Welded Bellows Face Seal for Axial Movement at High Temperature
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current welded bellows seals in high temperature environments face stress and vibration issues due to fixed ends, which can lead to reduced effectiveness in maintaining axial sealing and accommodating thermal expansion/contraction.
Innovation Solution
A sealing arrangement featuring a composite seal ring with a telescopically movable seal ring shell and outer housing, utilizing axially compressed springs for biasing and a welded bellows with a fixed and free end, where the free end makes a non-welded contact seal, reducing stress and vibration on the bellows.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the welded bellows has both ends fixed, then the sealing effectiveness is improved, but stress and vibration on the bellows increase
Solution Approach 1:
The bellows is segmented into a fixed end (welded to seal ring shell) and a free end (making non-welded contact seal with outer housing), allowing different portions to serve different functions: the fixed end provides stable sealing while the free end accommodates movement and reduces stress
Solution Approach 2:
The bellows transitions from a static fixed-fixed configuration to a dynamic fixed-free configuration, where the free end can move axially to accommodate thermal expansion and contraction, reducing stress and vibration while maintaining sealing effectiveness
2Stability of the object's composition
If the seal ring shell and outer housing are rigidly connected, then structural stability is improved, but axial movement accommodation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The connection between seal ring shell and outer housing changes from rigid to telescopic movable, allowing axial sliding movement to accommodate thermal expansion while springs maintain structural stability through biasing forces
Solution Approach 2:
The axial distance between seal ring shell and outer housing becomes a variable parameter that can change through telescopic movement, allowing the system to adapt to thermal expansion while springs maintain optimal sealing pressure
3Force
If springs are added for axial biasing, then sealing pressure is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The springs automatically adjust to maintain optimal sealing pressure through their elastic properties, self-regulating the axial biasing force without requiring external control systems or complex mechanisms
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 effectively reduces stress and vibration on the welded bellows, maintaining axial sealing and accommodating axial movement, while allowing for greater freedom of movement and reduced axial stress, suitable for high temperature applications exceeding 700 degrees Fahrenheit.
Implementation Method 1
a welded bellows that can accommodate axial movement between the seal ring shell and the outer housing
Implementation Method 2
at least one spring axially compressed between the seal ring shell and the outer housing for biasing the seal ring shell and the outer housing axially away from one another
Implementation Method 3
The fixed end can be welded to the seal ring shell or the outer housing
Data Source
AI summary
A sealing arrangement is disclosed. In one example, the sealing arrangement includes a composite seal ring that includes a seal ring shell and a seal insert, an outer housing, at least one spring, and a welded bellows. The welded bellows can have a fixed end and an opposite free end. The fixed end can be welded to one of the seal ring shell and the outer housing, and the free end can make a non-welded contact seal with the other one of the seal ring shell and the outer housing.