Sealing device

Abstract

The invention relates to a sealing device of a system for sealing a fluid passage from a first component (1) to a second component (2), comprising at least one first sealing element (3) which is of an annular design to allow fluid to pass through it, includes at least one expansion slot (4) and has a first sealing surface (5) sealingly associated with the first component (1) and has a second sealing surface (8) sealingly associated with the second component (2), said at least one first sealing element (3) being flexible and said expansion slot (4) being designed in such a way that radial and resultant axial pressure of the fluid passing through there will cause the first sealing element (3) to expand in the radial direction and thus press radially in the direction against the first component (1), with said first sealing surface (5) with the expansion slot (4) being sealed against the first component (1) by abutment in the direction of the latter, and in such a way that the first sealing element (3) will press axially in the direction against the second component (2), with the second sealing surface (8) with the expansion slot (4) being sealed against the second component (2) by abutment in the direction of the latter.

Claims

1-12. (canceled)

13. Sealing device of a system for sealing a fluid passage from a first component (1) to a second component (2), comprising: at least one first sealing element (3), which is of an annular design to allow fluid to pass through it, which includes at least one expansion slot (4) and has a first sealing surface (5) sealingly associated with the first component (1) and a second sealing surface (8) sealingly associated with the second component (2), characterized in that said at least one first sealing element (3) is flexible and the expansion slot (4) is formed in such a way that radial and resulting axial pressure of the fluid passing through it will cause the first sealing element (3) to expand in the radial direction and thus press it radially in the direction against the first component (1), said first sealing surface (5) with the expansion slot (4) being sealed against the first component (1) by abutment in the direction of the latter, and in such a way that the first sealing element (3) presses axially in the direction of the second component (2), with the second sealing surface (8) with the expansion slot (4) being sealed against the second component (2) by abutment in the direction of the latter.

14. Device according to claim 13, characterized in that at least the first sealing surface (5) is inclined towards the axial direction, especially in the manner of a conical surface.

15. Device according to claim 13, characterized in that the first sealing surface (5) and the second sealing surface (8) form a uniform sealing surface of the first sealing element (3).

16. Device according to claim 13, characterized in that the first sealing element (3) is formed in one piece and the at least one expansion slot (4) is continuous.

17. Device according to claim 13, characterized in that the at least one expansion slot (4) extends in the manner of an arc from an inner wall (10) of the first sealing element (3) to the second sealing surface (8).

18. Device according to claim 17, characterized in that the at least one expansion slot (4) extends radially with respect to the first sealing element (3), at least in the region of the inner wall (10) of the first sealing element (3).

19. Device according to claim 13, characterized in that at least in the region of the second sealing surface (8) of the first sealing element (3), the at least one expansion slot (4) extends and terminates tangentially therefrom.

20. Device according to claim 13, characterized in that the first component (1) has a separate annular sealing seat (11) associated with the first sealing element (3).

21. Device according to claim 13, characterized in that the second component (2) has a second sealing element (6), associated with the first sealing element (3), of an annular design to allow fluid to pass through it, which second sealing element (6) has a third sealing surface (7), sealingly associated with the second component (2) and bearing against the second component (2), and a fourth sealing surface (9), sealingly associated with the first sealing element (3) and bearing against the second sealing surface (8).

22. Device according to claim 21, characterized in that the second sealing element (6) has a coefficient of thermal expansion which compensates for a flexible deformation of the first sealing element (3) as a result of the pressure of the fluid passing through it.

23. Device according to claim 13, characterized in that the first component (1) is a perforated plate of a melting device and the second component (2) is a flat slide of a melting device.

24. Device according to claim 14, characterized in that the fluid is a low-viscosity plastic melt.

Description

[0018] The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the enclosed drawings. In the drawings:

[0019] FIGS. 1a to 1e are views of a preferred embodiment of the first sealing element of the sealing device according to the invention;

[0020] FIGS. 2a to 2c are views of a preferred embodiment of a second sealing element of the sealing device according to the invention; and

[0021] FIG. 3 is a cutaway side view of a sealing device of a system for sealing a fluid process, with a first component and a second component in an assembled state, according to the preferred embodiment of the invention.

