Centrifugal Separator Compression Seal Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Centrifugal separators for cleaning crankcase gases face challenges in achieving reliable sealing, particularly in high-volume production, due to the use of rubber seals which are difficult to check and assemble, leading to potential leaks and inefficiencies.

Innovation Solution

A centrifugal separator design featuring a compression seal with elongated flaps and recesses provides a reliable sealing mechanism, eliminating the need for separate rubber seals and simplifying the assembly process, ensuring effective sealing between the stationary casing and other modules.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If rubber seals (such as O rings) are used for sealing the stationary casing, then sealing function is achieved, but it becomes difficult to check and control the function or presence of the seal during high-volume production

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing functionVSAvoidassembly and verification process
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the sealing function from a separate rubber seal component and integrates it directly into the housing structure through molded-in seals. This eliminates the need for separate seal components that are difficult to verify during assembly, while maintaining the sealing function through the integrated design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the sealing function with the housing structure by integrating the seal directly into the molding of the housing. This combination eliminates separate assembly steps for installing seals and makes it easier to verify sealing integrity during production, as the seal is inherently part of the housing structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If separate rubber seals are used, then sealing is achieved, but manual assembly may damage the rubber seals and automatic production becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing functionVSAvoidautomatic production capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSExtent of automation

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing function is merged with the housing structure through integrated molding, eliminating separate seal components that require careful handling during assembly. This integration enables automatic production processes to install the sealing structure without risk of damage to separate rubber seal components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The seal is preliminarily formed as an integral part of the housing structure during the housing manufacturing process. This preliminary integration of the sealing function eliminates the need for separate seal installation steps that could cause damage during manual or automatic assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If traditional sealing methods with separate seals are used, then sealing is achieved, but it is difficult to automatically produce the separator and verify seal presence

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing functionVSAvoidhigh-volume production efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing function is merged with the housing structure through integrated molding, eliminating separate seal components and their associated installation and verification steps. This significantly improves productivity in high-volume production by streamlining the assembly process and enabling easier verification of sealing integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the complexity of separate seal installation and verification from the production process by integrating the seal directly into the housing structure. This extraction of the sealing function from separate components simplifies the overall manufacturing process and improves production efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 solution enhances sealing capacity, reduces the risk of seal omission during production, and streamlines the assembly and verification process, maintaining the integrity of the separation process while eliminating the need for additional rubber seals.

Implementation Method 1

a compression force sealing is achieved by means of the flap surface being in contact with the recess surface

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

a mixture of fluids having different densities may be separated from one another through use of a centrifugal separator

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Implementation Method 3

separation of oil from gas vented from a crankcase

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDensity gradient separation: Density Gradient

Data Source

PatentEP4385626A1A centrifugal separator for cleaning gas
Publication Date: 2024.06.19 ALFDEX
  • EP4385626A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4385626A1 patent drawingFigure 2~5
  • EP4385626A1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

The present invention provides a centrifugal separator (1) for cleaning gas containing contaminants. The centrifugal separator comprising a stationary casing (2), enclosing a separation space (3) through which a gas flow is permitted, a gas inlet (20) arranged to permit supply of the gas to be cleaned into the stationary casing (2), a rotating member (7) comprising a plurality of separation members (9) arranged in the separation space (3) and being arranged to rotate around a first axis (X) of rotation, a gas outlet (28) arranged to permit discharge of cleaned gas out from the stationary casing (2), a drainage outlet (29) arranged in the stationary casing (2) and configured to permit discharge of liquid contaminants that have been separated from the gas out from the stationary casing, a drive unit (26) comprising a drive member (18) for rotating the rotating member (7). The centrifugal separator (1) further comprises a compression seal arranged for sealing stationary casing (2) against a further module (20, 26, 28) and comprising at least one elongated flap and at least one recess, the compression seal having a continuous extension around a second axis, wherein said at least one elongated flap is arranged in said at least one recess such that a compression force sealing is achieved by means of the flap surface being in contact with the recess surface.