JP7425545B2 - Seal mechanism and device equipped with the seal mechanism - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a sealing mechanism for preventing fluid inside an apparatus from flowing out of the apparatus and fluid from outside flowing into the apparatus, and an apparatus equipped with the sealing mechanism.

A sealing mechanism is known that seals between a rotating member and a case that accommodates the rotating member.

A conventional sealing mechanism is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2016-84911 (Patent Document 1). This publication discloses a sealing mechanism that seals between an outer ring and an inner ring. This sealing mechanism includes a sealing member and a slinger surrounded by the sealing member. The slinger includes a sleeve surrounding the shaft and a flange bent toward a housing surrounding the shaft. The flange increases the rigidity of the slinger. This flange can prevent deformation of the seal member when the seal mechanism is assembled into the device.

JP2016-84911A

The sealing member of the sealing mechanism of Patent Document 1 includes a core metal and a main lip provided on the radially inner side of the core metal. In order to prevent this interference between the core metal and the main lip, the seal mechanism of Cited Document 1 needs to have a large radial dimension. Furthermore, when the radial dimension of the seal mechanism increases, there is a problem in that the degree of freedom in designing a device to which this seal mechanism is assembled decreases.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a sealing mechanism that can be reduced in size in the radial direction and a device equipped with the sealing mechanism.

A sealing mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a sealing member provided between a shaft member and a case that accommodates at least a portion of the shaft member. The sealing member includes a base and a main lip disposed at a position that does not overlap with the base in the direction of the rotation axis of the shaft member.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the base has a cylindrical part and an annular part. In one embodiment, the main lip is arranged at a position that does not overlap with the annular portion in the direction of the rotation axis.

In one embodiment of the invention, the seal member has a dust lip. In one embodiment, the dust lip is arranged at a position that does not overlap with the base in the direction of the rotation axis. In one embodiment, the main lip is arranged on one side of the dust lip in the direction of the rotation axis.

A seal mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a spring ring provided on the main lip, and a cover portion that covers the spring ring from the outside in the radial direction of the shaft member. In one embodiment of the present invention, the cover portion is provided so as to protrude from the base portion in the direction of the rotation axis of the shaft member.

A seal mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a slinger provided on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft member. In one embodiment, the seal member is provided between the case and the slinger.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the sealing member is provided between the case and the slinger. In one embodiment, the main lip and the dust lip contact an end surface of the slinger.

A sealing mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a sealing member provided between a shaft member and a case that accommodates at least a portion of the shaft member. The sealing member has a base and a main lip disposed on the opposite side of the base in the direction of the rotation axis of the shaft member. In one embodiment of the present invention, the base includes a cylindrical portion and an annular portion. In one embodiment, the annular portion is disposed between the main lip and the cylindrical portion.

A device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a shaft member, a case that accommodates at least a portion of the shaft member, and a seal mechanism that seals between the shaft member and the case. In one embodiment, the sealing mechanism includes a sealing member provided between the case and the shaft member. In one embodiment, the seal member has a main lip disposed at a position that does not overlap with a base of the seal member in the direction of the rotation axis of the shaft member.

The sealing mechanism according to each embodiment of the present invention can be suitably applied to various devices.

It is possible to provide a sealing mechanism whose size in the radial direction can be reduced and a device equipped with the sealing mechanism.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a sealing mechanism in an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic enlarged sectional view showing a part of the sealing mechanism of FIG. 1 in an enlarged manner. FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a sealing mechanism in another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a device 10 with a sealing mechanism 1 in an embodiment of the invention.

The device 10 includes a shaft member 4, a case 5, and a seal mechanism 1. The seal mechanism 1 in one embodiment of the present invention seals between the shaft member 4 and the case 5. Thereby, the sealing mechanism 1 seals the internal space of the device 10 from the external space (for example, the atmosphere).

Although the device 10 includes a seal mechanism 1, a shaft member 4, and a case 5, the components of the device 10 are not limited to these. That is, the device 10 may include components other than the seal mechanism 1, the shaft member 4, and the case 5.

