Face seal with insert

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021190209-A1
Application number	US-202117190825-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 3, 2021
Priority date	Apr 2, 2019
Publication date	Jun 24, 2021
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 . The method of claim 5 and further comprising: determining a magnetism of the particle and comparing the magnetism of the particle to a known magnetism of the material of the insert.

Assignees

• Raytheon Tech 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

• F05D2260/80

  Diagnostics · CPC title

• F16J15/3492 Primary

  with monitoring or measuring means associated with the seal · CPC title