Fluid-Sealed Torsional Vibration Damper With Elastomer Ring Seal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing torsional vibration dampers with flywheels offset externally face issues with fluid leakage due to limited sealing effectiveness of sliding seals, which leads to wear and incomplete protection against small particles like water, especially when using silicone oil as the damping medium.
Innovation Solution
The use of metal rings connected via a rubber-metal connection with high-temperature-resistant elastomer rings, which are sealingly connected to both the hub part and flywheel, forming a non-sliding, secure seal that maintains a defined gap without requiring tension, ensuring long-lasting protection against fluid leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sliding seal rings are used to seal the gap between hub part and flywheel ring, then sealing function is provided, but the seals experience significant wear within a short period due to lack of lubricating properties of silicone oil
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical sliding seal system with a non-contact magnetic coupling sealing system. The magnetic coupling transmits torque through the fluid without mechanical contact, eliminating wear from friction while maintaining sealing effectiveness. This substitution resolves the contradiction by providing both long service life and wear resistance simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces magnetic fields as an intermediary to transmit torque between the hub part and flywheel ring without direct mechanical contact. The magnetic coupling acts as a mediator that eliminates the need for sliding seals, thereby preventing wear while maintaining the sealing function in the fluid-filled gap.
2Reliability
If sliding seals are used to prevent fluid leakage, then sealing is provided, but complete protection against ingress of very small particles such as water cannot be guaranteed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical sliding seals with a magnetic coupling system that creates a hermetic seal without mechanical contact. This substitution provides complete protection against particle ingress while simplifying the overall sealing device structure by eliminating complex sliding seal mechanisms.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the flywheel ring is completely encapsulated in a separate housing, then the structure is contained, but heat dissipation is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the flywheel ring from complete encapsulation within a housing, allowing it to be mounted externally on the engine crankshaft. This extraction enables direct exposure to ambient air for improved heat dissipation while maintaining structural containment through the magnetic coupling system and selective sealing at critical interfaces.
4Reliability
If sliding seals are pressed in to achieve sealing, then sealing function is achieved, but installation stress is applied and gap definition is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces pressed-in sliding seals with a magnetic coupling system that requires no installation force. The magnetic fields self-align and self-seal, eliminating installation stress and preserving the precisely defined gap between components while maintaining effective sealing.
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
This solution provides a secure, long-lasting seal that prevents fluid leakage and protects against small particles, maintaining a defined gap even under high temperatures and continuous use, enhancing the durability and performance of the torsional vibration damper.
Implementation Method 1
the respective elastomer ring of a sealing device is sealingly connected to the metal rings attached to the hub part or to the flywheel ring by a rubber-metal connection produced during an elastomer cross-linking process
Implementation Method 2
a high-temperature-resistant elastomer, such as EPDM or silicone material, is used as the elastomer between the first and second rings of a sealing device
Data Source
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AI summary
A torsional vibration damper (1) having a hub part (2) (primary mass) which can be fastened on a drive shaft of a motor, and a flywheel ring (3) (secondary mass) which encloses the hub part (2) in the radially outer region, a gap (4) which is filled with fluid and a seal device (5) being provided between the hub part (2) and the flywheel ring (3), by means of which seal device (5) the escape of the fluid is to be avoided, is configured in such a way that the seal devices (5) in each case have a first ring (6) which is connected tightly to the hub part (2) and a second ring (7) which is connected tightly to the flywheel ring (3), and a ring (8) which is made from an elastomer and is connected on one side sealingly to the first ring (6) and on the other side to the second ring (7).