Polymer seal assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016018002-A1
Application number	US-201514755407-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 30, 2015
Priority date	Jul 9, 2014
Publication date	Jan 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A seal assembly includes a seal body, a spring disposed adjacent to the seal body, and a seal ring disposed adjacent to the seal body. The seal body and the seal ring can include a plastic polymer material. The seal assembly can be a subcomponent of hydraulic strut in the landing gear of an aircraft.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A seal assembly comprising:
a seal body comprising a first material; a spring disposed adjacent to the seal body; and a seal ring comprising a second material, wherein each of the first material and the second material comprises a plastic polymer material having a Young's modulus of at least 150 MPa.

2 . The seal assembly of claim 1 , wherein the seal assembly includes:
a seal body comprising a first material; and a spring disposed adjacent to the seal body;

3 . The seal assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first material comprises a nylon, a fluoroplastic, a polybenzimidazole (PBI), a polyether ether ketone (PEEK), a polyaryletherketone (PAEK), a polyimide (PI), or any combination thereof.

4 . The seal assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first material comprises a polyetherimide (PEI).

5 . The seal assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first material comprises a liquid crystal polymer.

6 . The seal assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first material comprises a fluoroplastic.

7 . The seal assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first material has a Young's Modulus of at least 150 MPa.

8 . The seal assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first material and the second material are the same.

9 . The seal assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first material and the second material are different.

10 . The seal assembly of claim 1 , wherein a Shore D Hardness of the second material is less than a Shore D Hardness of the first material.

11 . The seal assembly of claim 10 , wherein a difference in Shore D Hardness values is at least 1, at least 3, or at least 5.

12 . The seal assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first material is free of an elastomer, the second material is free of an elastomer, or both the first material and the second material are free of an elastomer.

13 . The seal assembly of claim 1 , wherein a first major surface of the seal body includes at least two repeating seal grooves having opposing asymmetric sidewalls that extend into the thickness of the seal body.

14 . The seal assembly of claim 1 , wherein a contact surface of the seal body is substantially orthogonal to a central axis of the seal body.

15 . The seal assembly of claim 1 , wherein the seal assembly is adapted to provide a dynamic seal between the housing and the shaft, the dynamic seal having a leakage rate of no greater than 0.05 mL per flight cycle for at least 2000 simulated flight cycles, at least 3000 simulated flight cycles, at least 4000 simulated flight cycles, at least 5000 simulated flight cycles, at least 10000 simulated flight cycles, at least 15000 simulated flight cycles, or at least 20000 simulated flight cycles according to a Flight Cycle Test.

16 . A system for linear motion, comprising:
a housing having a bore with an axis and a blind recess located in the bore; a shaft located in the bore for axial motion relative thereto; a seal assembly comprising a plastic polymer material located in the blind recess of the bore adapted to provide a dynamic seal between the housing and the shaft, wherein the ratio of a radial height RH 1 of the seal assembly to an inner diameter of the seal assembly is less than 1:20.

17 . A method of installing a seal assembly, comprising
providing a housing having a bore with an axis and a blind recess located in the bore; disposing a seal assembly comprising a plastic polymer material in the blind recess of the bore; disposing a shaft in the bore for axial motion relative thereto; wherein the ratio of a radial height of the seal assembly to an inner diameter of the seal assembly is less than 1:20.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein disposing the seal assembly in the recess of the bore for sealing between the housing and the shaft includes:
providing an installation tool set including a sleeve, a plug, and a pusher.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein disposing the seal assembly in the recess of the bore for sealing between the housing and the shaft further includes:
compressing the seal body into an oval shape and inserting the ovoid seal into the sleeve.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein disposing the seal assembly in the recess of the bore for sealing between the housing and the shaft further includes:
inserting the pusher into the sleeve and push the seal body against the plug until the seal body is disposed in the recess of the bore of the housing.

Assignees

• Saint Gobain Performance Plast

Inventors

• Lenhert Jon M
• Racicot Robert T
• Le Kha V

Classifications

• F16J15/181

  for plastic packings · CPC title

• F16J15/3284 Primary

  characterised by their structure; Selection of materials · CPC title

• F16J15/3236

  with at least one lip for each surface, e.g. U-cup packings · CPC title

• F16J15/3212

  with metal springs · CPC title

• F16J15/166

  with means to prevent the extrusion of the packing · CPC title