Seal arrangement and a method of seal assembly
AssigneeROLLS-ROYCE plc
InventorGuy David Snowsill
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Assembly of segmented seals can be problematic in areas of limited space for an introductory tapered mandrel and where there are the problems with damage to the seal surfaces 23, 24. By the present method and arrangement, a seal formed from segments 22 is expanded to an expanded state and then retained at that state by the use of a sacrificial material 26 in the gaps 25 between the segments 22 opened by expansion. The sacrificial material 26 is typically a low melting temperature wax and so is removed when the seal arrangement reaches its operating temperature.
Claims12
A method of assembly of a seal arrangement, the arrangement comprising a seal having a plurality of seal segments, gaps being formed between the seal segments, and an inward bias for inward sealing pressure disposed against a first seal surface, the method comprising presenting a mandrel to the seal arrangement to radially expand the seal to an expanded state by opening the gaps in the seal to a diameter sufficient to accommodate a second seal surface disposed against the seal, wherein the gaps are packed with a sacrificial material to maintain the expanded state while the seal is associated with the second seal surface after the mandrel is removed.
A seal arrangement for a shaft, the arrangement comprising a seal having a plurality of seal segments, gaps being formed between the seal segments, and an inward bias for inward sealing pressure disposed against a first seal surface, wherein the gaps are filled with a sacrificial material to maintain expansion of the seal for assembly of the seal and the sacrificial material, wherein the sacrificial material is removable, without eliminating the inward bias, after the assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.