Segmented Sealing Gasket for Roto-Translatory Motion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sealing gaskets for vehicles with roto-translatory motion fail to maintain effective sealing under severe conditions due to limited spacing between sealing lips, especially in gaskets with reduced radial sections, allowing contaminants to pass through wear areas during axial movement.

Innovation Solution

A self-supporting sealing gasket design featuring distinct sealing rings with adjustable spacing between sealing lips, facilitated by a spacer ring, ensures effective sealing by preventing contaminants from entering the lubricant compartment, even in gaskets with reduced radial thickness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If two sealing lips are arranged at a large axial distance to prevent contaminant passage during axial movement, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but the gasket requires increased radial section which is not available in reduced radial section designs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing effectivenessVSAvoidradial section
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from a single sealing ring with two sealing lips to two separate sealing rings, each with one sealing lip. This dimensional reorganization allows the sealing lips to be positioned at the required axial distance apart while maintaining a compact radial profile, effectively resolving the contradiction between sealing effectiveness and radial section constraints.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Device complexity

If a single sealing ring with two sealing lips is used to seal against contaminants, then the structure is compact, but the spacing between sealing lips is limited preventing adequate sealing under severe conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure compactnessVSAvoidsealing capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the single sealing ring into two separate sealing rings, each equipped with one sealing lip. This segmentation allows each sealing lip to be optimally positioned for its specific sealing function, with adequate axial spacing between them, while maintaining overall structural compactness through the integrated design of the two rings working together.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If two sealing lips are spaced far apart to account for axial displacement, then contaminant blocking is improved, but the first sealing ring cannot support the lips if radial section is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontaminant blockingVSAvoidsealing ring support capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the sealing function into two separate rings, each ring only needs to support one sealing lip rather than two lips spaced far apart. This dramatically reduces the radial section requirement for each individual ring, making the design manufacturable and supportable even in reduced radial section applications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 design allows for increased spacing between sealing lips, enhancing the gasket's durability and effectiveness under severe operating conditions, such as those found in earth-moving machines, by ensuring contaminants are blocked, regardless of radial thickness, and reduces component count for manufacturing and inventory.

Implementation Method 1

a first ring of elastomeric material with a metallic inner core... adapted to cooperate in use with the movable member to counter the passage of lubricant from the first ambient to the second ambient

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 2

a first ring of elastomeric material with a metallic inner core... adapted to cooperate in use with the movable member to counter the passage of external contaminants

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Implementation Method 3

an annular wiper element, made of polyurethane or elastomeric material, axially interposed between the first and the second sealing ring and having an annular wiping lip adapted to cooperate in use with the movable member to counter the passage of external contaminants towards the first sealing ring

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical Force: Mechanical Force

Data Source

PatentEP3078883B1A gasket
Publication Date: 2019.01.23 FREUDENBERG SEALING TECHNOLOGIES SAS DI EXTERNA ITALIA SRLU
  • EP3078883B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3078883B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3078883B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

It is described a gasket (1, 1') for sealing a compartment (2) between a fixed member (3) and a roto-translatory member (4); the gasket (1, 1') comprises: a metal support ring (10), having an annular fixing portion (11) adapted to be connected to the fixed member (3); first sealing means (12) internally carried by the fixing portion (11) of the support ring (10) in a position adjacent to a first ambient (5) containing lubricant and defining two first annular sealing lips (13) axially spaced to cooperate in use with the roto-translatory member (4) and to counter the passage of lubricant/external contaminants between the first ambient (5) and a second ambient (6) connected with the outside; and second sealing means (14) axially interposed between the first sealing means (12) and the second ambient (6) and defining a second sealing lip (15) axially spaced from the first annular sealing lips (13) and adapted to cooperate with the roto-translatory member (4) to counter the passage of external contaminants towards the first sealing lips (13); the first sealing means (12) comprise two first distinct sealing rings (25), axially arranged side by side and respectively carrying a relative first sealing lip (13).