Spindle Seal Distribution Ring Tangential Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bearing seal technologies for machine tool spindles are limited in their ability to provide uniform air purge features across various spindle sizes and shapes, requiring complex and costly modifications, including difficult tangential drilling, which hinders their widespread adoption and retrofitting.
Innovation Solution
A modified annular cartridge with a distribution ring that induces tangential flow of pressurized purge fluid, eliminating the need for tangential drilling by using radially oriented holes and incorporating a secondary ring for axial positioning and gap isolation, facilitating easier installation and compatibility with diverse spindle structures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a tangentially oriented hole is drilled in the bearing cap to supply pressurized purge fluid, then circumferentially uniform fluid pressure is achieved, but the manufacturing complexity and difficulty increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The distribution ring acts as an intermediary component that receives purge fluid through a simple radially oriented hole and redistributes it tangentially through its internal structure. This mediator converts the simple radial flow into the desired tangential flow pattern, achieving uniform circumferential pressure without requiring difficult tangential drilling of the bearing cap.
Solution Approach 2:
The distribution ring segments the purge fluid flow path into distinct radial and tangential components. The ring's internal structure divides the single radial inlet flow into multiple tangential outlets, creating the uniform circumferential distribution needed for reliable bearing protection while simplifying the installation process.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a cartridge-type bearing seal is designed for retrofitting various spindle sizes and shapes, then adaptability increases, but the complexity of achieving uniform air purge across all configurations increases
Solution Approach 1:
The distribution ring provides a universal solution that works across various spindle configurations. By incorporating the tangential flow induction mechanism into the removable cartridge itself, the system achieves uniform air purge functionality regardless of the specific spindle size or shape, making the cartridge universally applicable to diverse retrofit scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The distribution ring design allows the cartridge to dynamically adapt to different spindle configurations while maintaining the uniform purge function. The removable cartridge with integrated distribution ring can be installed on various spindle types without requiring custom modifications, as the distribution ring inherently provides the necessary flow distribution.
3Reliability
If tangential drilling is performed in the bearing cap to achieve uniform fluid pressure, then bearing seal reliability improves, but installation cost and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The uniform fluid pressure distribution capability is built into the distribution ring during manufacturing, before installation. This preliminary incorporation of the flow distribution function eliminates the need for time-consuming tangential drilling operations during field installation, significantly reducing installation time while maintaining bearing seal reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The distribution ring enables the cartridge to self-establish uniform fluid pressure distribution upon installation without requiring external machining operations. The cartridge simply needs to be positioned and connected to the radial hole, after which the distribution ring automatically creates the tangential flow pattern needed for reliable bearing protection.
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 the availability of uniform air purge features in a cost-effective manner, simplifying the retrofitting process and expanding compatibility with a wider range of spindle sizes and shapes, while reducing the complexity and cost of installation.
Implementation Method 1
a distribution ring that induces tangential flow of pressurized purge fluid, to cause circumferentially uniform fluid pressure
Data Source
Figure 1~4
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
An improved cartridge-type bearing seal[10] includes removably connected stator and rotor sections [12, 14]. The stator section [12] supports a distribution ring [15] that divides an internal annular volume [36] into radially outside [36a] and inside portions [36b]. The ring [15] has a sufficient number of tangentially oriented ducts [17] to permit fluid communication between the outside [36a] and inside [36b] portions. With this structure, when pressurized purge fluid is supplied to the outside portion [36a], the fluid flows through the ducts [17], to induce a desired tangential fluid flow within the inside portion [36b]. This in turn causes circumferentially uniform fluid pressure in the annular volume [36] that resides between the rotating shaft [18] and the end cap [32] of the bearing housing, and the pressurized fluid traverses a flow path out of the bearing. This circumferentially uniform fluid pressure, by itself or in combination with a flexible lip [44], prevents contaminant ingress between the rotating shaft [18] and the end cap [32] of the bearing housing. Because the structure [15, 17] that creates the tangential fluid flow is part of the removable cartridge [12, 14], this bearing seal eliminates the need to machine or drill a tangentially oriented passage in the bearing housing. One embodiment adds a secondary ring [51] adjacent the distribution ring [15], to reduce the need to precision machine the inside dimension of the bearing cap. These structural components render the circumferential purge fluid feature even more readily available, for a wider range of spindles.