Face seal with insert
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorsChangsheng Guo, Zaffir A. Chaudhry, Nasr A. Shuaib
Life of this patent
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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.
Claims11
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.
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.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.