DE102022100495A1 - Sealing device with drip groove - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a sealing device (1) with a disc element (3) designed for attachment to a rotatable first component (2) and one designed for attachment to a stationary second component (4) by means of at least one sealing lip (6). the sealing element (5) that bears or can be placed on the disk element (3), a capillary gap (9) being formed radially between an axially running projection (7) of the disk element (3) and an axially running wall (8) of the sealing element (5), and wherein the capillary gap (9) is locally interrupted in an axial end area (16) by a drip groove (11) introduced into the disk element (3).

Description

The invention relates to a sealing device, which is preferably used between two relatively rotatable components/components of a drive train of a motor vehicle, more preferably in a wheel bearing of the motor vehicle, with a disk element designed for attachment to a first rotatable/rotating component and a for fastening to a second component which is stationary/fixed to the housing and which rests or can be placed on the disk element by means of at least one sealing lip, a capillary gap being formed radially between an axially running projection of the first disk element and an axially running wall of the sealing element.

Generic sealing arrangements according to the prior art are, for example, from DE 10 2017 110 115 A1 known. A sealing gap between the two relatively rotatable elements is designed in the form of a labyrinth seal. In this context, it is also known to form the sealing gaps in such a way that a liquid, mostly water, cannot penetrate from the outside into the sealing arrangement, in particular in the direction of a sealing lip.

However, it has been shown that in the worst case, water can still penetrate into the capillary gap, in that the water migrating up the outside of the sealing device in the radial direction during operation presses the water already in the capillary gap into the interior of the sealing device.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a sealing device which has an even more reliable sealing effect.

According to the invention, this is achieved in that the capillary gap is locally interrupted/expanded in an axial end region by a drip groove made in the disk element.

This creates a contour for the targeted detachment of the water, which locally reduces the capillary effect of the adjacent capillary gap. Thus, the water that tends to penetrate into the capillary gap can tear off the surface of the disc element/the sealing device and be thrown outwards by the centrifugal force acting. The result is a sealing effect that is as reliable as possible.

Further advantageous embodiments are claimed with the dependent claims and explained in more detail below.

For an effective mode of operation of the drip groove, it is advantageous if it is designed to be completely circumferential, that is to say ring-shaped.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if the draining groove is introduced directly into a carrier consisting of sheet metal or into a plastic coating of the pane element applied to the carrier. As a result, the structure of the disc element is kept as simple as possible.

The drip groove is preferably introduced from a radial outside into the axially extending projection/into a radial outside of the projection of the disk element.

It is also advantageous if the drip groove directly forms/limits a drip edge in the axial end area, which drip edge has a length (corresponds to an axial dimension) of less than or equal to 1 mm. As a result, the water running along the axial end face during operation is reliably ripped off during operation.

Furthermore, it is expedient if the drip groove has a depth of at least a quarter of a height (corresponds to a radial dimension) of the capillary gap. This further optimizes the drip geometry.

It is also expedient if the drip groove has a length (corresponds to an axial dimension) that is less than twice the height (corresponds to a radial dimension) of the capillary gap or measures 0.1 mm to 0.8 mm.

The capillary gap preferably has a height of between 0.1 mm and 1 mm, more preferably between 0.2 mm and 0.6 mm, particularly preferably between 0.3 mm and 0.5 mm.

Furthermore, it is expedient if at least one trough-shaped relaxation space, which is larger in cross section than the capillary gap, is formed radially inside the capillary gap between the disk element and the sealing element. This further improves the effect of the capillary gap.

The invention will now be explained in more detail below with reference to figures.

• 1 eine Längsschnittdarstellung einer erfindungsgemäßen Dichtungsvorrichtung nach einem bevorzugten Ausführungsbeispiel, wobei der Aufbau der Dichtungsvorrichtung gut zu erkennen ist, sowie
• 2 eine Detailansicht der Dichtungsvorrichtung nach 1 im Bereich eines zwischen einem Scheibenelement und einem Dichtelement der Dichtungsvorrichtung ausgebildeten Kapillarspaltes.

Show it:

• 1 a longitudinal sectional view of a sealing device according to the invention according to a preferred embodiment, wherein the structure of the sealing device is clearly visible, and
• 2 a detailed view of the sealing device 1 in the area of a capillary gap formed between a disk element and a sealing element of the sealing device.

