Seal groove cooling flow

A seal arrangement in a hydraulic device, comprising:

• a first seal channel defining a first loop and having a first width;
• a first seal seated within the first seal channel and having a second width that is less than the first width;
• a first coolant flow passage having a first part intersecting with the first seal channel at a first point and a second part intersecting with the first seal channel at a second point;
• wherein the first part of the first coolant flow passage is configured to provide hydraulic fluid to the first seal channel such that, at the first point, a first portion of the hydraulic fluid flows in a first direction around the first loop and a second portion of the hydraulic fluid flows in a second direction around the first loop, the second direction being opposite to the first direction;
• wherein, at the second point, the first portion of hydraulic fluid and the second portion of hydraulic fluid are configured to flow into the second part of the first coolant flow passage;
• wherein the second part of the first coolant flow passage is in fluid communication with a cooling flow line configured to transport the hydraulic fluid to a second coolant flow passage;
• wherein the second coolant flow passage intersects with an outer seal channel at a third point, the outer seal channel defining a second loop and having an outer seal seated therein;
• wherein a third portion of the hydraulic fluid flows in a third direction around the second loop and a fourth portion of the hydraulic fluid flows in a fourth direction around the second loop, the fourth direction being opposite to the third direction;
• and
• wherein, at a fourth point, the third portion of hydraulic fluid and the fourth portion of hydraulic fluid are configured to flow into a third coolant flow passage extending inwardly to an inner seal channel in which an inner seal is seated.

A linear actuator, comprising:

• a housing having an interior cavity with a first end and a second end;
• a piston head disposed within the interior cavity and movable from the first end toward the second end and back within the interior cavity, the piston head comprising a first surface and a second surface, the piston head dividing the interior cavity into a first interior cavity defined between the first end and the first surface and a second interior cavity defined between the second end and the second surface;
• a piston cover disposed at the second end of the interior cavity, having a first surface, a second surface, an outer peripheral surface, and a first aperture extending from the first surface to the second surface, the first aperture having an interior aperture surface;
• a piston actuator comprising a piston shaft and a position sensor disposed within the piston shaft, the piston shaft operatively connected to the piston head and extending through the first aperture of the piston cover and the position sensor including a head disposed within a second aperture of the housing;
• a first port through which hydraulic fluid is configured to flow into the first interior cavity;
• a second port through which hydraulic fluid is configured to flow into the second interior cavity;
• and
• at least one seal arrangement comprising at least one seal channel and at least one seal seated in the at least one seal channel;
• wherein hydraulic fluid flowing between the first port and the second port is provided to the at least one seal channel to cool the at least one seal;
• wherein the at least one seal arrangement is provided between at least one of the housing and the outer peripheral surface of the piston cover, the interior aperture surface and the piston shaft, or the head of the position sensor and the second aperture;
• wherein the at least one seal arrangement comprises a first seal arrangement between the head of the position sensor and the second aperture, the first seal arrangement comprising a first seal channel forming a first loop around the head of the position sensor and a first seal seated within the first seal channel, and wherein the linear actuator further comprises:
• a first coolant flow passage having a first part in fluid communication with the first port and intersecting with the first seal channel at a first point and a second part intersecting with the first seal channel at a second point;
• wherein the first part of the first coolant flow passage is configured to provide hydraulic fluid to the first seal channel such that, at the first point, a first portion of the hydraulic fluid flows in a first direction around the first loop and a second portion of the hydraulic fluid flows in a second direction around the first loop, the second direction being opposite to the first direction;
• and
• wherein, at the second point, the first portion of hydraulic fluid and the second portion of hydraulic fluid are configured to flow into the second part of the first coolant flow passage.