# US 12,006,977 B2 · Thrust bearing seal for thin wing multi slice RGA

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- Number: US 12,006,977 B2
- Document ID: US12006977B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/592,914
- Filed: 2022-02-04
- Published: 2022-08-11
- Granted: 2024-06-11
- Earliest claimed: 2021-02-08
- Assignees: Goodrich Actuation Systems Limited
- Applicants: Goodrich Actuation Systems Limited
- Inventors: Jonathan Darby
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12006977B2

## CPC

- F16C 33/74: of sliding-contact bearings
- F16C 17/04: for axial load only
- F16J 15/3216: supported in a direction parallel to the surfaces
- F16J 15/3236: with at least one lip for each surface, e.g. U-cup packings
- B64C 13/28: mechanical
- F16C 2361/61: Toothed gear systems, e.g. support of pinion shafts
- F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
- F16J: PISTONS {(specially adapted for dampers F16F9/32)}; CYLINDERS; SEALINGS
- B64C: AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS

## Abstract

A thrust bearing seal for radially sealing a gap between a first component and a second component. The seal includes an external sealing cap that extends circumferentially around an outer circumferential surface of at least a section of said first component and a projection that extends radially inwardly from said external sealing cap and into said gap.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A thrust bearing seal for radially sealing a gap between a first component and a second component, the seal comprising:
an external sealing cap that extends circumferentially around an outer circumferential surface of at least a section of said first component; and
a projection that extends radially inwardly from said external sealing cap and into said gap, wherein said projection further comprises means configured to axially seal said second component and said gap;
wherein said means are configured to axially seal to provide an axial force against the second, or fixed component in use and also comprises:
an axially extending circumferential lip that extends from the radially innermost point of the inwardly protruding section.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The seal of claim 1, wherein said external sealing cap also extends circumferentially around an outer surface of at least a section of said second component.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The seal of claim 2, wherein:
said seal has a T-shaped cross section having a post and an upper part; and
said projection comprises the post of the T shape and said external sealing cap is ring-shaped and comprises the upper part of the T shape.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The seal of claim 2, wherein said external sealing cap is configured so as to provide a radially inward force against the components, and a circumferential sealing contact with said first and second components.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The seal of any of claim 4, claim wherein said external sealing cap has a non-uniform cross-sectional thickness.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The seal of claim 5, wherein the non-uniform cross-sectional thickness of the external sealing cap is reduced at a junction either side of the inwardly extending section of the external sealing cap and the projection.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The seal of claim 1, further comprising:
a clamp spring provided on the external surface of the external sealing cap of the thrust bearing seal.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The seal of claim 1, wherein said circumferential lip is ring shaped and configured to provide a circumferential and axial force against the second component.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The seal of claim 1, wherein at a junction between the external sealing cap and the inwardly extending projection, on an internal surface of the cap, the cross section thickness of the cap has a reduced cross sectional thickness in comparison to an adjacent section of the cap that extends over the first component.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The seal of claim 1, wherein a cross sectional thickness at the junction between the inwardly extending projection and the lip is reduced in thickness in comparison to the adjacent section of the projection or the lip.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The seal of claim 1, wherein the first component and the second component are components of a rotary geared actuator.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The seal of claim 1, wherein the first component is a rotating component and said second component is a fixed component.