The device 10 is, for example, a speed reducer. The device 10 may be a device other than a speed reducer. The shaft member 4 is, for example, a member that rotates when a reduction gear is operated. The shaft member 4 may be a rotatable member other than this. The sealing mechanism 1 is not intended to be provided only in a specific device, but can be applied to any device including a rotating member.

Shaft member 4 in one embodiment of the invention is configured to rotate around rotation axis RAX. The shaft member 4 has a columnar shape, a cylindrical shape, or another shape. FIG. 1 shows two arrows extending parallel to the axis of rotation of the shaft member 4. As shown in FIG. One of the arrows (the arrow pointing to the right side of the page) is parallel to the rotation axis of the shaft member 4 and points toward the inside of the internal space of the case 5; The arrow (pointing to the left in the drawing) is a direction parallel to the rotation axis of the shaft member 4, and is directed toward the external space of the case 5.

The case 5 in one embodiment of the present invention is arranged coaxially or substantially coaxially with the shaft member 4. At least one of the shaft member 4 and the case 5 in one embodiment of the present invention rotates around the rotation axis RAX. The shaft member 4 may rotate around the rotation axis RAX with respect to the fixed case 5, or the case 5 may rotate around the rotation axis RAX with respect to the fixed shaft member 4.

The case 5 in one embodiment of the present invention has an internal space, and a part of the shaft member 4 is accommodated in this internal space. The internal space of the case 5 may accommodate components other than the shaft 4 of the device 10. As an example, a gear unit that can be connected to the shaft member 4 may be housed in the internal space of the case 5 .

The sealing mechanism 1 in one embodiment of the present invention is provided in an annular space between the shaft member 4 and the case 5, thereby sealing the internal space of the case 5 from the external space.

The shaft member 4 in one embodiment of the present invention has an outer circumferential surface (end surface) 14 . The inner circumferential surface of the seal mechanism 1 is in close contact with the outer circumferential surface 14 of this shaft member 4.

The case 5 in one embodiment of the present invention has an inner circumferential surface 15. The outer peripheral surface 23 of the seal mechanism 1 is in close contact with the inner peripheral surface 15 of the case 5. In this way, the seal mechanism 1 is disposed so as to be sandwiched between the inner circumferential surface 15 of the case 5 and the outer circumferential surface 14 of the shaft member 4.

A seal mechanism 1 in an embodiment of the present invention includes a slinger 2 and a seal member 3. The sealing mechanism 1 may not include the slinger 2. The slinger 2 includes a cylindrical cylindrical portion 11 and a flange portion 12 that protrudes outward from the cylindrical portion 11 in the radial direction of the shaft member 4 (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as the “radial direction”). . The slinger 2 may include structural members other than the cylindrical portion 11 and the flange portion 12. In one embodiment of the invention, a sealing member 3 is provided between the case 5 and the slinger 2. In one embodiment, the sealing mechanism 1 may have, in addition to the sealing member 3, another sealing member. This further sealing member may be arranged at a position adjacent to the sealing member 3. This other seal member may have a ring shape or a cylindrical shape so as to surround the rotation axis RAX of the shaft member 4. This other seal member may be arranged outside the seal member 3 in the direction of the rotational axis.

In one embodiment, the slinger 2 is provided in close contact with the outer circumferential surface 14 of the shaft member 4. As illustrated, the slinger 2 may be provided on the outer peripheral surface 14 of the shaft member 4 via the elastic member 9. The elastic member 9 extends along the outer circumferential surface 14 of the shaft member 4, and extends radially outward from the end thereof. The elastic member 9 is an elastically deformable member such as rubber. As the material of the elastic member 9, any known elastically deformable material can be appropriately employed.

