Spiralized Seal Profile for Easy Replacement Without Leakage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sealing rings are difficult and costly to disassemble and replace, especially in large structural applications, due to their closed design requiring destructive methods and complex reassembly processes to avoid leakage.
Innovation Solution
A seal comprising a spiralized profile string of thermoplastic elastomeric material with a retaining portion and sealing lip, arranged radially opposite each other, featuring winding turns that are axially adjacent and contiguous with open ends, allowing for easy installation and replacement without destructive methods, utilizing a snap engagement feature for secure fixation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a closed sealing ring design is used, then reliable sealing performance is achieved, but disassembly and replacement become difficult and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing ring is divided into multiple identical modular sealing profiles that can be independently manufactured and assembled. Each profile contains a sealing lip and hook-shaped connecting barbs that engage with adjacent profiles, creating a segmented but continuous sealing structure that maintains reliability while enabling easy replacement of individual modules.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing profiles are designed to nest together through hook-shaped connecting barbs that interlock adjacent profiles. This nesting mechanism allows the sealed component (e.g., shaft) to be inserted through the modular profiles during installation, and the entire sealing ring to be easily removed and replaced as a complete modular unit without destructive disassembly.
2Ease of operation
If a closed sealing ring is cut open for replacement, then installation becomes possible, but joining processes become complex and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing profiles are pre-formed with hook-shaped connecting barbs during manufacturing that are designed to interlock with adjacent profiles. This preliminary preparation of connecting features eliminates the need for complex field joining operations, as the modular profiles simply snap together through their pre-formed barbs during installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular sealing profiles are designed as replaceable units that can be manufactured economically and installed as complete sets. Rather than attempting to repair or rejoin a single complex closed ring, the entire sealing ring can be replaced by installing a new set of modular profiles, reducing the need for expensive joining processes.
3Ease of repair
If modular sealing profiles are used, then easy replacement is achieved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
All sealing profiles in the ring are designed as identical modular units with standardized hook-shaped connecting barbs and sealing lips. This universality allows any profile to replace any other position in the ring, reducing the need for high precision customization at each position while maintaining overall sealing effectiveness through the repetitive modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The hook-shaped connecting barbs are designed with specific geometric parameters that allow for tolerance compensation. The barbs engage with corresponding receptacles in adjacent profiles through a snap-fit mechanism that accommodates normal manufacturing variations, maintaining profile congruity without requiring extremely tight tolerances during manufacturing.
Data Source
AI summary
A seal, including a spiralized profile string of at least one thermoplastic elastomeric material, the spiralized profile string including a retaining portion and at least one sealing lip which are arranged opposite each other in a radial direction, winding turns axially adjacent to each other in an axial direction and contiguous with each other, and open ends.