Movable Gland Seal Assembly for Lateral Shaft Deflection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Retractable aircraft components, such as position lights, experience lateral deflection due to perpendicular loads, leading to water and foreign object ingress through deformed seals, causing damage and wear.
Innovation Solution
A seal assembly comprising a housing, a shaft, and a gland with a labyrinth-style seal, where the gland is movably retained in an annular retention channel and made of self-lubricating material, allowing lateral movement while maintaining sealing engagement, and an annular seal between the gland and shaft to prevent fluid ingress.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the shaft is allowed to deflect laterally under perpendicular loads, then the light can experience operational loads, but water or foreign objects may enter through deformed seals causing damage and wear
Solution Approach 1:
The gland is made movable relative to the housing in a radial direction (perpendicular to the longitudinal axis), allowing it to dynamically adjust its position in response to lateral deflection of the shaft while maintaining sealing engagement. This dynamic capability enables the seal assembly to adapt to shaft deflection without compromising seal integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The gland acts as an intermediary component between the shaft and the housing, absorbing and accommodating the lateral deflection through its own movement in the annular retention channel. This intermediary mechanism protects the seal from direct deformation caused by shaft deflection.
2Reliability
If a traditional seal is used that maintains tight sealing, then fluid ingress is prevented, but the seal deforms under lateral loads allowing water and foreign object ingress
Solution Approach 1:
The gland is designed to move radially within the annular retention channel in response to lateral loads, transforming the seal from a static component to a dynamic one. This movement capability allows the seal to maintain effectiveness while adapting to lateral deflection of the shaft.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal assembly changes its geometric parameters (the radial position of the gland) in response to lateral loads. By allowing the gland to move to different radial positions, the seal maintains its sealing function while adapting to varying load conditions.
3Ease of manufacture
If the gland is fixed relative to the housing, then manufacturing is simplified, but the seal cannot accommodate shaft deflection under operational loads
Solution Approach 1:
The gland is designed with movable retention within the annular retention channel, allowing it to move radially to accommodate shaft deflection. This dynamic retention mechanism balances manufacturing simplicity with operational adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The retention mechanism is segmented into the annular retention channel in the housing and the movable gland, allowing independent movement of the gland while maintaining its retention within the housing structure.
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 seal assembly effectively prevents water and foreign object ingress during lateral deflection of the shaft, ensuring the integrity of the light assembly by creating a longer fluid path and utilizing parasitic friction for sealing, even under dynamic loads.
Implementation Method 1
The gland comprises a self-lubricating or low friction material
Implementation Method 2
Engagement between the gland and walls of the housing that define the annular retention channel form a labyrinth-style seal. The labyrinth-style seal may create a longer path for fluids to travel, and may provide a degree of seal using the parasitic friction between these fluids and the adjacent surfaces that form the labyrinth-style seal.
Implementation Method 3
The seal assembly further includes an annular seal disposed circumferentially around the shaft such that the annular seal is disposed between the gland and the shaft, wherein the annular seal is in sealing engagement with the shaft.
Data Source
AI summary
A seal assembly includes a housing, a shaft, and a gland. The housing defines an opening and an annular retention channel, according to various embodiments. The shaft extends through the opening, and the shaft comprises a longitudinal axis, according to various embodiments. The gland may be disposed circumferentially around the shaft and may be movably retained within the annular retention channel. The gland is movable relative to the housing in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, according to various embodiments.