Dielectric seal device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017167441-A1
Application number	US-201514964363-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 9, 2015
Priority date	Dec 9, 2015
Publication date	Jun 15, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A seal device that may be for a variable area fan nozzle (VAFN) assembly of a turbofan engine is positioned between first and second surfaces configured to move between close and distant positions. The seal device includes a first electrode engaged to the first surface and a second electrode spaced between the first and second surfaces and spaced from the first electrode. A resilient first element of the device is disposed between and engages to the first and second electrodes, and is configured to move between contracted and expanded states when the electrodes are energized. A resilient second element of the device opposes the second surface and is engaged to the second electrode. The second element is configured to move between a compressed mode when the first and second surfaces are in the close position and an extended mode when the first and second surfaces are in the distant position.

First claim

We claim:

1 . A seal device positioned between first and second surfaces configured to move between close and distant positions, the dielectric seal device comprising:
a first electrode engaged to the first surface; a second electrode spaced between the first and second surfaces and spaced from the first electrode; a resilient first element disposed between and engaged to the first and second electrodes, and configured to move between contracted and expanded states when the first and second electrodes are energized; and a resilient second element opposing the second surface and engaged to the second electrode, and configured to move between a compressed mode when the first and second surfaces are in the close position and an extended mode when the first and second surfaces are in the distant position.

2 . The seal device set forth in claim 1 , wherein the first surface is stationary.

3 . The seal device set forth in claim 1 , wherein the first element is configured to be in the contracted state when the first and second electrodes are energized and in the expanded state when the first and second electrodes are de-energized.

4 . The seal device set forth in claim 3 , wherein the second element is in the compressed mode when the first element is in the expanded state.

5 . The seal device set forth in claim 4 , wherein the second element is in the extended mode when the first element is in the contracted state.

6 . The seal device set forth in claim 1 further comprising:
a controller configured to energize the first and second electrodes when the first and second surfaces are in the distant position and de-energize the first and second electrodes when the first and second surfaces are in the close position.

7 . The seal device set forth in claim 1 , wherein the second element is in contact with the second surface when the first and second surfaces are in the close position and the first element is in the extended state.

8 . The seal device set forth in claim 1 , wherein a cavity is defined by the second element and the second electrode.

9 . The seal device set forth in claim 8 , wherein an opening in the second element is in fluid communication with the cavity.

10 . The seal device set forth in claim 1 , wherein the first and second elements are one unitary piece and the second electrode is embedded in the one unitary piece.

11 . The seal device set forth in claim 1 , wherein the second element includes a contoured face that opposes and mirrors the second surface which is contoured.

12 . The seal device set forth in claim 11 , wherein the second electrode is contoured to generally match the contoured face.

13 . The seal device set forth in claim 1 , wherein the dielectric seal device is part of a nacelle of a turbofan engine.

14 . A variable area fan nozzle (VAFN) assembly of a turbofan engine comprising:
a fixed structure including a first surface; a translating fan nozzle configured to move between a stowed state and a deployed state, the translating fan nozzle including a second surface sealed to the first surface when the translating fan nozzle is in the stowed state and spaced from the first surface when the translating fan nozzle is in the deployed state; and a seal device disposed between the first and second surfaces for sealing the surfaces together when the VAFN assembly is in the stowed state, and wherein the seal device includes a dielectric elastomer configured to expand and contract upon application of electric power.

15 . The VAFN assembly set forth in claim 14 , wherein the dielectric seal device includes a first electrode engaged to the first surface, a second electrode spaced between the first and second surfaces and spaced from the first electrode, a resilient first element having the dielectric elastomer and disposed between and engaged to the first and second electrodes, and configured to move between contracted and expanded states when the first and second electrodes are energized, and a resilient second element opposing the second surface and engaged to the second electrode, and configured to move between a compressed mode when the translating fan nozzle is in the stowed state and an extended mode when the translating fan nozzle is in the deployed state.

16 . The VAFN assembly set forth in claim 15 , wherein the dielectric seal device includes a controller configured to de-energize the first and second electrodes placing the first element in the expanded state after the translating fan nozzle moves from the deployed state and into the stowed state.

17 . A method of operating a seal device constructed and arranged to disengagably seal to a surface, the method comprising:
placing a first element of the seal device in an expanded state when the surface is in a first state by placing or removing an electric potential across the first element; placing a second element into a resiliently biased compressed mode when the first element is in the expanded state and the surface is in the first state; placing the first element in a contracted state by removing or placing the electric potential across the first element; placing the second element into an extended mode by placing the first element into the contracted state; creating a gap between the second element and the surface when in the first state; and moving the surface from the first state and into a second state.

18 . The method set forth in claim 17 , wherein an electric potential is across the first element when in the expanded state and the electric potential is removed from the first element when in the contracted state.

19 . The method set forth in claim 17 further comprising:
moving the surface from the second state and into the first state;
moving the first element from the contracted state and into the expanded state;
moving the second element from the extended mode and into the compressed mode; and
sealing the second element to the surface.

20 . The method set forth in claim 17 , wherein the surface moves transversely with respect to the seal device.

Assignees

• Rohr Inc

Inventors

• Frank Joel H
• Ribarov Lubomir A

Classifications

• F16J15/022

  characterised by structure or material · CPC title

• F05D2240/55

  Seals · CPC title

• F02K1/09

  by axially moving an external member, e.g. a shroud (F02K1/12 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F16J15/061

  with positioning means (F16J15/0831 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F02K1/805 Primary

  Sealing devices therefor, e.g. for movable parts of jet pipes or nozzle flaps · CPC title