Wave-Spring Sliding Seal for High-Temperature Deflection

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional seals in gas turbine engines face challenges with deformation and failure due to significant deflections and elevated temperatures, leading to inefficiencies and reduced component life, as they lack flexibility and wear resistance.

Innovation Solution

A seal design featuring a C-shaped seal section with a wave spring and compliant ceramic materials that allows for axial and circumferential sliding, maintaining contact with components and preventing leakage, even under relative movement, while being less susceptible to distortion and breakage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a w-seal is used to seal the gas path, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but the seal deforms and becomes ineffective under significant deflections

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing effectivenessVSAvoidseal shape stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a flexible membrane seal that can deflect and conform to component movements while maintaining sealing effectiveness. The membrane is designed to be thin and compliant, allowing it to follow the relative motion between turbine components without deforming permanently or losing its sealing capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical parameters of the seal by using a membrane with specific flexibility characteristics that allow it to accommodate deflections. The membrane's mechanical properties are optimized to maintain sealing under varying deflection conditions, transforming the seal from a rigid structure to a compliant one.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Strength

If a higher strength material is used to improve deflection capability, then deflection resistance is improved, but temperature capability is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeflection capabilityVSAvoidtemperature capability

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs composite material construction where a flexible membrane is combined with a rigid support structure. The membrane provides the necessary flexibility for deflection accommodation, while the rigid support (such as a rigid ring or framework) provides thermal stability and maintains structural integrity at elevated temperatures, thus combining the advantages of both material types.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Temperature

If a rope seal is used to achieve high temperature capability, then temperature resistance is improved, but flexibility and wear resistance are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature capabilityVSAvoidflexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a flexible membrane seal that can deflect and conform to component movements while maintaining sealing effectiveness. The membrane is designed to be thin and compliant, allowing it to follow the relative motion between turbine components without deforming permanently or losing its sealing capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

4Adaptability or versatility

If a seal is designed to accommodate significant relative deflections, then adaptability is improved, but the seal deforms and becomes ineffective

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeflection accommodationVSAvoidseal effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a flexible membrane seal that can deflect and conform to component movements while maintaining sealing effectiveness. The membrane is designed to be thin and compliant, allowing it to follow the relative motion between turbine components without deforming permanently or losing its sealing capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent designs the seal as a dynamic system where the membrane can continuously adapt its shape in response to changing deflection conditions. The seal transitions from a static structure to a dynamic one that can accommodate varying levels of component movement while maintaining its sealing function throughout the range of motion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 design enhances sealing efficiency, maintains contact with components during movement, and offers improved temperature capability, wear resistance, and vibration tolerance, reducing leakage and extending component life.

Implementation Method 1

A seal design featuring a C-shaped seal section with a wave spring and compliant ceramic materials that allows for axial and circumferential sliding, maintaining contact with components

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

compliant ceramic materials that allows for axial and circumferential sliding, maintaining contact with components and preventing leakage, even under relative movement, while being less susceptible to distortion and breakage

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal stability: Thermal Insulation

Data Source

PatentEP3575644B1Sliding seal

Publication Date: 2022.03.30 RTX CORP

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AI summary

The present disclosure relates generally to a sliding seal between two components. The sliding seal includes a first seal section and an uncoupled second seal section which allows the first and second seal sections to move relative to one another during relative movement between the two components. A wave spring disposed between the first and second seal sections biases the first and second seal sections away from one another. A compliant seal is carried by the second seal section. Other combinations of seal sections, wave springs, and compliant seals are also disclosed.