The cylindrical portion 11 of the slinger 2 is partially or entirely formed into a cylindrical shape. One end or both ends of the cylindrical portion 11 may be chamfered. The cylindrical portion 11 of the slinger 2 includes an inner circumferential surface 21 and an outer circumferential surface 20 on the opposite side of the inner circumferential surface 21. An elastic member 9 is provided between the inner circumferential surface 21 of the cylindrical portion 11 and the outer circumferential surface 14 of the shaft member 4. Instead of this elastic member 9, an adhesive layer may be provided. This adhesive layer adheres the slinger 2 to the outer peripheral surface 14 of the shaft member 4. A member other than the adhesive layer may be provided on the inner circumferential surface 21 of the cylindrical portion 11 and the outer circumferential surface 14 of the shaft member 4.

In one embodiment of the invention, the sealing member 3 has a ring shape. The seal member 3 is arranged to surround the rotation axis of the shaft member 4. In one embodiment, the sealing member 3 includes a base 13, a main ring 24, a main lip 25 disposed at a position that does not overlap the base 13 in the rotational axis direction of the shaft member 4, a dust lip 26, and a spring ring. 27. The dust lip 26 is used to prevent foreign matter such as dust floating in the external space from entering the internal space.

Next, details of the seal member 3 will be explained with reference to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view showing the sealing member 3 of FIG. 1 in an enlarged manner. As illustrated, the seal member 3 in one embodiment of the present invention has an outer circumferential surface 23 that is in contact with the inner circumferential surface 15 of the case 5 . The main ring portion 24 includes a cylindrical first portion 241 having a central axis that coincides with or substantially coincides with the rotational axis of the shaft member 4, and protrudes toward the inside in the radial direction of the shaft member 4 from the end of the first portion 241. and a ring-shaped second portion. The main ring 24 contacts the inner circumferential surface 15 of the case 5 at the first portion 241 . The main lip 25 and/or the dust lip 26 may be formed integrally with the main ring portion 24. The main lip 25 and/or the dust lip 26 may be formed of an elastic member such as rubber. The dust lip 26 may be provided on the main ring portion 24. The dust lip 26 may be formed integrally with the main ring portion 24. The spring ring 27 is provided outside the main lip 25 in the radial direction of the shaft member 4 . In one embodiment, the main lip 25 and/or the dust lip 26 may be arranged in contact with the end surface 20 of the slinger 2 .

In one embodiment of the invention, the base 13 is made of a corrosion-resistant metal, such as stainless steel. In the illustrated embodiment, the base 13 is formed in an L-shape in a cross section passing through the rotation axis RAX of the shaft member 4. The shape, structure, dimensions, and materials of base 13 are not limited to those explicitly described herein. In one embodiment of the present invention, the base 13 has a cylindrical portion 16 and an annular portion 17 . The cylindrical portion 16 is arranged coaxially or substantially coaxially with the rotation axis RAX of the shaft member 4. The annular portion 17 protrudes inward from the shaft member 4 from one end of the cylindrical portion 16 in the rotation axis direction.

In one embodiment, the main lip 25 is a member located on the inner side in the rotational axis direction than the inner end surface 242a of the second portion 242 of the main ring portion 24 in the rotational axis direction. In FIG. 2, a broken line L indicates the boundary between the main ring 24 and the main lip 25. The broken line L in FIG. 2 is an example of the boundary between the main ring 24 and the main lip 25, and the boundary between the main ring portion 24 and the main lip 25 may be provided at another position. In one embodiment, the main lip 25 is arranged at a position that does not overlap the annular portion 17 in the direction of the rotational axis of the shaft member 4. In one embodiment, the main lip 25 may be arranged on one side of the dust lip 26 in the direction of the rotation axis. In the illustrated embodiment, the main lip 25 is arranged inside the dust lip 26 in the rotation axis direction. The main lip 25 may be arranged on the outer side of the dust lip 26 in the rotational axis direction.

