Wheel Bearing Seal With Spring-Loaded Radial Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bearing seals lack efficiency in service life, friction reduction, and cost-effectiveness due to inadequate attachment and sealing mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A bearing seal design featuring a metal-plate element with an attachment region and a spring element that presses the seal element radially outward, enhancing attachment to the bearing inner ring and providing improved sealing and reduced friction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a seal element is pressed against a metal-plate element attached to an inner ring, then sealing function is provided, but service life and friction reduction are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a spring element that dynamically presses the seal element against the metal-plate element, replacing static attachment with a dynamic force application. This ensures continuous sealing pressure while reducing friction through elastic deformation, thereby extending service life without significantly complicating the construction.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring element changes the pressure parameter applied to the seal element, maintaining optimal sealing force under varying operating conditions. This dynamic parameter adjustment improves reliability and service life while keeping the overall construction relatively simple.
2Reliability
If a spring element is added to press the seal element radially outward, then service life and sealing efficiency increase, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the sealing function into distinct components: the spring element provides radial pressing force, while the seal element provides the actual sealing contact. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, improving sealing efficiency without excessive overall complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring element acts as an intermediary between the metal-plate element and the seal element, transmitting and regulating the pressing force. This intermediary mechanism improves sealing efficiency while maintaining a relatively simple construction through the use of a single spring component.
3Ease of operation
If the seal element is pressed radially outward by a spring element, then friction is reduced and operation is smoother, but manufacturing cost may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The spring element provides self-regulating pressure to the seal element, automatically adjusting to maintain optimal friction reduction without external control systems. This self-service mechanism improves ease of operation while keeping manufacturing costs relatively low through the use of simple elastic components.
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 results in increased service life, low-friction operation, and a compact, cost-effective construction with enhanced sealing and running accuracy, while minimizing installation space and maintaining a standard design for the bearing inner ring.
Implementation Method 1
at least one spring element (24) that presses at least one region (26) of the seal element (22) radially outward
Data Source
AI summary
A bearing seal includes at least one first metal-plate element having an attachment region for attaching the first metal-plate element to a bearing inner ring, at least one seal element attached to the first metal-plate element, and at least one spring element configured to press at least one region of the seal element in a radially outward direction. Also a wheel bearing assembly including the bearing seal.