The present invention relates to sealing devices having inner seal rings, outer seal rings, and back rings.
JP-B-6371570 discloses a sealing device having an inner seal ring, an outer seal ring, and a back ring.
For this kind of sealing device, it is desirable that degradation of sealing ability be prevented as much as possible.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a sealing device in which degradation of sealing ability is minimized.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sealing device that is to be disposed within a circumferential groove of an inner member reciprocating relative to an outer member and brought into contact with an inner peripheral surface of a hole of the outer member to separate one space from another space. The sealing device includes: an inner seal ring made of a resin including an outer peripheral surface having a circumferential groove, and an inner peripheral surface; an outer seal ring having an elasticity higher than that of a material of the inner seal ring, the outer seal ring being fitted into the circumferential groove of the inner seal ring, and including an outer portion protruding radially outward from the circumferential groove of the inner seal ring and being to be in slidable contact with an inner peripheral surface of the hole of the outer member; and a back ring having an elasticity higher than that of the material of the inner seal ring, the back ring being disposed radially inside the inner seal ring, and being to be compressed between the inner peripheral surface of the inner seal ring and a bottom wall surface of the circumferential groove of the inner member. Inclined surfaces are formed at both ends of the outer peripheral surface of the inner seal ring in an axial direction of the inner seal ring, each of the inclined surfaces having a diameter that decreases as a distance from a center of the outer peripheral surface of the inner seal ring in the axial direction increases. Protruding annular portions are formed at both ends of the inner peripheral surface of the inner seal ring in the axial direction, the protruding annular portions protruding radially inward to restrict movement of the back ring in the axial direction.
In this aspect, the outer seal ring, which slides on the inner peripheral surface of the hole of the outer member undergoes abrasion, resulting in that the outer peripheral surface of the inner seal ring comes into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the hole of the outer member. Since the inner seal ring has inclined surfaces formed at both ends of the outer peripheral surface thereof in the axial direction, if the abrasion of the outer seal ring progresses and the back ring is biased in the axial direction within the circumferential groove of the inner member, an end of the inner seal ring in the axial direction, at which an inclined surface is formed, is pressed radially outward by the back ring and is significantly deformed elastically. Then, the sealing ability of the sealing device is degraded. However, in this aspect, the protruding annular portions formed at both ends in the axial direction of the inner peripheral surface of the inner seal ring restrict the axial movement of the back ring. Therefore, the back ring is prevented from being biased in the axial direction within the circumferential groove of the inner member, and the elastic deformation of one end in the axial direction of the inner seal ring is also minimized. Accordingly, degradation of sealing ability of the sealing device is also minimized.
Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, an embodiment according to the present invention will be described. It is of note that the drawings are not necessarily to scale, and certain features may be exaggerated or omitted.
As shown in
The inner seal ring 10 is a ring made of a resin and has an outer peripheral surface and an inner peripheral surface that are concentric with each other. The diameter of the central part in the axial direction of the outer peripheral surface is large, and the diameters of the ends in the axial direction of the outer peripheral surface are small. The diameter of the central part in the axial direction of the inner peripheral surface is large, and the diameters of the ends in the axial direction of the inner peripheral surface are small.
The inner seal ring 10 is formed of a resin having high strength, i.e., high rigidity, such as polyamide, polyacetal, polyethylene, polyimide, or PEEK (polyether ether ketone). The tensile strength of the material of the inner seal ring 10 is, preferably, 40 MPa or more.
A circumferential groove 11 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the inner seal ring 10. The circumferential groove 11 has two side wall surfaces that are parallel to each other and are perpendicular to the axial direction of the sealing device 1. The circumferential groove 11 has a uniform depth over the entire circumference. In other words, the circumferential groove 11 has a bottom wall surface that is concentric to the cylindrical inner peripheral surface 14 of the inner seal ring 10.
