Side Lip Groove Structure for Lubricant-Retaining Seals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sealing devices experience lubricant depletion over time, leading to accelerated wear and noise generation due to the lack of effective lubricant retention and imbalance in lubricant distribution on the sliding surface of the side lip.
Innovation Solution
The sealing device incorporates a side lip with a sliding surface featuring a plurality of annular grooves, where the annular protrusions between grooves protrude most at the center, decreasing symmetrically, and a tip portion making a planar contact with the annular member, allowing lubricant retention and minimizing imbalance, while preventing mud water entry and lubricant flow-out.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If lubricant is applied on the sliding surface of the side lip, then the side lip can effectively prevent dust or mud water from entering the device, but the lubricant becomes depleted over time leading to accelerated wear and noise
Solution Approach 1:
The sliding surface of the side lip is segmented into multiple annular grooves that divide the lubricant retention space into separate sections. Each groove acts as an independent lubricant reservoir, preventing lubricant depletion in one area from affecting the entire sliding surface. This segmentation allows lubricant to be distributed and retained across multiple zones, extending the duration of effective lubrication.
Solution Approach 2:
The annular grooves create localized regions with different lubricant retention characteristics. The grooves are positioned to provide optimal lubricant storage at critical high-wear areas of the sliding surface, while maintaining appropriate lubricant flow paths. This local quality enhancement ensures that lubricant is available exactly where needed for dust prevention and wear protection.
2Ease of manufacture
If the side lip sliding surface is made planar for simple manufacturing, then manufacturing is easier, but lubricant distribution becomes imbalanced leading to depletion in certain areas
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of creating a complex asymmetric surface profile, the patent segments the sliding surface by adding annular grooves to the otherwise planar surface. This segmentation approach maintains manufacturing simplicity while the grooves themselves create the necessary lubricant distribution channels, avoiding the need for difficult asymmetric surface machining.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds the dimensional feature of annular grooves (depth dimension) to the planar sliding surface, rather than attempting to create complex asymmetric profiles in the surface elevation. This dimensional addition provides lubricant retention and distribution functionality while keeping the overall surface geometry simple and manufacturable.
3Reliability
If the side lip sliding surface is provided with asymmetric protrusion shapes to guide lubricant flow, then lubricant distribution may be improved, but manufacturing complexity increases and imbalance in movement directions occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs controlled asymmetric features within the annular grooves - specifically, the protrusions between grooves have asymmetric profiles that guide lubricant flow in specific directions. However, this asymmetry is localized within the groove structure rather than the overall surface geometry, maintaining manufacturing feasibility while achieving lubricant flow control.
Solution Approach 2:
The lubricant flow guidance function is segmented into multiple discrete annular grooves rather than attempting to create a single complex asymmetric surface profile. Each groove provides localized flow guidance, and the cumulative effect of multiple segmented grooves achieves comprehensive lubricant distribution across the sliding surface.
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
This configuration effectively suppresses lubricant depletion, reduces wear, and prevents noise generation, thereby enhancing the durability of the sealing device.
Implementation Method 1
the side lip is provided with a plurality of annular grooves on the sliding surface, so that the side lip can retain lubricant in the plurality of annular grooves
Implementation Method 2
the parts that form annular protrusions between adjacent ones of these annular grooves all protrude most at the center in the width direction, the amount of protrusion gradually decreasing with increasing separation from the center, both sides of the center in the width direction are symmetric in shape
Implementation Method 3
a tip portion of the sliding surface of the side lip on a distal side of a region, which is provided with the plurality of annular grooves, is configured to make a planar contact with an end face of the annular member
Data Source
AI summary
A sealing device capable of suppressing depletion of lubricant is provided. A sliding surface of a side lip 220 at a position away from a distal end of the side lip 220 is provided with a plurality of annular grooves 222 adjacent each other, each of all parts that form annular protrusions 223 between adjacent annular grooves 222 protrudes most at a center in a width direction thereof, with an amount of protrusion gradually decreasing with increasing separation from the center, and both sides of the center in the width direction are symmetric in shape. A tip portion of the sliding surface of the side lip 220 on the distal side of a region, which is provided with the plurality of annular grooves 222, is configured to make a planar contact with an end face of the annular member.