Self-Retaining Rotary Lip Seal Without Separate Retainers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing PTFE rotary lip seals require separate retainer elements or metal cases for retention, which can be cumbersome and inefficient, and do not effectively utilize the sealing lips for self-retention within the gland.
Innovation Solution
A PTFE rotary lip seal with an annular body having inner and outer radial ends, where the inner sealing lip engages with the shaft and the outer sealing lip engages with the outer member, providing self-retention through friction or axial interference, eliminating the need for separate retainers and allowing for a more compact design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate retainer elements or metal cases are used for retaining the seal body, then the seal can be retained within the gland, but the device complexity increases and the design becomes more cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function and retention function are merged into a single integrated seal body. The outer lip of the seal body directly engages with the gland to provide retention, eliminating the need for separate retainer elements or metal cases. This integration reduces the number of components while maintaining both sealing and retention functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The retention function is extracted from separate retainer elements and incorporated directly into the seal body structure. The outer lip of the seal body is designed to engage with the gland, allowing the seal body itself to serve as the retention mechanism rather than requiring external retainers.
2Reliability
If separate retainer elements are used, then the seal body can be retained, but the quantity of components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function and retention function are merged into a single integrated seal body. The outer lip of the seal body directly engages with the gland to provide retention, eliminating the need for separate retainer elements or metal cases. This integration reduces the number of components while maintaining both sealing and retention functions.
3Reliability
If separate retainer elements are used, then the seal can be retained within the gland, but the seal design becomes less compact
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function and retention function are merged into a single integrated seal body. The outer lip of the seal body directly engages with the gland to provide retention, eliminating the need for separate retainer elements or metal cases. This integration reduces the number of components while maintaining both sealing and retention functions.
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 is self-retaining within the gland, reducing the need for additional components and allowing for a more compact and efficient sealing mechanism, enhancing the seal's ability to maintain sealing pressure and retention force without external retainer elements.
Implementation Method 1
the outer sealing lip engages with the inner circumferential surface of the outer member so as to retain the annular body within the gland
Implementation Method 2
an annular body sized to be disposable within the gland and formed of a flexible material
Data Source
AI summary
A mechanical assembly includes a shaft having a central axis and an outer member having a bore disposed about the shaft, either the shaft or the outer member having a gland defined by a circumferential surface and at least one radial surface and the other one of the shaft and the outer member being angularly displaceable about the central axis. A seal has an annular body disposed within the gland and is formed of an flexible material, preferably a plastic or elastomeric material, the annular body having a main body portion with inner and outer radial ends. An inner sealing lip extends radially inwardly from the inner end of the main body portion and is configured to engage with the shaft. An outer sealing lip extends radially outwardly from the outer radial end of the main body portion and is configured to engage with the outer member.