Split Seal Ring End Faces for Axial and Radial Self-Alignment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing split end face mechanical shaft seals face challenges in achieving precise radial and axial alignment of split seal ring halves, leading to increased process emissions and seal face wear due to misalignment.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates angled grooves on the inner diameter and rear face of the seal ring, forming complex three-dimensional end faces that allow for self-alignment in both axial and radial directions upon assembly, ensuring accurate reformation of the seal ring halves.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If split ring members are used to facilitate installation and repair, then ease of repair is improved, but alignment precision of the split seal ring halves deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-forming angled grooves (stress risers) on the inner diameter surface and rear face of the seal ring before splitting. These grooves are strategically positioned and angled to guide the fracture path during the splitting process, ensuring that the resulting end faces have complementary geometries that facilitate precise radial and axial self-alignment when the ring halves are assembled, thus maintaining alignment precision while enabling ease of repair through split design
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs asymmetry by creating non-symmetric angled grooves at specific locations on the seal ring. The grooves are positioned at angles relative to the inner diameter surface and rear face, creating asymmetric stress distribution during splitting. This asymmetric groove configuration results in end faces with complementary asymmetric geometries that enable self-alignment in both radial and axial directions, resolving the alignment precision issue while maintaining the split ring's ease of repair advantage
Data Source
AI summary
A split seal ring having end faces that self-align in both the axial and radial directions is prepared by forming an opposing first pair of angled grooves extending from an inner edge partway across the seal ring inner diameter, and a second pair of angled grooves extending from the inner edge partway across the seal ring rear surface. In embodiments, corresponding grooves meet to form V-shapes. Additional grooves can extend from the outer edge partway across the inner diameter. Corresponding grooves extending from the outer and inner edges on the inner diameter can terminate at locations that are offset radially and/or angularly. By applying an outward force, the seal ring is split at the groove locations into split ring sections having mating end faces. The resulting end face geometry is sufficiently complex to cause both radial and axial realignment as the seal ring halves are mated together.