Face seal with insert

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020318740-A1
Application number	US-201916373165-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 2, 2019
Priority date	Apr 2, 2019
Publication date	Oct 8, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method of determining wear of a seal element includes rotating a seal plate relative to the seal element and such that the seal plate and the seal element form a rotational sealing interface. The seal element includes an insert embedded in the seal element. A portion of the seal element is worn with a sealing face of the seal plate. The insert is contacted with the sealing face of the seal plate. A portion of the insert is worn to create a wear particle of the insert. The presence of the wear particle in a lubrication oil is sensed with an oil monitoring system.

First claim

1 . A method of determining wear of a seal element, the method comprising:
rotating a seal plate relative to the seal element, wherein the seal plate and the seal element form a rotational sealing interface, wherein the seal element includes an insert embedded in the seal element; wearing a portion of the seal element with a sealing face of the seal plate; contacting the insert with the sealing face of the seal plate; wearing a portion of the insert to create a wear particle of the insert; and sensing the presence of the wear particle in a lubrication oil with an oil monitoring system.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising monitoring a flow of the lubrication oil with the oil monitoring system.

3 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising providing notification of the presence of the wear particle in the lubrication oil with the oil monitoring system.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein sensing the presence of the wear particle in the lubrication oil comprises scanning the lubrication oil with a sensor to detect the presence of objects that are not the lubrication oil.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein sensing the presence of the wear particle in the lubrication oil comprises scanning the lubrication oil with the sensor to detect the presence of a particle including the same material composition as a material of the insert.

6 . A seal assembly for a bearing compartment of a turbine engine, the seal assembly comprising:
a seal plate comprising a first sealing face on a first axial end of the seal plate; a seal carrier disposed axially from and coaxially with the seal plate; a seal element extending annularly, wherein the seal element comprises a second sealing face on a first axial end of the seal element, wherein the seal carrier is in contact with the seal element and holds the seal element in place against the seal plate such that the first sealing face of the seal plate and the second sealing face of the seal element form a sealing interface; and an insert disposed in the seal element such that the insert is embedded in the seal element at a predetermined distance from the second sealing face.

7 . The seal assembly of claim 6 , wherein a first coefficient of friction between the seal plate and the seal carrier is less than a second coefficient of friction between the seal plate and the insert.

8 . The seal assembly of claim 7 , wherein the insert comprises a material with a lesser propensity for spark creation than a material of the seal carrier.

9 . The seal assembly of claim 6 , wherein the seal element comprises a hole extending axially through a portion of the seal element, wherein the insert is disposed in the hole.

10 . The seal assembly of claim 9 , wherein a remaining portion of the hole comprises a filler material that holds the insert in a fixed position in the hole.

11 . The seal assembly of claim 6 , wherein the seal carrier includes an axial end-face that faces towards and that is disposed a first distance from the first sealing face of the seal plate, wherein the insert includes an axial end-face that faces towards and that is disposed a second distance from the first sealing face of the seal plate, wherein the second distance is less than the first distance.

Assignees

• United Technologies Corp

Inventors

• Guo Changsheng
• Chaudhry Zaffir A
• Shuaib Nasr A

Classifications

• F16J15/3296 Primary

  Arrangements for monitoring the condition or operation of elastic sealings (F16J15/326 takes precedence); Arrangements for control of elastic sealings, e.g. of their geometry or stiffness · CPC title

• F16N29/04

  enabling a warning to be given; enabling moving parts to be stopped · CPC title

• F16N29/00

  Special means in lubricating arrangements or systems providing for the indication or detection of undesired conditions; Use of devices responsive to conditions in lubricating arrangements or systems · CPC title

• F01D21/003

  Arrangements for testing or measuring (for measuring vibrations G01H) · CPC title

• F01D11/003

  by packing rings; Mechanical seals · CPC title