Wave spring loaded split seal system
AssigneeHelix Technology Corporation
InventorRussell Sylvia
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A piston includes a circumferential groove having a seal ring and spring mounted within the groove. The spring exerts an axial force on the seal ring thereby preventing motion of the seal ring within the groove. Preferably, the spring in a wave spring, wherein small changes in deflection of the wave spring produces small changes in the load generated by the spring on the seal ring. The seal ring has at least one radial spring ring mounted within the seal ring to create a radial force on the seal ring. The piston can also include a sleeve that mounts to the piston body, the sleeve forming a wall of the groove. The piston can be a displacer mounted within a cylinder of a refrigerator.
Claims47
A piston comprising:
- a body having a circumferential groove, the groove having a first groove wall and a second groove wall;
- a seal ring located against the first groove wall in the body;
- and
- a wave spring located between the seal ring and the second groove wall, the wave spring axially loading the seal ring.
A refrigerator comprising:
- a cylinder;
- a displacer mounted within the cylinder, the displacer having a body having a circumferential groove, the groove having a first groove wall and a second groove wall;
- a seal ring located against the first groove wall in the body;
- and
- a wave spring located between the seal ring and the second groove wall, the wave spring axially loading the seal ring.
A refrigerator comprising:
- a cylinder;
- a displacer mounted within the cylinder, the displacer having a body and a sleeve mounted on the body, the sleeve forming a first groove wall and the body forming a second groove wall, the first groove wall and second groove wall defining a circumferential groove in the body;
- a seal ring located against the first groove wall in the body;
- and
- a spring located between the seal ring and the second groove wall, the spring axially loading the seal ring.
A refrigerator comprising:
- a cylinder;
- a displacer mounted within the cylinder, the displacer having a body having a circumferential groove, the groove having a first groove wall and a second groove wall;
- a split seal ring mounted against the first groove wall, the split seal ring having at least one radial spring mounted within the split seal ring to create a radial force of the split seal ring against the cylinder;
- and
- a wave spring located between the split seal ring and the second groove wall, the wave spring axially loading the split seal ring.
A method for securing a seal ring within a piston comprising:
- providing a piston having a body and a sleeve mounted on the body, the body forming a first circumferential groove wall in the piston;
- providing a seal ring against the first groove wall of the piston;
- providing a wave spring adjacent to the seal ring;
- compressing the wave spring with a sleeve to axially load the split ring, the sleeve forming a second circumferential groove wall;
- and
- attaching the sleeve to the body to maintain the compression of the wave spring.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.