Clamshell Split Ring Seal Alignment with Rotational Self-Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Split ring seal assemblies face challenges in maintaining radial and axial alignment during assembly, leading to potential misalignment and increased wear, especially in heavy or hard-to-reach applications where manual holding is difficult.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating axially extending members that insert into holes and slots in the split ring and holder halves, allowing for rotational self-alignment while maintaining the split ring halves in place against support surfaces, using cylindrical members and arcuate slots to accommodate limited rotation and resist axial movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If split ring seal assemblies are used to facilitate replacement without disturbing equipment integrity, then ease of repair is improved, but maintaining radial and axial alignment during assembly becomes difficult leading to misalignment and increased wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by providing axial support surfaces and radial support surfaces on the holder halves before the split ring halves are assembled. These pre-positioned support surfaces ensure that when the split ring halves are installed, they automatically achieve proper axial and radial alignment without requiring manual holding or adjustment during assembly, thus resolving the alignment precision problem while maintaining ease of repair.
2Manufacturing precision
If manual holding is used to maintain alignment during assembly, then alignment precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates in heavy or hard-to-reach applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by designing the holder halves with integrated axial support surfaces and radial support surfaces that automatically maintain split ring half alignment during assembly. The structure serves itself by providing the necessary alignment constraints through its geometry, eliminating the need for manual holding operations even in heavy or hard-to-reach applications, thus improving ease of operation while maintaining alignment precision.
3Ease of operation
If split ring halves are not securely held during assembly, then ease of operation is improved, but alignment precision and wear resistance deteriorate due to misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring the holder halves with axial support surfaces and radial support surfaces that automatically constrain and hold the split ring halves in proper alignment during assembly. This preliminary structural arrangement ensures reliable positioning without requiring additional holding operations, thus maintaining wear resistance while improving ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A clamshell half of a split ring mechanical seal face assembly comprises a split seal ring half having circumferential and proximal surfaces that are seated against corresponding radial and axial support surfaces of a holder half. At least one extending member extends from a hole in the proximal surface to an arcuate slot in the axial support surface, or vice-versa, and thereby radially constrains the split seal ring half to remain unitized with the holder half during clamshell assembly, while permitting rotation of the split seal ring half about a shaft axis over a limited range, which in embodiments is between 2 degrees and 20 degrees. Embodiments further include a secondary seal between the holder half and split seal ring half that frictionally resists displacement of the split seal ring half.