Split Seal Cover Structure for Easier Mechanical Seal Maintenance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional mechanical seal devices face difficulties in maintenance due to the large and heavy seal cover, which complicates handling during repairs, especially in large equipment setups.

Innovation Solution

A split seal cover structure with a detachable connection between the inner and outer diameter sides, allowing for easier removal and maintenance of the seal ring without disassembling the entire seal cover, along with a coupling bolt system and a sleeve with circular projections for secure alignment, and the absence of a feed hole in the inner-diameter-side seal cover to maintain its lightweight design.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of repair

If a traditional integrated seal cover structure is used, then the sealing reliability is maintained, but the ease of repair deteriorates due to difficulty in handling the large and heavy seal cover during maintenance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of handling seal ringVSAvoidweight of seal cover
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The seal cover is divided into multiple segments: a stationary seal cover and a movable seal cover that can be detached axially. This segmentation allows the movable seal cover to be removed for maintenance without requiring removal of the entire seal cover assembly, significantly improving ease of repair while maintaining sealing reliability through the remaining stationary cover and bellows structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If the seal cover is made large and heavy to enclose the seal ring, then the sealing effectiveness is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in handling during maintenance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of maintenanceVSAvoidweight of seal cover
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The seal cover is segmented into stationary and movable portions, allowing the movable seal cover to be detached axially for maintenance access. This eliminates the need to handle the entire large and heavy seal cover assembly, improving ease of operation while maintaining the structural integrity and sealing effectiveness of the stationary cover.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Quantity of substance

If the inner-diameter-side seal cover includes a feed hole, then the fluid introduction function is improved, but the weight of the seal cover increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefluid introduction capabilityVSAvoidweight of inner-diameter-side seal cover
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The feed hole function is extracted from the inner-diameter-side seal cover and relocated to the stationary seal cover. This allows the inner-diameter-side seal cover to maintain its lightweight design without the feed hole, while the fluid introduction capability is preserved through the stationary cover's feed hole structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3217047B1Mechanical seal device
Publication Date: 2024.12.18 EAGLE INDS
  • EP3217047B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3217047B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3217047B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provide a mechanical seal device with improved seal cover structure that achieves excellent ease of handling the seal ring or other seal element during maintenance. A mechanical seal device having a mating ring (131) that rotates with a rotating shaft (101), as well as an opposing seal ring (133) that slidably contacts the mating ring (131), so as to seal between the rotating shaft (101) and a seal cover (105) fixed to an equipment main body (102); wherein such mechanical seal device is characterized in that the seal cover (105) is a split structure comprising at least a first seal cover (107, 108) and second seal cover (106), the first seal cover (107, 108) is detachably connected in the axial direction by leaving the second seal cover (106) free from it, and the seal ring (133) is connected to the first seal cover (107, 108) in a securely following manner.