The outer seal ring 20 is fitted into the circumferential groove 11 of the inner seal ring 10. However, the difference between the initial outer radius and the inner radius of the outer seal ring 20 is greater than the depth of the circumferential groove 11, and therefore, the outer portion 21 of the outer seal ring 20 in radial directions protrudes radially outward from the circumferential groove 11.
The outer seal ring 20 is an endless ring having an outer peripheral surface and an inner peripheral surface that are concentric with each other. As shown in
The outer seal ring 20 is formed of a material that has an elasticity higher than that of the material of the inner seal ring 10. For example, the outer seal ring 20 may be formed of an elastomer. However, the outer seal ring 20 is preferably formed of a material that has a much lower frictional coefficient than that of the material of the inner seal ring 10. Such materials include, for example, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), perfluoroalkoxy alkane resin (PFA), tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene copolymer (FEP), tetrafluoroethylene-ethylene copolymer (ETFE), urethane, and polyamide.
The back ring 30 is an endless ring disposed radial inside the inner seal ring 10, and has an outer peripheral surface 31 and an inner peripheral surface 32 that are concentric with each other.
The back ring 30 is formed of a material that has an elasticity higher than that of the material of the inner seal ring 10. For example, the back ring 30 is formed of an elastomer or urethane.
In this embodiment, the sealing device 1 is used as a piston seal in an oil-hydraulic cylinder. As shown in
A circumferential groove 5 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the piston 4. The circumferential groove 5 has two side wall surfaces 6a and 6b, which are parallel to each other and are perpendicular to the axial direction of the piston 4. The distance between the side wall surfaces 6a and 6b is greater than the maximum length of the sealing device 1 in the axial direction (the distance between the two side wall surfaces of the inner seal ring 10). The circumferential groove 5 has a uniform depth over the entire circumference. In other words, the circumferential groove 5 has a bottom wall surface 7 that is concentric to the outer peripheral surface of the piston 4.
The sealing device 1 is disposed within the circumferential groove 5 of the piston 4 and is brought into contact with the inner peripheral surface 3 of the hole of the cylinder tube 2 to separate one space from another space. In the following description, it is assumed that in the drawings showing the sealing device 1, the cylinder tube 2, and the piston 4 (e.g.,
As shown in
In this state, the outermost end 12 of the inner seal ring 10 is not in contact with the inner peripheral surface 3 of the hole of the cylinder tube 2, but the outer peripheral surface 20 of the outer seal ring 20, which is located radial outside the outermost end 12 of the inner seal ring 10, is brought into surface contact with the inner peripheral surface 3 of the hole of the cylinder tube 2. The outer seal ring 20 is compressed between the bottom wall surface of the circumferential groove 11 of the inner seal ring 10 and the inner peripheral surface 3 of the hole of the cylinder tube 2. The outer peripheral surface of the outer seal ring 20 slides on the inner peripheral surface 3 when the piston 4 reciprocates.
Inclined surfaces 33 are formed at both ends of the inner peripheral surface 32 of the back ring 30 in the axial direction. The inclined surfaces 33 facilitate deploying the back ring 30 around the piston 4 and deploying the back ring 30 within the circumferential groove 5.
