Segmented Annular Seal Radial Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional annular seals in gas turbine engines are difficult and costly to manufacture, with high material and time investment, and are prone to dislodgment during machining, leading to scrapped parts.
Innovation Solution
The annular seal is segmented with cylindrical trunnions that slide within radially extending mount holes, independent spring components that bias and control radial movement, and a knife-edge ridge to inhibit fluid leakage, allowing for self-adjustment and reduced manufacturing complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single conventional annular seal is used, then fluid sealing is achieved, but manufacturing time and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The annular seal is divided into multiple segments that can be manufactured separately and assembled together. Each segment is machined independently, reducing the cumulative machining time and allowing parallel manufacturing processes. The segments are held together by spring components that provide radial biasing force, maintaining the seal's integrity while enabling modular assembly.
2Reliability
If a single conventional annular seal is used, then fluid sealing is achieved, but material waste increases due to dislodgment during machining
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the seal into smaller segments, the risk of catastrophic failure during machining is reduced. If one segment experiences issues during EDM or other machining processes, only that segment is affected rather than the entire seal. This allows for better quality control and reduces material waste from scrapped parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring components are pre-installed on the segments before final assembly, providing a cushioning effect that absorbs machining stresses and prevents dislodgment during the manufacturing process. This prior preparation helps protect the segments from damage during subsequent machining operations.
3Reliability
If a single conventional annular seal is used, then fluid sealing is achieved, but assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The segmented design with spring components actually simplifies assembly compared to a single large seal. Each segment can be independently positioned and assembled into the annular configuration, allowing for more flexible installation and easier adjustment. The spring components automatically provide the necessary radial force to maintain sealing contact.
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 design reduces manufacturing time and costs, maintains seal orientation, and prevents fluid leakage, while allowing for easier assembly and reduced material waste, enhancing the reliability and efficiency of the seal.
Implementation Method 1
A plurality of spring components are coupled between the annular outer casing and the plurality of seal segments and are configured to bias the plurality of seal segments
Implementation Method 2
the annular sealing surface includes a knife-edge ridge to inhibit fluid leakage between the rotating structure and the annular sealing surface
Implementation Method 3
The trunnion of each seal segment of the plurality of seal segments may be configured to slide within a respective one of the plurality of radially extending mount holes
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3
AI summary
An annular seal (100) includes an annular outer casing (110), a plurality of seal segments (120), and a plurality of spring components (130). The plurality of seal segments (120) is coupled to the annular outer casing (110) to cumulatively form an annular sealing surface (124), the annular sealing surface (124) is configured to face a rotating structure (104) to inhibit fluid leakage between the rotating structure (104) and the annular sealing surface (124), and each seal segment of the plurality of seal segments (120) is configured for independent radial movement relative to other seal segments of the plurality of seal segments (120). In various embodiments, the plurality of spring components (130) are configured to bias the plurality of seal segments (120) relative to the radial movement.