In the illustrated embodiment, the dust lip 26 is provided on the radially inner side of the annular portion 17 . In other embodiments of the present invention, the dust lip 26 may be arranged at a position that does not overlap the base 13 in the direction of the rotational axis of the shaft member 4. In one embodiment, the dust lip 26 may be arranged on the side opposite to the external space with respect to the annular portion 17 in the direction of the rotation axis. That is, the dust lip 26 may be disposed inside the annular portion 17 in the rotation axis direction.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the main lip 25 is disposed on the opposite side of the annular portion 17 from the cylindrical portion 16 in the direction of the rotation axis. In one embodiment, the annular portion 17 may be located between the main lip 25 and the cylindrical portion 16.

As illustrated, the tip of the dust lip 26 is in contact with the outer circumferential surface 20 of the cylindrical portion 11 . While at least one of the shaft member 4 and the case 5 is rotating, the tip of the dust lip 26 rubs against the end surface 14 of the shaft member 4 or the cylindrical portion 11 of the slinger 2. In one embodiment, the slinger 2 is made of a material with higher wear resistance than the shaft member 4, so that wear of the slinger 2 due to contact with the dust lip 26 can be suppressed.

The main lip 25 includes a pressure ring 251 and a connection ring 252. The pressure contact ring 251 contacts the end surface 14 of the shaft member 4 or the outer peripheral surface 20 of the cylindrical portion 11 between the dust lip 26 and the internal space. The connection ring 252 connects the pressure contact ring 251 to the inner end of the main ring portion 24 in the rotation axis direction.

A spring ring 27 is provided outside the main lip 25 in the radial direction of the shaft member 4 so as to surround the main lip 25. The spring ring 27 applies a force directed inward in the radial direction of the shaft member 4 to the pressure contact ring 251 of the main lip 25 . Thereby, the pressure contact ring 251 is brought into close contact with the end surface 14 of the shaft member 4 or the outer peripheral surface 20 of the cylindrical portion 11 , and the pressure contact ring 251 and the outer peripheral surface 20 of the cylindrical portion 11 are brought into close contact. This prevents the liquid (for example, lubricating oil, etc.) contained in the internal space of the case 5 from leaking into the external space between the pressure ring 251 and the outer circumferential surface 20 of the cylindrical portion 11.

Next, referring to FIG. 3, a sealing mechanism in another embodiment of the present invention will be described. Description of parts common to FIG. 1 will be omitted. The sealing mechanism 1 shown in FIG. 3 differs from the sealing mechanism 1 shown in FIG. 1 in that it includes a cover portion 18. The cover portion 18 is configured and arranged to cover the spring ring 27 from the outside in the radial direction of the shaft member 4.

In one embodiment, the cover portion 18 is provided so as to protrude inward from the annular portion 17 or the main ring portion 24 of the base portion 13 in the direction of the rotation axis RAX. The cover portion 18 may be integrated with the base portion 13 or the main ring portion 24, or may be a separate body. The cover portion 18 can prevent the spring ring 27 from falling off the main lip 25.

Next, the effects of the embodiment of the present invention will be explained. According to each of the above embodiments, since the main lip 25 is arranged at a position that does not overlap with the base 13 of the seal member 3 in the rotation axis direction of the shaft member 4, the main lip 25 and the base in the radial direction of the shaft member 4 It is possible to prevent the seal mechanism 1 from increasing in size due to overlap with the seal mechanism 13. This makes it possible to reduce the size of the seal mechanism 1 in the radial direction of the shaft member 4.

According to the embodiment described above, the main lip 25 is arranged at a position that does not overlap with the annular portion 17 in the direction of the rotation axis, so that the main lip 25 and the annular portion 17 overlap in the radial direction of the shaft member 4, resulting in sealing. It is possible to prevent the mechanism 1 from increasing in size. This makes it possible to reduce the size of the seal mechanism 1 in the radial direction of the shaft member 4.

According to the above embodiment, the dust lip 26 is arranged at a position that does not overlap with the base 13 in the direction of the rotation axis, so the sealing mechanism is created by the dust lip 26 overlapping with the base 13 in the radial direction of the shaft member 4. 1 can be prevented from increasing in size. This makes it possible to reduce the size of the seal mechanism 1 in the radial direction of the shaft member 4.

