Shock Absorber Seal Bridging Tool for Early Leakage Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hydraulic fluid leakage in piston and cylinder devices, such as shock absorbers, often goes undetected until the assembly is fitted to a larger system like an aircraft, leading to costly and time-consuming interventions due to the inability of seals to withstand internal pressure.
Innovation Solution
A seal bridging tool with bridging channels and a thick body portion is introduced to divert leaked fluid past the outer seal, allowing for early detection of seal failure, reducing the likelihood of damaged seals being fitted to assemblies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If seals are used to confine hydraulic fluid in the device, then fluid containment is improved, but detection of seal failure is delayed until after assembly fitting
Solution Approach 1:
The bridging tool is installed during assembly before the hydraulic device is fitted to the aircraft, creating a preliminary detection pathway. The bridging channels are formed in advance to provide a direct route for leaked fluid to reach the exterior, enabling early detection of seal failures before the device enters service.
Solution Approach 2:
The bridging tool acts as an intermediary device between the sealed intermediate portion and the exterior environment. It provides a controlled pathway through the first seal without compromising the second seal's fluid-tight containment, allowing leaked fluid to be detected externally while maintaining proper seal function.
2Loss of substance
If the first seal is made fluid-tight to prevent leakage, then fluid loss is reduced, but damaged seals cannot be detected early
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing system is segmented into two distinct seals with different functions: the second seal maintains fluid containment within the hydraulic device, while the first seal is bridged by the tool to allow detection of leaks. This segmentation enables both fluid loss prevention and early failure detection to coexist.
Solution Approach 2:
Different sealing qualities are applied at different locations: the second seal is made substantially fluid-tight for containment, while the first seal location is modified by the bridging tool to have localized channels that permit leak detection without compromising overall fluid containment.
3Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If a bridging tool is inserted to enable leak detection, then detection capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bridging tool is designed as a temporary, non-operational component that is removed before the aircraft enters service. It serves its detection purpose during assembly and testing, then is discarded, avoiding the complexity of permanent detection systems while maintaining detection capability during critical phases.
Solution Approach 2:
The bridging tool is extracted from the final operational assembly. It is installed temporarily during assembly to perform its detection function, then removed before service entry. This extraction approach adds minimal permanent complexity to the hydraulic device while achieving the detection objective during critical pre-service phases.
Data Source
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AI summary
A tool (40) for bridging an outer dynamic seal (34) in a shock absorber to enable fluid leakage to be more readily determined.