Single-Polymer Bearing Seal for Recyclable High-Speed Sealing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sealing devices for bearing units are costly and environmentally impactful due to complex manufacturing processes involving metal and vulcanized rubber, which are difficult to recycle and fail to provide reliable seals at high contact speeds.

Innovation Solution

A sealing device made from a single polymer material, specifically a blend of polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) with friction modifying fillers and glass microspheres, produced through injection moulding, which offers improved mechanical strength and dimensional stability, reducing waste and enabling 100% recyclability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If sealing devices are made from metal and vulcanized rubber, then sealing performance is achieved, but manufacturing complexity and environmental impact increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing performanceVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple materials (metal shield and elastomer) into a single integrated sealing device through co-moulding, eliminating the need for separate assembly steps and reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining sealing performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses composite materials consisting of a metal shield portion and an elastomer portion co-moulded together, achieving both the structural integrity of metal and the sealing properties of elastomer in a single component

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If sealing devices use metal and vulcanized rubber, then sealing function is provided, but recyclability is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing functionVSAvoidrecyclability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the sealing device into distinct functional portions (metal shield portion and elastomer portion) that are co-moulded but can be separately processed and recycled, enabling material recovery while maintaining sealing function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables recovery of both metal and elastomer materials through the co-moulded design, allowing both materials to be discarded and recovered separately for recycling purposes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Reliability

If traditional sealing devices are used, then sealing is provided, but production costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesealingVSAvoidproduction cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the metal shield and elastomer into a single co-moulded component, eliminating separate manufacturing and assembly processes, thereby reducing production costs while maintaining sealing effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS12025184B2Sealing device made of plastics material for a bearing unit

Publication Date: 2024.07.02 AB SKF SKF PATENT DEPARTMENT

AI summary

A sealing device for a bearing unit that includes an inner ring, an outer ring, a plurality of rolling bodies interposed between the inner ring and the outer ring, the sealing device having a radially outer anchoring portion, an intermediate portion, and a radially inner sealing portion distal to the radially outer anchoring portion, the sealing device being made of a single polymer plastic material.