SEAL GROOVE COOLING FLOW

Abstract

Disclosed are seal arrangements in a hydraulic device. The seal arrangement includes a seal channel defining a loop. A seal is seated within the seal channel. A coolant flow passage has a first part intersecting with the seal channel at a first point and a second part intersecting with the seal channel at a second point. The first part of the coolant flow passage is configured to provide hydraulic fluid to the seal channel such that, at the first point, a first portion of the hydraulic fluid flows in a first direction around the loop and a second portion of the hydraulic fluid flows in a second direction opposite to the first direction around the loop. At the second point, the first portion of hydraulic fluid and the second portion of hydraulic fluid are configured to flow into the second part of the coolant flow passage.

Description

Claims

1. A seal arrangement in a hydraulic device, comprising: a first seal channel defining a first loop and having a first width;a first seal seated within the first seal channel and having a second width that is less than the first width;a first coolant flow passage having a first part intersecting with the first seal channel at a first point and a second part intersecting with the first seal channel at a second point;wherein the first part of the first coolant flow passage is configured to provide hydraulic fluid to the first seal channel such that, at the first point, a first portion of the hydraulic fluid flows in a first direction around the first loop and a second portion of the hydraulic fluid flows in a second direction around the first loop, the second direction being opposite to the first direction; andwherein, at the second point, the first portion of hydraulic fluid and the second portion of hydraulic fluid are configured to flow into the second part of the first coolant flow passage.

2. The seal arrangement of claim 1, wherein the first seal channel comprises a first region with a first depth and a step with a second depth that is less than the first depth, wherein the first seal is located in the first region, and wherein the step is positioned to cover from about 20% to about 100% of an opening of the first part of the first coolant flow passage.

3. The seal arrangement of claim 1, wherein the first loop is circular and the first part and the second part are diametrically opposed around the first loop.

4. The seal arrangement of claim 1, wherein the second part of the first coolant flow passage is in fluid communication with a cooling flow line configured to transport the hydraulic fluid to a second coolant flow passage; wherein the second coolant flow passage intersects with an outer seal channel at a third point, the outer seal channel defining a second loop and having an outer seal seated therein;wherein a third portion of the hydraulic fluid flows in a third direction around the second loop and a fourth portion of the hydraulic fluid flows in a fourth direction around the second loop, the fourth direction being opposite to the third direction; andwherein, at a fourth point, the third portion of hydraulic fluid and the fourth portion of hydraulic fluid are configured to flow into a third coolant flow passage extending inwardly to an inner seal channel in which an inner seal is seated.

5. The seal arrangement of claim 4, wherein the outer seal channel comprises a first region with a first depth and a step with a second depth that is less than the first depth, wherein the outer seal is located in the first region, and wherein the step is positioned to cover from about 20% to about 100% of an opening of the second coolant flow passage.

6. The seal arrangement of claim 4, wherein the inner seal channel defines a third loop; wherein a fifth portion of the hydraulic fluid flows in a fifth direction around the third loop and a sixth portion of the hydraulic fluid flows in a sixth direction around the third loop, the sixth direction being opposite to the fifth direction; andwherein, at a fifth point, the fifth portion of hydraulic fluid and the sixth portion of hydraulic fluid are configured to flow into an outlet passage arranged perpendicular to the third coolant flow passage.

7. The seal arrangement of claim 6, wherein the inner seal channel comprises a first region with a first depth and a step with a second depth less than the first depth and wherein the inner seal fills a width of the first region.

8. (canceled)

