Panel assembly including deformable seal

Abstract

A panel assembly of the kind found in the air intake of a gas turbine engine or a fan duct is designed to be demountable for maintenance purposes. Consequently there exists between the panels a gap to be sealed. The invention provides a deformable seal for the purpose comprising an elongate, hollow resilient member mounted on a flange at the edge of one of the panels and arranged to be pressed against a flange at the confronting edge of the adjacent panel. The flanges are shaped such that the hollow member when pressed between the flanges effectively seals the gap between the panels and a portion of the seal member lies flush between the panel edges.

Description

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to an exemplary embodiment illustrated in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of an assembly in airframe installation in which the invention may be utilised;

FIG. 2 shows a cross-section view of a deformable seal of the present invention in its uncompressed state prior to installation in the assembly of FIG. 1, and

FIG. 3 shows a cross-section view of the deformable seal of FIG. 3 in its installed state.

Claims

1. A panel assembly including a first panel and a second panel mounted relative to the first panel such that there is a gap between adjacent, confronting panel edges, the assembly further comprising a deformable hollow seal member of resilient material extending the length of the gap and positioned between the confronting panel edges to close the gap, each of the confronting panel edges comprising a flange wherein the deformable seal member is mounted on one flange and arranged and adapted to engage the confronting flange which is shaped to squeeze the hollow seal member into the gap to form a substantially smooth profile across the gap between the panel edges, which profile is maintained during relative panel movements.

2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the deformable seal member is mounted on the one flange by means of a rib, tang or the like running along the length of the member engaged with a groove or slot formed in the flange.

3. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the confronting panel edges are concave and shaped to form a generally elliptical space within which the hollow member is squeezed.

4. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the deformable seal member comprises an endless seal member having a lozenge-shaped cross-section.

5. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first and second panels are capable of limited relative movement.

6. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the panels co-operate to form a circular or cylindrical duct.

7. An assembly as claimed in claim 6 wherein the first panel is shaped to form a bell mouth entry to the duct.

8. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 comprising an air intake duct to a fan or gas turbine engine.

9. An assembly as claimed in claim 8 wherein the air intake duct is mounted in the airframe of a lift fan aircraft.