The outer peripheral surface 31 of the back ring 30 may have a uniform diameter over the entire length in the axial direction. However, inclined surfaces 34a and 34b are preferably formed at both ends of the outer peripheral surface 31 in the axial direction, and each of the inclined surfaces 34a and 34b of the back ring 30 has a diameter that decreases as a distance from a center of the outer peripheral surface 31 of the back ring 30 in the axial direction increases. In this embodiment, the inclined surfaces 34a and 34b are curved in the shape of arcs when viewed from lateral, but they may be straight. In this embodiment, as shown by the phantom line in
Whereas the outer seal ring 20 and the back ring 30 are endless rings, the inner seal ring 10 is a ring composed of a bar of which two ends 10A and 10B are butted together (see
As shown in
At both ends of the inner peripheral surface 14 of the inner seal ring 10 in the axial direction, protruding annular portions 16a and 16b are formed. The protruding annular portions 16a and 16b protrude radially inward. In this embodiment, the protruding annular portions 16a and 16b have straight inclined surfaces 17a and 17b, respectively, when viewed from lateral, and each of the inclined surfaces 17a and 17b has a diameter that decreases as a distance from a center of the inner peripheral surface 14 of the inner seal ring 10 in the axial direction increases. Between the protruding annular portions 16a and 16b, the outer peripheral surface 31 of the back ring 30 is in surface contact with the inner peripheral surface 14 of the inner seal ring 10. In other words, there is a contact area between the back ring 30 and the inner seal ring 10 between the protruding annular portions 16a and 16b, which protrude radially inward. Thus, the protruding annular portions 16a and 16b restrict movement of the back ring 30 in the axial direction.
Advantages of the sealing device 1 according to the embodiment will be described. For the sake of comparison,
The entirety of the inner peripheral surface 14 of the inner seal ring 10 of the sealing device 40 is a cylindrical surface and has a uniform diameter over the entire length in the axial direction. In other words, the inner peripheral surface 14 of the inner seal ring 10 in the sealing device 40 is not provided with protruding annular portions 16a and 16b, which restrict the movement of the back ring 30 in the axial direction. Other features of the sealing device 40 are the same as those of the sealing device 1 according to the embodiment.
As shown in
As the attrition of the outer seal ring 20 progresses, as shown in
Conversely to
However, in the sealing device 1 according to the embodiment, the protruding annular portions 16a and 16b formed at both ends in the axial direction of the inner peripheral surface 14 of the inner seal ring 10 restrict the movement of the back ring 30 in the axial direction. Thus, as shown in
In the sealing device 1 according to the embodiment, inclined surfaces 34a and 34b are formed at both ends of the outer peripheral surface 31 of the back ring 30 in the axial direction, and each of the inclined surfaces 34a and 34b has a diameter that decreases as a distance from a center of the outer peripheral surface 31 in the axial direction increases. Therefore, the back ring 30 can be easily deployed radial inside the inner seal ring 10, which has protruding annular portions 16a and 16b formed on the inner peripheral surface 14 thereof, and the positioning of the back ring 30 relative to the inner seal ring 10 is also easy.
In the sealing device 1 according to the embodiment, each of the protruding annular portions 16a and 16b has an inner diameter that decreases as a distance from a center of the inner peripheral surface 14 of the inner seal ring 10 in the axial direction increases. Therefore, when the back ring 30 moves in the axial direction, the outer peripheral surface 31 of the back ring 30 easily comes into surface contact with the protruding annular portion 16a or 16b of the inner peripheral surface 14 of the inner seal ring 10, so that the sealing ability of the sealing device 1 is ensured.
The present invention has been shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims. Such variations, alterations, and modifications are intended to be encompassed in the scope of the present invention.
For example, in the above embodiment, the protruding annular portions 16a and 16b of the inner peripheral surface 14 of the inner seal ring 10 have straight inclined surfaces 17a and 17b, respectively, when viewed from lateral. However, as shown in
In the above embodiment, the sealing device 1 is used as a piston seal in an oil-hydraulic cylinder, in which the piston 4 (inner member) moves relative to the cylinder tube 2 (stationary outer member), but may be used for other types of oil-hydraulic or water-hydraulic machine. The inner member in which the sealing device 1 is deployed may be stationary and the outer member may move back and forth relative the inner member. Alternatively, both the inner member and the outer member may move so that the inner member and the outer member move back and forth relative to each other.
