Spring-Elastic Mechanical Seal Ring for Fastener-Free Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mechanical seals require special fastening means to ensure proper contact between sealing surfaces, which can complicate installation and increase costs.
Innovation Solution
A mechanical seal design utilizing a ring element made of spring-elastic material, with a transverse leg sealingly abutting a rotating element and side legs exerting pressure on the seal rings to ensure contact between the sealing surfaces, eliminating the need for special fastening means.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If special fastening means are used to secure the seal rings, then the sealing reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the fastening function and the sealing function into a single integrated mechanical seal assembly. The seal rings are designed to be retained by the housing structure itself without requiring separate fastening elements, thereby merging multiple functions into one component system and reducing overall device complexity while maintaining sealing reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The housing structure is designed to serve multiple functions: it provides structural support, creates the sealing chamber, and simultaneously acts as the retention mechanism for the seal rings. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated fastening means, reducing component count while ensuring reliable sealing
2Stress or pressure
If spring elements are used to apply force to the rotor ring, then the contact pressure between sealing surfaces is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical seal assembly is designed to generate and maintain its own contact pressure through the elastic deformation of the housing structure and the pre-load characteristics of the integrated retention mechanism. The system self-regulates the pressure applied to the sealing surfaces without requiring external spring elements or adjustable pressure control mechanisms, thereby maintaining effective sealing while simplifying the overall design
3Manufacturing precision
If the mechanical seal is rigidly fixed to the rotating element, then the positioning precision is improved, but the adaptability to thermal expansion and oscillation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical seal assembly incorporates dynamic retention features that allow for controlled axial movement and oscillation of the seal rings relative to the housing. The retention mechanism maintains precise radial positioning while permitting axial compliance to accommodate thermal expansion and operational oscillations, thereby balancing positioning precision with thermal and mechanical adaptability
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 ensures effective contact between the sealing surfaces, preventing fluid leakage while allowing for axial displacement and oscillation of the rotating element, all without the need for additional fastening elements.
Implementation Method 1
the pressure on the first seal ring, i.e. the rotor ring, in the direction of the second seal ring, i.e. the stator ring, is effected by the spring elasticity of the material of the ring element
Implementation Method 2
the ring element has a transverse leg which is designed to sealingly abut against a circumferential region of a rotating element, as a shaft
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 2
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a mechanical seal (10) comprising a rotating first seal ring (16) having a first sealing surface (18) and a stationary second seal ring (22) having a second sealing surface (20), and pressure means (24) acting on the seal rings to compress the seal rings and contact the sealing surfaces. To ensure by structurally simple means that the sealing surfaces are in contact with each other to the required extent and to ensure the possibility to fasten the mechanical seal to the roatating element or to the stationary element without special fastening means, the pressure means is a ring element (24) consisting of or containing a spring-elastic material at least in certain regions, in that the ring element has a transverse leg (26) which is formed to sealingly abut against circumferential surface of a rotating element (12), and in that the ring element has two side legs (28, 30) extending from the transverse leg between which portions of the seal rings (16, 22) extend and via which a pressure is exerted on at least one of the seal rings for contacting the sealing surfaces (18, 20).