Seal Installation Tool with Segmented Base Plate Windows
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing seal installation tools for components, such as bearing housings in gas turbine engines, lack visibility during the installation process, leading to potential seal damage and misalignment, which can result in leaks.
Innovation Solution
A seal installation method and tool that includes a support fixture with a base plate and a pusher with visible windows, allowing the seal to be aligned and inserted into the bore while maintaining visibility through a window, using a hub and rod mechanism to advance the seal and prevent damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a one-piece 3-D printed tool with an annular flange is used to install the seal, then the seal alignment is maintained, but the operator cannot see the seal during installation
Solution Approach 1:
The base plate is divided into multiple sections with windows that segment the viewing areas, allowing the operator to see the seal at different positions during installation while maintaining structural integrity for alignment
Solution Approach 2:
The base plate incorporates transparent or translucent windows that change the optical properties of the material, allowing visibility through previously opaque sections without compromising the structural function of maintaining seal alignment
2Reliability
If a bracket with a hole entirely circumscribing the pusher is used, then the seal is supported during installation, but the operator cannot observe the seal's movement into the bore
Solution Approach 1:
The base plate is segmented into multiple sections with windows that allow visual observation of the seal's movement through the pusher into the bore, while the overall structure maintains reliable seal support
Solution Approach 2:
The windows create additional viewing dimensions through the base plate structure, allowing the operator to observe seal movement in three-dimensional space without compromising the two-dimensional support function
3Manufacturing precision
If the bolts are tightened simultaneously to ensure seal alignment, then the alignment is maintained, but the installation process becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The base plate with windows allows the seal to self-align and the operator to visually monitor the process, reducing the need for complex multi-step tightening procedures and manual alignment checks
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
Ensures proper seal alignment and reduces the risk of damage during installation by providing visibility and controlled advancement, ensuring a secure and leak-free seal in the bore.
Implementation Method 1
rotating a rod relative to the hub to advance the pusher and seat the seal in the bore
Data Source
AI summary
A method of installing a seal in a bore of a component includes, among other things, slidably orienting the component in a support fixture. The method includes securing a base plate to the component. The method includes arranging the seal onto a pusher. The method also includes inserting the pusher into a hole in the base plate. The method further includes installing a hub onto the base plate and over the pusher. The method further includes rotating a rod relative to the hub to advance the pusher and seat the seal in the bore.