Rotating Shaft Seal Cooling Spool for Easy Removal and Cleaning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing rotating shaft seals face challenges with overheating, leading to damage and leakage issues, and current cooling systems are difficult to install and remove without causing deformation or requiring special tools and alignment.

Innovation Solution

A rotating shaft seal assembly featuring a cooling spool with radially extending walls that forms an internal cooling space or channel, allowing for easy installation and removal without deformation, and can be easily cleaned, with no need for rotational alignment or special tools.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If a coiled tube is used as a cooling channel within the seal, then uniform cooling of the seal is achieved, but installation and removal of the cooling channel becomes difficult requiring special tools and rotational alignment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling uniformityVSAvoidinstallation ease

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling channel is divided into two functional parts: a fixed coiled tube portion that provides the cooling path, and a removable spool portion that facilitates installation and removal. The spool can be inserted and removed independently, eliminating the need for special tools and rotational alignment while the coiled tube remains fixed to provide uniform cooling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The spool acts as an intermediary component between the cooling system and the seal housing. It provides a temporary structure that guides the coiled tube into position during installation, then can be removed without affecting the coiled tube or requiring deformation of any components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the cooling channel is permanently installed within the seal housing, then cooling effectiveness is maintained, but modification or removal for cleaning becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling effectivenessVSAvoidcleaning ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling system is segmented into a permanent coiled tube portion and a removable spool portion. This allows the coiled tube to remain fixed for continuous cooling effectiveness, while the spool can be independently removed for cleaning or maintenance without affecting the cooling channel integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from a static permanent installation to a dynamic configuration where the spool can be inserted and removed as needed. This provides flexibility for cleaning and maintenance while maintaining the permanent cooling infrastructure when operational.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If a cooling spool with protruding ends is used to facilitate installation, then installation becomes easier, but deformation of the spool ends occurs during installation and removal

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation easeVSAvoidspool deformation

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The spool ends are pre-formed with engagement features that interface with corresponding features in the seal housing. This preliminary design eliminates the need for deformation during installation, as the spool fits into place without requiring bending or shaping of its ends.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of deforming the spool ends to create engagement features, the design inverts the approach by pre-forming complementary features in both the spool and housing that mate together without deformation. The housing receives the spool in its original formed state.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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 provides effective cooling without deformation or contact with rotating components, reducing manufacturing costs and simplifying the installation process, while allowing for flexible adaptation to changing cooling needs.

Implementation Method 1

a cooling liquid can be circulated from the cooling inlet through the cooling passage to the cooling outlet... so as to decrease or increase a temperature of the first seal

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS11746908B2Rotating shaft seal having an easily installed and easily removed internal cooling channel

Publication Date: 2023.09.05 FLOWSERVE PTE LTD

AI summary

An open cooling space or spiral cooling channel is formed between channel walls of a spool and an outer housing of a rotating shaft seal. The spool is sealed to the housing at the two ends thereof, does not intrude into the cooling inlet or outlet, and is axially removable and exchangeable without being distorted, thereby avoiding damage to the spool and/or contact between the spool and rotating seal elements. Due to the easy installation and removal of the spool, it can be installed as an upgrade after seal installation, and is easily cleaned and replaced. The cooling channel can be terminated by inlet and outlet rings, such that the spool does not require any rotational alignment within the seal assembly. The cooling channel can have a square or rectangular cross-section, thereby increasing thermal exchange between the cooling channel and the cooling channel spool rendering the cooling more efficient.