Toggle Lever Seal Structure for Stepless Annular Gap Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional annular space injection seals are limited in their ability to compensate for tolerances and require cutting or pulling out sealing rings for adjustment, lacking stepless adjustment and high sealing effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A sealing device with a toggle lever unit that converts axial force into radial forces, allowing for large diameter adjustments and high pressing forces without compensation rings, featuring a pressing unit with lever elements and a sealing unit that includes elastic sealing elements, capable of pressing inwards and outwards radially.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional annular space injection seals are used, then sealing function is provided, but tolerance compensation capability is limited and adjustment requires cutting or pulling out sealing rings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic toggle lever mechanism that allows continuous diameter adjustment through angular movement of the lever arms. The lever arms can pivot around fulcrums to transform axial pressing force into radial expansion force, enabling stepless adjustment of the sealing element's radial position to accommodate varying pipe diameters and tolerances.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention converts axial force (one dimension) into radial force (another dimension) through the toggle lever mechanism. By applying axial pressing force to the lever arms, the system generates radial expansion force on the sealing element, achieving diameter adjustment without requiring axial displacement or additional adjustment components.
2Manufacturing precision
If sealing rings are used for adjustment, then diameter adaptation is possible, but stepless adjustment is not achievable depending on ring thickness
Solution Approach 1:
The toggle lever mechanism provides continuous, stepless adjustment capability through angular movement of the lever arms. The operator can adjust the sealing diameter to any position within the adjustment range by simply changing the lever arm angle, eliminating the need to select from discrete ring thickness options or perform cutting operations.
3Force
If pressing unit applies axial force, then sealing force is generated, but conversion to radial force is inefficient without toggle lever
Solution Approach 1:
The toggle lever mechanism utilizes the geometric relationship between lever arm length, fulcrum position, and angular displacement to amplify axial force into radial force. The curved path of the lever arm movement and the pivot point geometry create a mechanical advantage that efficiently converts axial pressing force into radial expansion force on the sealing element.
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
Enables continuous diameter adjustments and generates high pressing forces for effective sealing, ensuring a good seal between pipes and walls, with flexible adaptability to different sealing situations.
Implementation Method 1
at least one toggle lever unit (4) having at least one toggle lever (8, 9), which, when used as intended, can convert the axial force that can be applied by the pressing unit (2) into a first radial force (e.g., a radially inwardly directed radial force) and/or into a second radial force (e.g., a radially outwardly directed radial force)
Implementation Method 2
a sealing unit (3) which includes at least one sealing element (5, 6, 7), which can be pressed by the pressing unit (2), when used as intended, outwards and/or inwards in a radial direction of the sealing device (1)
Data Source
AI summary
In one aspect, a sealing device for sealing an annular gap includes a pressing unit configured to apply an axial force in an axial direction of the sealing device and a sealing unit. The sealing include includes at least one sealing element, which is configured to be pressed by the pressing unit outwards and/or inwards in a radial direction of the sealing device. Additionally, the sealing device includes at least one toggle lever unit having at least one toggle lever, which is configured to convert the axial force that applied by the pressing unit into a first radial force and/or into a second radial force, wherein the at least one toggle lever includes a first lever element, a second lever element, and at least one lever joint that hingedly interconnects the first and second lever elements.