Self-Energized Seal Geometry for Low Leakage and Wear
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional seals face challenges in maintaining minimal leakage and operational effectiveness under broad pressure and temperature conditions, with self-energized seals lacking the desired wear and leakage performance, and energized seals being expensive and requiring delicate handling.
Innovation Solution
A self-energized seal design featuring an annular jacket with a heel, first lip parallel to the central axis, and a second lip with an angled and planar portion, forming specific angles and dimensions to provide a contact force and wear resistance, allowing deformation to form an angle with a line perpendicular to the central axis, and made from suitable polymers or metals for enhanced performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If conventional energized seals are used, then sealing contact force is provided, but cost increases and handling becomes delicate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the separate energizing element (spring) from the seal assembly and integrates the energizing function directly into the seal body through the angled heel geometry. The heel angle itself generates the radial contact force against the shaft, eliminating the need for additional components while maintaining sealing force.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the structural support function and the energizing function into a single integrated heel structure. The angled heel simultaneously provides mechanical support and generates radial contact force through its geometry, merging what were previously separate functions into one component.
2Device complexity
If self-energized seals without energizing elements are used, then cost decreases and handling becomes easier, but wear and leakage performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the heel, specifically the angle α between the heel face and the plane perpendicular to the sealing lip axis (optimized between 15°-45°). This parameter change enables the heel to generate sufficient radial contact force through pressure differential acting on the angled surface, achieving reliable sealing performance without traditional energizing elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal design enables the pressure differential across the seal to automatically generate the necessary contact force through the angled heel geometry. The system uses its own operating pressure to energize itself, eliminating external energizing elements while maintaining reliable wear and leakage performance.
3Adaptability or versatility
If seals operate under broad pressure and temperature conditions, then versatility increases, but maintaining minimal leakage becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic lip geometry where the second lip includes both an angled portion and a planar portion. This dynamic design allows the sealing surface to adapt to varying pressure conditions, with the angled portion providing self-energization at lower pressures and the planar portion maintaining contact at higher pressures, ensuring consistent leakage performance across broad operating ranges.
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 seal achieves improved wear resistance, contact force, and reduced leakage over time, maintaining performance under cyclic pressure and temperature conditions, while being more robust and cost-effective compared to conventional energized seals.
Implementation Method 1
the heel is adapted to deform down the central axis to form an angle, β, with a line perpendicular to the central axis, where β is greater than 3°
Implementation Method 2
a contact force of the second lip against the moving shaft measured after completion of Test 1 is in a range between about 1 and about 25 N/mm, and where a wear length on the second lip measured after completion of Test 1 is bigger than about 0.1 mm and smaller than about 2.5 mm
Data Source
AI summary
A seal including: an annular jacket including an annular jacket including a body including a heel, a first lip, and a second lip defining an annular recess oriented down a central axis, where the first lip is substantially parallel to the central axis, where the second lip includes an angled portion adjacent to the heel and a planar portion adjacent to the angled portion, where the angled portion forms an angle, α, with a line perpendicular to the central axis, where α is between 30 and 90°, where the heel has an axial length, LH, where the first lip has an axial length, LFL, and where LH≤3 LFL.