Method for manufacturing sealing structure and sealing structure

1 . A method of manufacturing a sealing structure comprising:

preparing a flat plate-shaped seal member having a first end face and a second end face located at opposite ends of the seal member;

accommodating the seal member in an inner space of a housing member such that the seal member is deformed into a curved state, with the first end face and the second end face positioned close to each other;

installing an auxiliary member to be in contact with the first end face and the second end face between the first end face and the second end face; and

accommodating a shaft member inside the seal member,

wherein after accommodating the seal member and before installing the auxiliary member, the seal member is in a teardrop shape in a plan view, and

wherein after installing the auxiliary member, the seal member is reshaped into an arc shape that extends along an inner peripheral surface of the housing member.

2 . The method of manufacturing the sealing structure according to claim 1 ,

wherein in the installing of the auxiliary member, by installing the auxiliary member, a distance between the first end face and the second end face is increased relative to the distance prior to installation of the auxiliary member.

3 . The method of manufacturing the sealing structure according to claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary member is an elongated member including a first portion and a second portion,

wherein the installing of the auxiliary member includes inserting the auxiliary member between the first end face and the second end face by moving the auxiliary member in an axial direction with the first portion leading, and

wherein the first portion is thinner than the second portion.

4 . The method of manufacturing the sealing structure according to claim 3 , wherein a planar shape of a leading end face of the auxiliary member is a shape in which a lateral width at a first radial position is smaller than a lateral width at a second radial position radially outward of the first radial position.

5 . The method of manufacturing the sealing structure according to claim 1 , further comprising:

removing the auxiliary member after accommodating the shaft member inside the inner space.

6 . The method of manufacturing the sealing structure according to claim 1 , wherein, with the auxiliary member disposed between the first end face and the second end face, an inner wall face of the auxiliary member is located radially outward of an inner peripheral surface of the seal member.

7 . The method of manufacturing the sealing structure according to claim 1 , wherein the seal member includes:

a first surface facing the inner peripheral surface of the housing member;

a first protrusion portion protruding from the first surface along the first end face; and

a second protrusion portion protruding from the first surface along the second end face,

wherein a groove portion along an axial direction is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the housing member,

wherein, with the auxiliary member disposed between the first end face and the second end face, the first protrusion portion and the second protrusion portion are located inside the groove portion.

8 . The method of manufacturing the sealing structure according to claim 7 , wherein the groove portion includes a first wall face and a second wall face facing each other, with a space therebetween in a circumferential direction,

wherein, with the auxiliary member installed, the first protrusion portion is in contact with the first wall face, and the second protrusion portion is in contact with the second wall face.

9 . A sealing structure comprising:

a housing member having an inner space;

a shaft member accommodated in the inner space;

a seal member including a first end face and a second end face located on opposite sides to each other, and disposed between an inner peripheral surface of the housing member and an outer peripheral surface of the shaft member, while being in a curved state such that the first end face and the second end face are close to each other; and

an auxiliary member disposed between the first end face and the second end face,

wherein before the auxiliary member is installed between the first end face and the second end face, the seal member is in a teardrop shape in a plan view, and after the auxillary member is installed between the first end face and the second end face the seal member is reshaped into an arc shape that extends along the inner peripheral surface of the housing member.