Actuator Assembly Self-Lubricating End Gland Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The relative motion between a gas turbine engine nacelle and its actuator can impart loads that affect the sealing performance of seals, leading to potential leaks and maintenance challenges during operations.
Innovation Solution
An actuator assembly incorporating a self-lubricating end gland and bushing with PTFE/molybdenum disulfide fillers, which reduces material pickup and prevents jamming by providing a dry film lubricant, and a lost motion device to absorb vibrations and prevent overloading, ensuring reliable sealing and operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional sealing components are used in the actuator assembly, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but material pickup occurs and sealing performance deteriorates due to relative motion between the nacelle and actuator
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by incorporating PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) and molybdenum disulfide fillers into the end gland and bushing components. This creates a self-lubricating composite material that reduces friction and material pickup between moving parts, thereby maintaining sealing performance without requiring complex external lubrication systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The end gland and bushing are designed as self-lubricating components that contain embedded PTFE and molybdenum disulfide fillers. These fillers automatically provide lubrication during operation, reducing material pickup and preventing jamming without requiring external intervention or complex lubrication mechanisms, thus improving reliability while maintaining structural simplicity.
2Reliability
If self-lubricating fillers are added to reduce material pickup and prevent jamming, then sealing performance is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates PTFE and molybdenum disulfide fillers directly into the end gland and bushing materials during manufacturing. This composite material approach allows the self-lubricating properties to be built-in during the molding or fabrication process, rather than requiring separate assembly steps, thus limiting the increase in manufacturing complexity while achieving improved sealing performance.
3Reliability
If a lost motion device is added to absorb vibrations and prevent overloading, then operational reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lost motion device is incorporated into the actuator assembly to absorb vibrations and prevent overloading before they can cause damage to the sealing components or other critical parts. This protective mechanism operates in advance to cushion shocks and vibrations, thereby improving operational reliability while adding a relatively simple mechanical element to the overall device.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enhances sealing performance by reducing material pickup and preventing jamming, maintaining reliable operation and reducing maintenance challenges by using self-lubricating components and a lost motion device to manage vibrations and loads effectively.
Implementation Method 1
The first gland groove is arranged to receive a self-lubricating filler that engages the piston rod
Implementation Method 2
provides a dry film lubricant, and a lost motion device to absorb vibrations and prevent overloading
Implementation Method 3
a lost motion device to absorb vibrations and prevent overloading
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2~4
AI summary
An actuator assembly (10) includes a housing (20), a piston rod (22), and an end gland (26). The housing (20) defines a housing bore (44) that extends along a first axis between a first housing end (40) and a second housing end (42). The piston rod (22) is at least partially disposed within the housing bore (44). The piston rod (22) defines a piston bore that extends from a first piston end towards a second piston end along the first axis. The end gland (26) has a first end gland surface (80) that engages the piston rod (22) and a second end gland surface (82) that engages the housing bore. The end gland (26) defines a first gland groove (94) that extends from the first end gland surface (80) towards the second end gland surface (82). The first gland groove (94) is arranged to receive a self-lubricating filler that engages the piston rod (22). A self-lubricating bushing may also be provided to deposit a lubricant into the piston bore.