The figures are only of a schematic nature and serve exclusively for understanding the invention. The same elements are provided with the same reference numbers.

With 1 a sealing device 1 according to the invention is illustrated according to a preferred exemplary embodiment. The sealing device 1 is designed in two parts and has a first element, referred to as a disc element 3, and a second element, referred to as a sealing element 5, which elements are inserted in their area of use between two components 2 and 4 that can be rotated relative to one another in order to close the gap between these components 2, 4 to seal. The two components 2, 4 are preferably components of a motor vehicle drive train. The (second) component 4 is fixed here and is preferably designed as a housing, while the (first) component 2 is mounted such that it can rotate relative to the second component 4 and is therefore preferably designed as a shaft.

The disk element 3 or the centrifugal disk is essentially U-shaped as viewed in a section/longitudinal section taken along a rotation axis 25 of the first component 2 . The disk element 3 thus has a U-shaped cross section. The pane element 3 has a carrier 21 (made of sheet metal) and a (plastic) coating 20 applied thereto. The coating 20 is preferably sprayed or vulcanized directly onto the carrier 21 . An axially extending projection 7 is formed radially on the outside of the disk element 3 .

It should be noted that the directional information used here is axial and radial in relation to the 1 indicated axis of rotation 25 can be seen. The term axial/axial direction means a direction along/parallel to the axis of rotation 25 and the term radial/radial direction means a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation 25 .

Like the disc element 3 , the sealing element 5 is implemented as a plastic-coated sheet metal component and accordingly has a base support 22 (made of sheet metal) and a sealing coating 23 applied to the base support 22 . Those sealing coating 23 forms in the first embodiment of the 1 directly two sealing lips 6, 19, which can be placed on the disk element 3. A (first) sealing lip 6 of the sealing element 5 is in 1 spaced from the disk element 3; a (second) sealing lip 19 is in 1 on the disk element 3.

A capillary gap 9 is provided radially between the projection 7 of the disk element 3 and a wall 8 of the sealing element 5 covering the projection 7 radially from the outside (axially). This capillary gap 9 is open to an axial side of the sealing device 1 (to the environment). The capillary gap 9 designed as an annular gap has a height 10 (radial dimension; also referred to as width/thickness) of less than 1 mm, here 0.4 mm. In particular, the capillary gap 9 is formed with a constant height 10 over its length.

According to the invention, in the disc element 3, namely in the axially extending projection 7, there is a completely circumferential, ie completely ring-shaped drip groove 11. The drip groove 11 is introduced into the projection 7 radially from the outside. The drip groove 11 is placed in an axial end area 16 of the capillary gap 9 so that the capillary gap 9 is widened in a targeted manner in the area of the drip groove 11 . As a result, the capillary forces acting on water in the capillary gap 9 are reduced (in the area of the drip groove 11) in order to prevent the water flowing along an axial end face 24 of the disc element 3 during operation due to the centrifugal force acting from penetrating/opening the capillary gap 9 the water in the capillary gap 9 to exert further pressure.

Due to the drip groove 11, a drip edge 14 (not shown in detail for the sake of clarity, but indicated in principle) is formed axially towards the end face 24 on the disc element 3, on which the water flowing radially outwards during operation due to the centrifugal force acting from the surface of the Disc element 3 tears off / detaches itself from the surface of disc element 3 and is thrown radially outwards.

In 2 a length 28 (axial dimension) and a depth 27 (radial dimension) of the drip groove 11 are marked. The depth 27 measures at least a quarter of the height 10 of the capillary gap 9. In this embodiment, the length 28 of the drip groove 11 is equal to the height 10 of the capillary gap 9.

The drip edge 14 , which is immediately adjacent to the drip groove 11 axially and extends up to the end face 24 , has a length 29 that is smaller than the height 10 of the capillary gap 9 .

Furthermore, it can be seen that the drip groove 11 is introduced in a targeted manner on a radial outside of the axially extending projection 7 is in order to drain the radially outward running water at this point during operation. Furthermore, the drip groove 11 is incorporated directly into the coating or seal 20 of the pane element 3 . In further versions, the drip groove 11 can also be introduced directly into the carrier 21 .

