Piston Seal Groove Rebuild Inserts for Fretting and Gas Leakage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Piston seal assemblies in gas turbine engines degrade over time due to fretting and wear, leading to reduced performance and potential gas leakage.
Innovation Solution
The method involves securing groove buildup members, including insert type and sectioned insert type members, into the worked seal groove to enhance retention and sealing, using materials similar to the parent material and securing them through processes like brazing or press fitting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If piston seal assembly operates under high pressure and temperature conditions, then sealing performance is maintained, but fretting and wear occur at the seal groove leading to degradation over time
Solution Approach 1:
The seal groove is divided into two distinct components: the original groove in the piston and a separate groove buildup member (insert) that can be independently manufactured and replaced. This segmentation allows the insert to absorb wear while the main piston structure remains intact, extending the overall service life of the seal assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The groove buildup member is designed with different material properties than the original piston material, specifically using materials with superior wear resistance and fretting resistance. This parameter change in material composition allows the insert to withstand operational conditions that would otherwise degrade the original seal groove.
2Reliability
If groove buildup members are inserted into worked seal groove to restore sealing surface, then retention and sealing are improved, but device complexity increases due to additional components and installation steps
Solution Approach 1:
The groove buildup member is designed to fit within and conform to the worked seal groove, creating a nested structure where the insert is housed within the original piston groove. This nesting approach restores the sealing surface without requiring complete redesign of the piston structure, balancing improved retention with controlled complexity.
3Manufacturing precision
If material is removed from piston seal assembly to prepare for insert installation, then fit for groove buildup member is improved, but structural integrity of piston is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The worked seal groove is prepared in advance by removing material to create precise fitment surfaces for the groove buildup member. This preliminary preparation ensures accurate positioning and secure retention of the insert while minimizing material removal to preserve the structural integrity of the remaining piston 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
This approach effectively rebuilds the piston seal assembly, improving retention and sealing performance, thereby extending the operational life of gas turbine engine components by reducing wear and fretting.
Implementation Method 1
securing them through processes like brazing or press fitting
Implementation Method 2
securing them through processes like brazing or press fitting
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B~3A
AI summary
A method of repairing a piston seal assembly (200) comprises removing worn material from a piston seal groove (204) to generate a worked seal groove (204'), applying a groove buildup member (402, 404, 406) to the worked seal groove, and disposing a seal member (210) proximate the groove buildup member.