Seal test bench: pressure chamber, shaft drive and engineering calculations
I designed test benches with a pressure chamber and rotating shaft for testing radial shaft seals. My work included chamber and bolt calculations, the belt drive, bearing and motor selection, and specification of component tolerances.
Project status: Test bench built and commissioned; project completed during my work in seal engineering.
Initial task
Radial shaft seals were to be investigated under combined pressure loading and shaft rotation. This required a test bench with a pressurised chamber, interchangeable seal and shaft arrangements, and a mechanical drive.
My contribution
I designed seal test benches from the initial concept through 3D models and manufacturing drawings, and supported assembly and commissioning. This included sizing the cylindrical test chamber, calculating wall loading and cover bolting, and dimensioning the belt drive.
Translating pressure loading into component dimensions
Internal pressure loads both the chamber wall and its cover. I calculated the resulting stresses to support material and wall-thickness selection and the choice of cover bolts. This connects the load case to the chamber's mechanical design in a traceable way.
Belt drive and installation space
For the belt drive, I selected the belt, pulley diameters and centre distance. These dimensions determine the arrangement of the drive and test shaft and must fit within the assembly's available space.
Bearings, motor and tolerances
I selected bearings, the motor and other components, and specified the tolerances of the designed parts. The belt drive affects both the speed ratio and the loads on the shaft and bearings. Purchased components and custom parts therefore had to work together as one mechanical system. Defining the interfaces connected component selection to manufacturing drawings and subsequent assembly.
Drawings, assembly and testing
Calculated and modelled components were developed into manufacturing drawings. I supported assembly and commissioning. The test setup was used to investigate sealing behaviour, leakage and wear under the selected test conditions.
Outcome and project context
The test bench was built and commissioned. The project combines pressure and drive calculations with component selection, part design, tolerance specification and manufacturing drawings. It demonstrates the development of a test rig through several design stages to practical implementation.