickness compared to the second region, creating flexibility in the first region for deformation during assembly while the second region maintains sufficient thickness for structural strength and sealing function.
2Ease of manufacture
If the housing groove is opened for assembly, then the sealing ring can be installed, but downtime increases and the groove requires rejoining
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing ring is pre-designed with regions of reduced radius during manufacturing, creating built-in flexibility zones before assembly. This preliminary structural preparation enables the sealing ring to deform and be installed into closed housing grooves without requiring the grooves to be opened or disassembled, eliminating the time-consuming rejoining process.
3Ease of operation
If the sealing ring is made flexible for assembly, then installation is easier, but structural integrity and contact pressure may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing base body is divided into functionally distinct regions: the first region with reduced radius provides flexibility for deformation during installation, while the second region with normal radius maintains structural integrity and provides the necessary contact pressure for sealing. This spatial segmentation of functions resolves the contradiction between flexibility and strength.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the sealing base body are given different local properties - the first region has reduced radial thickness for flexibility, while the second region has sufficient radial thickness for strength and sealing contact. This local differentiation of material distribution allows the sealing ring to exhibit both flexibility where needed and strength where required.
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
This design simplifies the assembly and replacement of sealing rings, reduces downtime, and improves the service life by allowing flexible deformation and anti-twist protection without elongation or material displacement, ensuring reliable sealing and reduced wear.
Implementation Method 1
the sealing base body has at least one region of reduced radius to allow deformation of the sealing base body during assembly on the first component
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a sealing ring (1) for sealing a second component, which rotates in relation to a first component, preferably for sealing a distribution channel of a rotary media distributor in a beverage filling system, comprising an annular seal main body (2) to be accommodated on the first component and a wear profiled element (3) arranged radially within the seal main body (2) for contacting the second component in a sealing manner, wherein the seal main body (2) has at least one region of reduced radius (4) in order to enable deformation of the seal main body (2) as the seal main body is assembled with the first component.