Aspects of the present invention are also set out in the following numbered clauses:
Clause 1. A sealing device that is to be disposed within a circumferential groove of an inner member reciprocating relative to an outer member and brought into contact with an inner peripheral surface of a hole of the outer member to separate one space from another space, the sealing device including:
an inner seal ring made of a resin including an outer peripheral surface having a circumferential groove, and an inner peripheral surface;
an outer seal ring having an elasticity higher than that of a material of the inner seal ring, the outer seal ring being fitted into the circumferential groove of the inner seal ring, and including an outer portion protruding radially outward from the circumferential groove of the inner seal ring and being to be in slidable contact with an inner peripheral surface of the hole of the outer member; and
a back ring having an elasticity higher than that of the material of the inner seal ring, the back ring being disposed radially inside the inner seal ring, and being to be compressed between the inner peripheral surface of the inner seal ring and a bottom wall surface of the circumferential groove of the inner member,
inclined surfaces being formed at both ends of the outer peripheral surface of the inner seal ring in an axial direction of the inner seal ring, each of the inclined surfaces having a diameter that decreases as a distance from a center of the outer peripheral surface of the inner seal ring in the axial direction increases,
protruding annular portions being formed at both ends of the inner peripheral surface of the inner seal ring in the axial direction, the protruding annular portions protruding radially inward to restrict movement of the back ring in the axial direction.
Clause 2. The sealing device according to clause 1, wherein the back ling includes an outer peripheral surface being in surface contact with the inner peripheral surface of the inner seal ring, the outer peripheral surface of the back ring being in surface contact with the inner peripheral surface of the inner seal ring at a location between the protruding annular portions of the inner seal ring.
Clause 3. A sealing device that is to be disposed within a circumferential groove of an inner member reciprocating relative to an outer member, the sealing device including:
an inner seal ring made of a resin including an outer peripheral surface having a circumferential groove, and an inner peripheral surface;
an outer seal ring having an elasticity higher than that of a material of the inner seal ring, the outer seal ring being fitted into the circumferential groove of the inner seal ring, and including an outer portion protruding radially outward from the circumferential groove of the inner seal ring; and
a back ring having an elasticity higher than that of the material of the inner seal ring, the back ring being disposed radially inside the inner seal ring, and including an outer peripheral surface being in surface contact with the inner peripheral surface of the inner seal ring,
inclined surfaces being formed at both ends of the outer peripheral surface of the inner seal ring in an axial direction of the inner seal ring, each of the inclined surfaces having a diameter that decreases as a distance from a center of the outer peripheral surface of the inner seal ring in the axial direction increases,
protruding annular portions being formed at both ends of the inner peripheral surface of the inner seal ring in the axial direction, the protruding annular portions protruding radially inward, the outer peripheral surface of the back ring being in surface contact with the inner peripheral surface of the inner seal ring at a location between the protruding annular portions.
Clause 4. The sealing device according to any one of clauses 1-3, wherein inclined surfaces are formed at both ends of the outer peripheral surface of the back ring in the axial direction, each of the inclined surfaces of the back ring having a diameter that decreases as a distance from a center of the outer peripheral surface of the back ring in the axial direction increases.
According to this clause, it is easy to deploy the back ring radial inside the inner seal ring having the protruding annular portions formed on the inner peripheral surface thereof, and it is also easy to position the back ring relative to the inner seal ring.
Clause 4. The sealing device according to any one of clauses 1-4, wherein each of the protruding annular portions has an inner diameter that decreases as a distance from a center of the inner peripheral surface of the inner seal ring in the axial direction increases.
According to this clause, when the back ring moves in the axial direction, the outer peripheral surface of the back ring is likely to be in surface contact with a protruding annular portion of the inner peripheral surface of the inner seal ring, so that the sealing ability of the sealing device is ensured.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2019-098234 | May 2019 | JP | national |
This applications is a U.S. National Phase Application under 35 U.S.C. 371 of International Application No. PCT/JP2020/017589, filed on Apr. 24, 2020, which claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-098234, filed on May 27, 2019. The entire disclosures of the above applications are expressly incorporated by reference herein.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/JP2020/017589 | 4/24/2020 | WO | 00 |