On a side of the capillary gap 9 axially remote from the end face 24 , the latter merges into a first trough-shaped expansion space 12 via a (first) connecting channel 13 which is widened/cross-sectionally enlarged relative to the capillary gap 9 . The first connecting channel 13 is also implemented in the form of a ring and is formed axially between the projection 7 and the sealing element 5 . The first expansion space 12 is arranged radially inside the capillary gap 9 . The first relaxation space 12 also runs in the form of a ring.

It can also be seen that the first relaxation space 12 is delimited radially inwards by a lip structure 17 formed in one piece by the sealing element 5 . The lip structure 17 is formed directly through the sealing coating 23 . This lip structure 17 extends in the radial direction towards the projection 7 so that a further additional capillary gap 15 is formed between the projection 7 and the lip structure 17 . Thus, the capillary gap 9 is formed on a radial outside of the projection 7 and the additional capillary gap 15 is formed on a radial inside of the projection 7 .

On a side facing away axially from the first expansion space 12 , the additional capillary gap 15 transitions into a second connecting channel 26 running radially inwards. This second connection channel 26 merges into a second relaxation space 18 . The second connection channel 26 and the second expansion space 18 are enlarged relative to the additional capillary gap 15 . The second relaxation space 18 is delimited directly by the (second) sealing lip 19 of the sealing element 5 . The second sealing lip 19 is also formed in one piece with the sealing coating 23 . The first sealing lip 6 is located further radially inside the second sealing lip 19.

In other words, it is proposed according to the invention to provide a circumferential groove (drip groove 11) in the seal (coating 20; or also directly in the centrifugal plate (carrier 21)), which changes the capillary effect in the entrance gap and makes it easier for water to penetrate at the centrifugal edge (Drip edge 14) can tear off. The water migrating up from the centrifugal disc (disc element 3) would be drawn inwards due to the capillary force / adhesive force on the surface. The adhesive force or capillary force is influenced or reduced by the groove (drip groove 11). As a result, the centrifugal force predominates at this point, which is why the water is thrown outwards at the groove or throw-off edge.

Reference List

1

sealing device

2

first component

3

disk element

4

second component

5

sealing element

6

first sealing lip

7

head Start

8th

wall

9

capillary gap

10

height of the capillary gap

11

drip groove

12

first relaxation room

13

first connecting channel

14

drip edge

15

additional capillary gap

16

end area

17

lip texture

18

second relaxation room

19

second sealing lip

20

coating

21

carrier

22

base carrier

23

seal coating

24

face

25

axis of rotation

26

second connecting channel

27

Depth of the drip groove

28

length of the drip groove

29

Drip edge length

QUOTES INCLUDED IN DESCRIPTION

This list of documents cited by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent Literature Cited

• DE 102017110115 A1 [0002]

Claims (7)

Sealing device (1) with a disk element (3) designed for attachment to a rotatable first component (2) and a disk element (3) designed for attachment to a stationary second component (4) by means of at least one sealing lip (6). ) abutting or attachable sealing element (5), a capillary gap (9) being formed radially between an axially running projection (7) of the disc element (3) and an axially running wall (8) of the sealing element (5), characterized in that the Capillary gap (9) is locally interrupted in an axial end region (16) by a drip groove (11) introduced into the disk element (3). Sealing device (1) after claim 1 , characterized in that the drip groove (11) is introduced directly into a support (21) consisting of sheet metal or into a plastic coating (20) of the disc element (3) applied to the support (21). Sealing device (1) after claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the drip groove (11) directly forms a drip edge (14) in the axial end region (16), which drip edge (14) has a length (29) of less than or equal to 1 mm. Sealing device (1) according to one of Claims 1 until 3 , characterized in that the drip groove (11) has at least a depth (27) of ¼ of a height (10) of the capillary gap (9). Sealing device (1) according to one of Claims 1 until 4 , characterized in that the drip groove (11) has a length (28) which is less than twice the height (10) of the capillary gap (9). Sealing device (1) according to one of Claims 1 until 5 , characterized in that the capillary gap (9) has a height (10) between 0.1 mm and 1 mm. Sealing device (1) according to one of Claims 1 until 6 , characterized in that radially inside the capillary gap (9) at least one trough-shaped relaxation space (12, 18) is formed between the disc element (3) and the sealing element (5).

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