Sliding Seal Faces With Intersecting Grooves for Low-Speed Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sliding components in mechanical seals take time to generate sufficient dynamic pressure for separating sliding surfaces, leading to wear and potential leakage of sealing fluid, especially at low-speed rotations.
Innovation Solution
A pair of sliding components with intersecting positive pressure generation grooves on each surface, allowing early generation of separating forces through overlapping grooves that communicate and intersect, with varying dimensions and orientations to optimize pressure distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single spiral groove is provided in one sliding component to reduce wear, then wear is reduced, but sufficient dynamic pressure is not generated until high-speed rotation, causing sliding surface wear at low speeds
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the single spiral groove into multiple spiral grooves (first spiral groove in stationary sliding component, second spiral groove in rotating sliding component). This segmentation allows each groove to contribute to pressure generation, enabling sufficient dynamic pressure to be generated even at low rotation speeds, thereby preventing sliding surface wear during the transition to high-speed rotation
Solution Approach 2:
The invention adds a new dimension by providing spiral grooves in both sliding components rather than just one. The grooves are arranged to overlap and intersect, creating a three-dimensional pressure generation system that operates effectively across the entire rotation speed range from low to high speeds
2Force
If spiral grooves extend from inner radial end to outer radial side to generate positive pressure, then sliding surfaces are separated and friction is reduced, but it takes time to reach high-speed rotation state where sufficient pressure is generated
Solution Approach 1:
The invention implements preliminary action by having both sliding components equipped with spiral grooves that are ready to generate pressure immediately upon rotation start. The overlapping arrangement ensures that pressure generation begins at low speeds without delay, eliminating the time lag associated with waiting for high-speed rotation to generate sufficient pressure
3Loss of energy
If low-pressure fluid is introduced into spiral groove during relative rotation to generate positive pressure, then sliding surfaces are slightly separated and friction is reduced, but wear cannot be suppressed from start of rotation to high-speed rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the parameter of pressure generation capability by configuring multiple spiral grooves with specific inclination angles and overlapping arrangements. This allows the system to generate sufficient positive pressure across the entire rotation speed range, maintaining low friction and wear resistance from startup through high-speed operation
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 effectively suppresses wear and leakage by generating separating forces from low-speed to high-speed rotations, maintaining stable separation and reducing friction.
Implementation Method 1
a pair of annular sliding components is configured to be relatively rotatable, a sealing target fluid exists in an outer space, and a low-pressure fluid exists in an inner space. since the low-pressure fluid is introduced from the inner space into the spiral groove of one sliding component during the relative rotation of the pair of sliding components, a positive pressure is generated at the terminating end and the vicinity thereof to slightly separate sliding surfaces of the pair of sliding components from each other
Data Source
AI summary
A sliding surface of a second sliding component is provided with a plurality of second positive pressure generation grooves communicating with a leakage side space, extending in a relative rotation direction of the second sliding component, and having closed terminating end portions, a sliding surface of a first sliding component is provided with a plurality of first positive pressure generation grooves communicating with the leakage side space, extending in a relative rotation direction of the second sliding component, and having closed terminating end portions, and the sliding surface 11 and the sliding surface slide on each other at least in such a manner that the first positive pressure generation grooves and the second positive pressure generation grooves overlap and intersect with each other.