According to the embodiment described above, the dust lip 26 is arranged inside the annular portion 17 in the radial direction of the shaft member 4 . Thereby, the sealing force of the dust lip 26 can be increased.

As described above, it is possible to reduce the size of the seal mechanism 1 in the radial direction of the shaft member 4, thereby increasing the degree of freedom in designing the seal mechanism 1 and the device 10 provided with the seal mechanism 1.

1 Seal mechanism 2 Slinger 3 Seal member 4 Shaft member 5 Case 10 Device 11 Cylindrical part 12 Flange part 13 Base 14 End surface (outer peripheral surface)
15 end face (inner circumferential face)
16 Cylindrical part 17 Annular part 18 Cover part 20 End face 21 Inner peripheral face 23 Outer peripheral face 24 Main ring part 25 Main lip 26 Dust lip 27 Spring ring RAX Rotating shaft

Claims (10)

a slinger having a cylindrical portion attached to an outer circumferential surface of a shaft member; and a flange portion protruding from the cylindrical portion toward the outside in a radial direction of the shaft member;
a seal member provided between the slinger and a case housing at least a portion of the shaft member;
an elastic member extending from an outer peripheral surface of the shaft member toward the outside in the radial direction and provided between the slinger and the shaft member ;
Equipped with
The sealing member has a cylindrical part disposed coaxially or substantially coaxially with the shaft member, and an annular part protruding inward in the radial direction from one end of the cylindrical part, and A base having an L-shape in a cross section passing through the rotation axis of the shaft member, and a main lip disposed at a position that does not overlap with the base in the direction of the rotation axis of the shaft member and in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the slinger. ,
The elastic member is interposed between the radially outer end of the flange portion and the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion of the base of the seal member, and the end portion and the base portion of the sealing member are in contact with each of the inner circumferential surfaces of the cylindrical portion;
Seal mechanism. The main lip is arranged at a position that does not overlap with the annular portion in the direction of the rotation axis.
The sealing mechanism according to claim 1. The sealing member has a dust lip,
The dust lip is arranged at a position that does not overlap with the base in the direction of the rotation axis,
A sealing mechanism according to claim 2. The main lip is arranged on one side of the dust lip in the direction of the rotation axis,
The sealing mechanism according to claim 3. The dust lip is arranged inside the annular portion in the radial direction of the shaft member.
The sealing mechanism according to claim 3. a spring ring provided on the main lip;
a cover portion that covers the spring ring from the outside in the radial direction of the shaft member;
The sealing mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising: The seal mechanism according to claim 6, wherein the cover portion is provided so as to protrude from the base portion in the direction of the rotation axis of the shaft member. The main lip and the dust lip are in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the slinger,
The sealing mechanism according to claim 3. The seal mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the main lip is disposed on the opposite side of the cylindrical portion with respect to the annular portion in the direction of the rotation axis of the shaft member. a shaft member;
a case accommodating at least a portion of the shaft member;
a slinger having a cylindrical portion attached to an outer circumferential surface of the shaft member; and a flange portion protruding from the cylindrical portion toward the outside in a radial direction of the shaft member;
an elastic member extending from an outer peripheral surface of the shaft member toward the outside in the radial direction and provided between the slinger and the shaft member ;
a sealing member provided between the case and the slinger, and a sealing mechanism for sealing between the shaft member and the case;
The sealing member has a cylindrical part disposed coaxially or substantially coaxially with the shaft member, and an annular part protruding inward in the radial direction from one end of the cylindrical part, and a base having an L-shape in a cross section passing through the rotation axis of the shaft member; and a main lip disposed at a position that does not overlap with the base of the seal member in the direction of the rotation axis of the shaft member;
The elastic member is interposed between the radially outer end of the flange portion and the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion of the base of the sealing member, and is arranged between the radially outer end of the flange portion and contacting each of the inner peripheral surfaces of the cylindrical portion of the base of the sealing member ;
Device.

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