Ring change tooling and methods
OwnerJules Savoyat, Andrew Douglas Notoinventors
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Abstract
A tool is configured to engage with an end of a cylinder in which a piston is arranged to move, or with the piston itself, and constrains or releases segments of a sealing ring assembly. The tool may include retainers or other features for limiting displacement of one or more segments as they are installed or removed from a groove of the piston. Retainers may be configured to achieve multiple positions to allow constraining or releasing of each segment such that the other segments are held in place.
Claims30
An apparatus comprising:
- at least one element configured to interface to an end of a cylinder;
- and
- a plurality of retainers configured to constrain a sealing ring assembly, wherein:
- in a first configuration, at least one retainer of the plurality of retainers constrains at least one segment of the sealing ring assembly in a groove of a piston;
- and
- in a second configuration, the at least one retainer of the plurality of retainers is axially offset from at least one segment such that the at least one segment is radially removeable.
An apparatus comprising:
- a first element configured to engage with a first ring segment of a sealing ring assembly to form a first subassembly;
- and
- a second element configured to engage with the first element and to engage with a second ring segment of the sealing ring assembly to form a second subassembly, wherein:
- the first and the second subassemblies are configured to be engaged with each other and arranged azimuthally around a groove of a piston, and
- the first and second element are configured to be removed before operation.
A method for servicing a sealing ring assembly that seals against a piston and a cylinder of a linear generator, the method comprising:
- engaging a respective segment of the sealing ring assembly to a respective element of a plurality of elements of a ring tool;
- configuring the plurality of elements such that the sealing ring assembly is arranged in a groove of piston;
- and
- positioning the piston such that the sealing ring assembly is laterally bound by one or more of the cylinder or the ring tool to retain the rings in place in the groove of the piston.
A method for servicing a sealing ring assembly that seals against a piston and a cylinder of a linear generator, the method comprising:
- arranging a ring tool at an axial end of the cylinder;
- positioning the piston such that the sealing ring assembly is axially proximal to the ring tool;
- constraining at least one segment of the sealing ring assembly using a plurality of retainers of the ring tool;
- and
- actuating one or more retainers of the plurality of retainers to allow radial displacement of the at least one segment.
A method for servicing a sealing ring assembly that seals against a piston and a cylinder of a linear generator, the method comprising:
- positioning the piston into a ring change position such that the piston is outside of the cylinder;
- constraining the ring assembly with a sleeve to block radial displacement of the ring assembly;
- attaching a ring tool having one or more ring retainers at an axial end of the cylinder such that the one or more ring retainers contact an outer radial surface of the ring assembly;
- removing the sleeve off of the ring assembly;
- depressing the ring retainers such that they move off of the ring assembly;
- and
- removing the ring assembly.
A device for servicing a sealing ring of a piston comprising:
- a first element configured to engage with a first ring segment of a sealing ring assembly;
- and
- a second element configured to engage with the first element and to engage with a second ring segment of the sealing ring assembly, wherein:
- the first and the second elements are configured to be engaged with each other and arranged azimuthally around a groove of a piston to constrain the sealing ring assembly when positioned axially outside of a bore of a cylinder.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.