Thrust Bearing Outer Seal Cover for Muddy Water Exclusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
The rigidity of the outer seal in thrust bearings cannot be increased to enhance sealing performance without risking defective assembly, limiting the effectiveness of preventing muddy water entry.
Innovation Solution
A cover is added to the outer seal, reducing radially outward deformation and increasing the strain force without increasing the seal's rigidity, while an extended portion blocks and directs water away from the seal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the rigidity of the outer seal is increased to increase the strain force of the lip, then the sealing performance is improved, but the lip will not elastically return and remains reversely bent during assembly, resulting in defective assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces a cover that extends in the axial direction (another dimension) to provide support to the outer seal. This additional dimensional support allows the seal to have higher rigidity for better sealing without compromising assemblyability, as the cover prevents excessive radial deformation during assembly while maintaining the seal's ability to elastically return.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover acts as an intermediary element between the outer seal and the external environment. It provides mechanical support to the outer seal, distributing the loads and preventing the lip from remaining reversely bent during assembly, thus enabling both high sealing performance and ease of assembly.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the rigidity of the outer seal is increased to prevent entry of muddy water, then the sealing performance is improved, but the device complexity increases and assembly becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the sealing system into two functional parts: the outer seal for sealing and the cover for structural support and protection. This segmentation allows the outer seal to maintain optimal flexibility for sealing while the cover provides the necessary rigidity to prevent muddy water entry, avoiding the need to increase the complexity of the seal itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover extends in the axial direction to provide additional protection and support. This dimensional extension creates a barrier against muddy water entry without requiring modifications to the outer seal structure, thereby preventing harmful factors while maintaining simple device architecture.
3Reliability
If the lip of the outer seal contacts the outer peripheral surface of the first bearing ring with larger force, then the sealing performance is improved, but the assembly process becomes more difficult due to elastic deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The cover serves as a mediator that distributes and controls the contact forces between the outer seal and the first bearing ring. It provides a stable reference surface that ensures the lip contacts the bearing ring with appropriate force for sealing while preventing excessive deformation that would compromise assembly precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover provides pre-support to the outer seal before assembly, cushioning against excessive radial outward deformation. This beforehand support ensures that during assembly, the lip can contact the bearing ring with sufficient force for sealing without causing permanent deformation or assembly defects.
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
Enhances the sealing performance against muddy water entry without increasing the seal's rigidity, reducing defective assembly and clogging, and facilitating water drainage.
Implementation Method 1
The inner seal 131 and the outer seal 132 seal the space between the first bearing ring 121 and the second bearing ring 122 to reduce entry of water and foreign matter such as muddy water into the space
Implementation Method 2
a lip 132c of the outer seal 132 is elastically deformed in the direction of arrow B and thus reversely bent when it comes into contact with a radial outer end P of the first bearing ring 121
Data Source
AI summary
A thrust bearing that can improve the effect of preventing entry of muddy water etc. The thrust bearing includes: an annular first bearing ring; an annular second bearing ring facing the first bearing ring in an axial direction; a plurality of rolling elements rollably arranged between the first bearing ring and the second bearing ring; an outer seal provided on the second bearing ring, located radially outward of the rolling elements, and sealing a space between the first bearing ring and the second bearing ring; and a cover covering the outer seal from outside in a radial direction.