[0022] FIG. 1a is a top view of the at least one first sealing element 3 of the sealing device system according to the invention for sealing a fluid passage from a first component 1 to a second component 2, which two components are only shown in FIG. 3. This view clearly shows that the first sealing element 3 is of an annular design to allow fluid to pass through it and has at least one expansion slot 4. It also has a first sealing surface 5, which is inclined in the axial direction in the manner of a conical surface, as can be clearly seen, for example, in the sectional view of FIG. 1b or in the side views of FIG. 1c and FIG. 1d as well as in the perspective view of FIG. 1e. The first sealing element 3 is formed in one piece and the expansion slot 4 is arranged to extend continuously through it, with the expansion slot 4 extending in the manner of an arc from an inner wall 10 of the first sealing element 3 to the second sealing surface 8. The course of the expansion slot 4 is radial at least in the region of the inner wall 10 of the first sealing element 3 and then further extends in the manner of an arc until it terminates tangentially in the region of the second sealing surface 8 of the first sealing element 3. The present invention thus makes it possible in a simple manner that as a result of the melt pressure applied, both radial pressure acting on the first sealing element 3 and axial pressure acting on the sealing element 3 will ensure that as little melt as possible or no melt at all is present in the expansion slot 4 between the first component to be sealed and the second component to be sealed in a tensioned condition thereof. It can be clearly seen in the views of FIGS. 1a to 1e that the first sealing surface 5 and the second sealing surface 8 adjoin each other but are arranged at different angles from one another. According to the invention, it would also be conceivable (although this is not shown in the Figures) for the first sealing surface 5 and the second sealing surface 8 to form a uniform sealing surface of the first sealing element 3, if the sealing surface 8 were to directly adjoin the first sealing surface 5 at an identical cone angle, for example.

[0023] FIGS. 2a to 2c are views of a second sealing element 6 associated with the second component and the first sealing element 3, which sealing element 6 is also of an annular design to allow fluid to pass through it. The second sealing element 6 shown here has a third sealing surface 7 sealingly associated with the second component, which—in the assembled state of the device according to the invention—will rest against the second component, and a fourth sealing surface 9 sealingly associated with the first sealing element 3, which—in the assembled state of the device according to the invention—will rest against the second sealing surface 8 of the first sealing element 3. The first sealing element is inserted into the resulting recess of the second sealing element 6. It should be noted that in the edge area, which is clearly illustrated in the cutaway side view of the second sealing element 6 of FIG. 2, for example, the second sealing element has beveled edges, which—in the assembled state—essentially constitute a continuation of the edges of the conical surface of the first sealing element 3. According to the invention, the second sealing element 6 preferably has a coefficient of thermal expansion which allows a flexible deformation of the first sealing element 3 as a result of the pressure of the fluid passing through in the temperature range specified for the use of the sealing device according to the invention. This preferably results in an improved sealing effect by the compensation of tolerances.

[0024] FIG. 3 is a cutaway side view of the sealing system according to the invention with the sealing device according to the invention when assembled with the first component 1 and the second component 2. This view also clearly shows another separate annular seal seat 11, associated with the first sealing element 3 and the first component 1, with the seal seat 11 illustrated in this view forming an opposing conical contact element that matches the conically shaped portion of the first sealing element. According to the invention, the pressure force occurring radially can thus be deflected in the axial direction in a particularly easy manner by correspondingly placing the respective sealing surfaces against one another, which results in a kind of jamming of the first sealing element against the second sealing element and thus of the second sealing element against the second component. This also causes the first sealing element to be pressed against the first component 1 or against the respective seal seat 11, resulting in a corresponding sealing action.

[0025] The embodiment of the present invention shown thus allows for a particularly simple and reliable sealing of a fluid passage between two components, especially when used in melting devices for low-viscosity plastic melts at relatively high temperatures in the range of 250° C. and higher, according to the invention.