Sealing Ring With Washer Spring for Stable Radial Prestress
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sealing rings face challenges in maintaining consistent radial prestress and sealing performance across varying diameters and installation situations, particularly in external sealing systems, where annular helical springs are cumbersome and prone to assembly issues.
Innovation Solution
A sealing ring design featuring a washer-like spring tensioning element connected to the sealing leg, allowing for omnidirectional use and easy production, with the spring providing consistent radial prestress and flexibility to compensate for large deflection movements without changing pressing force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If an annular helical spring is used as a tensioning element in external sealing systems, then radial prestress can be provided, but the device becomes cumbersome and assembly becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing ring is divided into two functional parts: a radially internal sealing ring body and a radially external tensioning element. This segmentation allows the tensioning element to be a simpler, flat spring structure rather than a complex annular helical spring, while still providing the necessary radial prestress function.
Solution Approach 2:
The tensioning element is designed as a flat spring structure that extends in the axial direction rather than forming a three-dimensional annular helical structure. This dimensional simplification reduces manufacturing complexity and assembly difficulty while maintaining the radial prestress function through the spring's elastic deformation.
2Reliability
If the sealing ring is designed for specific installation orientations, then optimal sealing performance can be achieved, but the adaptability to different installation situations is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing ring is designed with rotational symmetry and uniform distribution of sealing lips and tensioning elements, allowing it to function effectively in any radial orientation. The sealing legs are evenly spaced around the circumference, enabling the ring to be installed in any orientation without compromising sealing performance, thus achieving universal applicability.
3Reliability
If the pressing force of the sealing lip is maintained constant, then reliable sealing contact is ensured, but the ability to compensate for large deflection movements is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing leg is designed with a hinge connection to the sealing ring body, transforming it from a rigid structure to a dynamic, movable component. This hinge connection allows the sealing leg to pivot and follow deflection movements of the machine element while the spring continuously applies radial prestress, maintaining sealing contact reliability during dynamic operation.
4Stability of the object's composition
If a complex annular helical spring is used, then radial stabilization can be achieved, but manufacturing and assembly precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The complex three-dimensional annular helical spring structure is extracted and replaced with a simpler flat spring structure. This extracted design maintains the essential radial stabilization function through elastic deformation while significantly reducing manufacturing complexity and assembly precision requirements compared to the original annular helical design.
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 sealing ring maintains consistently good performance characteristics over a long service life, regardless of diameter or installation orientation, with the washer-like spring ensuring reliable sealing contact and easy assembly, while minimizing the risk of assembly errors and external influences.
Implementation Method 1
a tensioning element for stabilizing the sealing leg in the radial direction. The tensioning element is annular and formed by a spring
Data Source
AI summary
A sealing ring is provided for use, e.g., in boring machines or wind turbines, among other intended uses. The sealing ring includes an axial leg and a sealing leg with a sealing lip. The sealing leg is connected to a first end face of the axial leg by means of a joint. The sealing ring further includes a tensioning element for stabilizing the sealing leg in the radial direction. The tensioning element is annular and formed by a spring connected to the sealing leg.