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The correlation between the micro surface roughness and sealability of O-rings was experimentally analyzed. We developed a SMLA (Seal Micro Leakage Analyzer) for observing the contact of micro asperities using a micro-prism glass plate, and a micro-leakage measurement device for O-rings. Using the SMLA, the contact of micro asperities of O-rings surfaces ranging from 1.6 microns to 16.3 microns was clearly visualized. We also measured the contact area and leakage amount at the same time, and studied the sealing mechanism. The visualized images of the contact area were analyzed by image processing. The results showed that the micro asperites on the O-ring surfaces were squashed elastically to form a band which sealed in the fluid.

The flow behavior of rubber compounds inside a mold is very complicated including various phenomena such as heat transfer from the mold, wall slip and swell at the divergent cavity. A slit rheometer which can measure the flow behavior inside a mold during curing was developed. The rheometer has a window which enables the observation of the flow behavior directly under 50 MPa. The pressure loss gradient along the flow direction and shear viscosity were found to be independent on the degree of cure but wall slip was observed. The wall slip phenomena could not be explained by slip analysis, because plug flow occurred due to little effects of the poiseuille flow. The pressure behavior inside the slit could be well predicted by using the equation obtained by assuming stress relaxation of visoelastic fluid occurs without share along the wall. The stress relaxation phenomena were predicted by taking into account the short and log relaxation time.

In order to clarify the sealing mechanism of radial lip seals, a new test apparatus with a hollow glass shaft was developed, and the fluid behavior under sealing condition was observed by using the Laser Induced Fluorescent (LIF) method. In this paper, the description of the test apparatus and first measurement results are shown. A laser dye dissolved in synthetic oil below the seal lip was excited at a wavelength of 427nm by a SHG solid state blue light laser. The fluorescence was detected by a CCD camera through an optical filter. The fluid paths of the oil beneath the seal lip appeared ahead of each rib as soon as a shaft started to rotate. Furthermore, the intensity of the fluorescence, which is related to the fluid film thickness, increased with shaft speed increasing. First measurement results obtained with the LIF method were in good agreement with other measurement results.

A new type of speed reduction device has been developed to drive an auxiliary power unit by small gas turbine engine with the speed up to 86,000 rpm. The device adopts a traction drive system with planetary roller arrangement. In the traction drive system, power is transmitted by the tractive force generated between the rolling elements. The device has the potential to be superior in efficiency together with lower noise level over conventional gear system specially in high rotating speed range. A loss estimation study indicated that the sliding friction loss of the supporting carrier is the dominant one in this system. Therefore, the better efficiency will be attainable by improving the carrier configuration. It is understood from the study that excess oil supply into the race ways causes considerable drop of torque capacity together with the increased churning loss in the traction system.