9. A linear actuator, comprising: a housing having an interior cavity with a first end and a second end;a piston head disposed within the interior cavity and movable from the first end toward the second end and back within the interior cavity, the piston head comprising a first surface and a second surface, the piston head dividing the interior cavity into a first interior cavity defined between the first end and the first surface and a second interior cavity defined between the second end and the second surface;a piston cover disposed at the second end of the interior cavity, having a first surface, a second surface, an outer peripheral surface, and a first aperture extending from the first surface to the second surface, the first aperture having an interior aperture surface;a piston actuator comprising a piston shaft and a position sensor disposed within the piston shaft, the piston shaft operatively connected to the piston head and extending through the first aperture of the piston cover and the position sensor including a head disposed within a second aperture of the housing;a first port through which hydraulic fluid is configured to flow into the first interior cavity;a second port through which hydraulic fluid is configured to flow into the second interior cavity; andat least one seal arrangement comprising at least one seal channel and at least one seal seated in the at least one seal channel;wherein hydraulic fluid flowing between the first port and the second port is provided to the at least one seal channel to cool the at least one seal;wherein the at least one seal arrangement is provided between at least one of the housing and the outer peripheral surface of the piston cover, the interior aperture surface and the piston shaft, or the head of the position sensor and the second aperture;wherein the at least one seal arrangement comprises a first seal arrangement between the head of the position sensor and the second aperture, the first seal arrangement comprising a first seal channel forming a first loop around the head of the position sensor and a first seal seated within the first seal channel, and wherein the linear actuator further comprises:a first coolant flow passage having a first part in fluid communication with the first port and intersecting with the first seal channel at a first point and a second part intersecting with the first seal channel at a second point;wherein the first part of the first coolant flow passage is configured to provide hydraulic fluid to the first seal channel such that, at the first point, a first portion of the hydraulic fluid flows in a first direction around the first loop and a second portion of the hydraulic fluid flows in a second direction around the first loop, the second direction being opposite to the first direction; andwherein, at the second point, the first portion of hydraulic fluid and the second portion of hydraulic fluid are configured to flow into the second part of the first coolant flow passage.

10. The linear actuator of claim 9, wherein the first seal channel comprises a first region with a first depth and a step with a second depth that is less than the first depth, wherein the first seal is located in the first region, and wherein the step is positioned to cover from about 20% to about 100% of an opening of the first part of the first coolant flow passage.

11. The linear of claim 9, wherein the first loop is circular and the first part and the second part are diametrically opposed around the first loop.

12. The seal arrangement of claim 9, wherein the at least one seal arrangement further comprises a second seal arrangement between the housing and the outer peripheral surface of the piston cover and wherein the second part of the first coolant flow passage is in fluid communication with a cooling flow line configured to transport the hydraulic fluid to the second seal arrangement; wherein the second seal arrangement comprises a second coolant flow passage, an outer seal channel forming a second loop around the piston cover, and an outer seal seated within the outer seal channel;wherein the second coolant flow passage intersects with the outer seal channel at a third point;wherein a third portion of the hydraulic fluid flows in a third direction around the second loop and a fourth portion of the hydraulic fluid flows in a fourth direction around the second loop, the fourth direction being opposite to the third direction.

13. The linear actuator of claim 12, wherein the outer seal channel comprises a second region with a third depth and a second step with a fourth depth that is less than the third depth, wherein the outer seal is located in the second region, and wherein the second step is positioned to cover from about 20% to about 100% of an opening of the second coolant flow passage.

14. The linear actuator of claim 12, wherein the at least one seal arrangement further comprises a third seal arrangement between the interior aperture surface and the piston shaft; wherein, at a fourth point, the third portion of hydraulic fluid and the fourth portion of hydraulic fluid are configured to flow to the third seal arrangement,wherein the third seal arrangement comprises a third coolant flow passage, an inner seal channel defined in the interior aperture surface and forming a third loop around the piston shaft, and an inner seal seated within the inner seal channel, andwherein the third coolant flow passage extends inwardly to an inner seal channel.

15. The linear actuator of claim 14, wherein a fifth portion of the hydraulic fluid flows in a fifth direction around the third loop and a sixth portion of the hydraulic fluid flows in a sixth direction around the third loop, the sixth direction being opposite to the fifth direction; and wherein, at a fifth point, the fifth portion of hydraulic fluid and the sixth portion of hydraulic fluid are configured to flow into an outlet passage arranged perpendicular to the third coolant flow passage, the outlet passage in fluid communication with the second port.

16. The linear actuator of claim 15, wherein the inner seal channel comprises a third region with a fifth depth and a third step with a sixth depth less than the fifth depth and wherein the inner seal fills a width of the third region.

17. The linear actuator of claim 9, wherein the hydraulic fluid is fuel.

18. The linear actuator of claim 9, wherein the at least one seal of the at least one seal arrangement is kept below a temperature of 1000° F. for at least 5 minutes when tested according to SAE AS4273 or RTCA DO-160 - Section 26.0.

19. The linear actuator of claim 18, wherein the at least one seal of the at least one seal arrangement is kept below a temperature of 1000° F. for at least 15 minutes when tested according to SAE AS4273 or RTCA DO-160 - Section 26.0.

20. The linear actuator of claim 19, wherein the at least one seal comprises an elastomer or PTFE.