Additive manufacturing of elastomeric seals for repair

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11007704-B2
Application number	US-201815878683-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 24, 2018
Priority date	Jan 25, 2017
Publication date	May 18, 2021
Grant date	May 18, 2021

Abstract

A method of modifying or repairing a fluid conduit assembly includes scanning a sealing feature of a fluid conduit, the sealing feature including an abnormality, creating a 3D model of a sealing member configured to provide a fluid seal with the sealing feature, and utilizing the 3D model to form the sealing member via additive manufacturing. The method may include modifying the sealing feature of the fluid conduit to reduce or remove the abnormality and provide the sealing feature with modified dimensions. Scanning the sealing feature may include determining the modified dimensions of the sealing feature.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of modifying or repairing a fluid conduit assembly having a fluid conduit, a second fluid conduit, and an original sealing member received in a sealing feature of the fluid conduit and providing a seal between the fluid conduit and the second fluid conduit, the method comprising:
determining that the sealing feature has an abnormality that at least one of (i) impedes the seal by the original sealing member between the fluid conduit and a second fluid conduit, and (ii) forms a leak path;
modifying the sealing feature to reduce or remove the abnormality, resulting in modified dimensions of the sealing feature;
scanning the sealing feature with the modified dimensions;
creating a 3D model of a modified sealing member to be used in place of the original sealing member, the modified sealing member configured to provide a fluid seal with the sealing feature with the modified dimensions; and
utilizing the 3D model to form the modified sealing member via additive manufacturing.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein scanning the sealing feature includes determining the modified dimensions of the sealing feature.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the 3D model of the modified sealing member corresponds to the modified dimensions of the sealing feature.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the modified sealing member includes dimensions that correspond to the modified dimensions of the sealing feature.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the sealing member is non-round.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein modifying the sealing feature includes at least one of machining and grinding.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the modified sealing member is elongated in at least one direction.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sealing feature includes at least one of a gland and a recess.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein additive manufacturing includes stereolithography.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the modified sealing member is formed at least partially from an acrylic-based photo-curing polymer.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the acrylic-based photo-curing polymer is a silicone elastomer.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the modified sealing member includes at least one of silicone urethane and thermoplastic urethane.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the 3D model of the modified sealing member includes one or more features that mirror the abnormality.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the modified sealing member includes one or more features that mirror the abnormality.

15. The method of claim 1 , including
scanning a sealing feature of a different fluid conduit, the sealing feature including an abnormality;
creating a 3D model of a second modified sealing member configured to provide a fluid seal with the sealing feature of the different fluid conduit; and
utilizing the 3D model to form the second modified sealing member via additive manufacturing;
wherein the second modified sealing member is different from the modified sealing member.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein material is not added to the fluid conduit.

17. The method of claim 4 ,
wherein the sealing member includes an oval-shaped cross section.

18. The method of claim 1 , including determining if the modified sealing member will move during operation; wherein the 3D model of the modified sealing member includes one or more features that mirror the abnormality if the sealing member will not move during operation; and the 3D model of the modified sealing member includes dimensions corresponding to modified dimensions of the sealing feature if the modified sealing member will move during operation.

19. A method of modifying or repairing a fluid conduit assembly, comprising:
scanning a sealing feature;
creating a 3D model of a modified sealing member to be used in place of the original sealing member, the modified sealing member configured to provide a fluid seal with the sealing feature;
utilizing the 3D model to form the modified sealing member via additive manufacturing; and
determining if the modified sealing member will move during operation; wherein the 3D model of the modified sealing member includes one or more features that mirror the abnormality if the sealing member will not move during operation; and the 3D model of the modified sealing member includes dimensions corresponding to modified dimensions of the sealing feature if the modified sealing member will move during operation.

Assignees

• Eaton Corp
• Eaton Intelligent Power Ltd

Inventors

• Lowinger Jeffrey
• Williams Kelly A

Classifications

• B29C2073/264

  for cutting out or grooving the area to be repaired · CPC title

• B29C73/26

  for mechanical pretreatment · CPC title

• B29C73/04 Primary

  using preformed elements · CPC title

• F16J1/00

  Pistons; Trunk pistons; Plungers (bellows pistons F16J3/06; piston-rings or seats therefor F16J9/00; {manufacture of pistons B23P15/10}; rotary pistons, e.g. for "Wankel" type engines F01C; specific for combustion engines, i.e. constructed to withstand high temperature or modified for guiding, igniting, vaporising or otherwise treating the charge F02F; {pistons for hydraulic engines F03C}; pumps F04B; floats F16K33/00) · CPC title

• B29C64/112 Primary

  using individual droplets, e.g. from jetting heads · CPC title