Apparatus for installing a seal in a nozzle beam

Abstract

A nozzle beam formed with an annular groove is fitted with a seal ring by an apparatus having an elongated support bar, a pair of holders fixed on the bar spaced apart sufficiently that the seal ring can be stretched between them, and a release element for pushing the seal ring off one of the holders.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The above and other objects, features, and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a foreshortened longitudinal section through a nozzle beam;

FIG. 2 is a large-scale view corresponding to a detail of FIG. 1 during installation of a fresh seal;

FIG. 3 is a large-scale view of the nozzle beam as in FIG. 1 at another stage of the seal-ring installation;

FIG. 4 is a view like FIG. 2 showing an earlier stage of the seal-ring installation;

FIG. 5 is a large-scale view of a detail of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a cross section taken along line VI-VI of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 7, 8, 9, and 10 are detail cross sectional views of the nozzle beam at various stages of seal-ring installation and after the installation is complete;

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the inner end of the installation apparatus;

FIG. 12 is a large-scale bottom view of the inner end of the installation apparatus with the seal ring stretched over it;

FIG. 13 is a bottom view of the inner region of the installation tool with the seal ring stretched over it;

FIG. 14 is a schematic side view illustrating operation of the installation tool according to the invention; and

FIG. 15 is a large-scale side view of the inner end of the release device.

Claims

1. In combination with a nozzle beam formed with an annular groove, an apparatus for mounting an elastomeric seal ring in the groove, the apparatus comprising: an elongated support bar;inner and outer holders fixed on the bar spaced apart sufficiently that the seal ring can be stretched between them; andmeans on the bar including a release element for pushing the seal ring off the inner holder.

2. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein the means further includes a release bar longitudinally slidable on the support bar and carrying the release element.

3. The combination defined in claim 2 wherein the release element has an pusher face engageable with the seal on the inner holder.

4. The combination defined in claim 3 wherein the pusher face forms an obtuse angle with a longitudinal axis of the support bar.

5. The combination defined in claim 4 wherein the angle is between 120° and 150°.

6. The combination defined in claim 2 wherein the holders each have an arcuate face that is convex away from the outer holder.

7. The combination defined in claim 6 wherein the arcuate faces are formed with shallow grooves adapted to hold the seal ring.

8. The combination defined in claim 6 wherein the inner holder is formed with a slot open away from the outer holder and the release element is shiftable between an inactive position recessed behind the face of the inner holder and an active position projecting past the face of the inner holder.

9. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein the inner holder and release element are at an end of the support bar and the outer holder is generally central in the support bar.

10. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein the nozzle beam has a surface formed with the groove and is formed with an end port aligned with the surface and of a height equal generally to an overall transverse height of the support bar and holders such that the support bar with holders and release element can be fitted into the end port.

11. The combination defined in claim 10, further comprising a pressure bar insertable into the port above the support bar to press the support bar and release element down in the beam.