Seal with Integrated Shroud to Protect from Exposure to Extreme Environments

mechanical and fluid systems
Seal with Integrated Shroud to Protect from Exposure to Extreme Environments (LEW-TOPS-116)
A durable seal design with extremely low leak rates
Overview
Innovators at NASA's Glenn Research Center have designed a superior seal assembly that is durable and highly dependable in extremely harsh environments. This fault-tolerant design features a novel protective shroud that shields its interior seal element(s) from hazardous conditions that can quickly degrade the seal material and cause higher leak rates. The thin and flexible shroud is able to retract to expose the seal element(s) when the shroud comes into contact with the desired mating surface, ensuring a tight, leak-proof interface. When it is time to break the seal, the process reverses itself, and the shroud arms return to their extended position to cover and protect the seal element(s). Sheltering the seal element(s) when they are not in use extends the lifetime of the seal and lessens the need for expensive and inconvenient maintenance and repairs. Originally designed to protect seals from atomic oxygen, ultraviolet radiation, and impacts from debris in space, these seals are an ideal solution for a variety of industrial and chemical applications that operate in hazardous conditions.

The Technology
Approximately 50 inches in diameter, Glenn's unique sealing system consists of multiple elements installed in a recessed rectangular sealing groove. The main sealing function is provided by an elastomer element (e.g., silicone) comprising one or more sealing wall(s) connected by a web. The wall(s) extend above the top of the sealing groove so they are compressed by the opposing mating surface during the sealing process. The retractable shroud element is installed between the wall(s), with its base resting atop the web of the sealing element. The shroud is typically composed of an elastomer material to allow for flexibility (which is essential to retraction), but it can also be made from thin metal or plastic materials. When the seal is no longer in use, a pair of V-shaped shroud "arms" extend upward from the base of the seal to cover the wall(s). A thin metal retainer is installed on top of the shroud, and fasteners pass through holes in the retainer, shroud, and sealing elements to secure the system to the base of the sealing groove. Metal washers are installed in these holes to provide a load path between the metal retainer and the surface of the sealing groove. The system can seal against either a flat metal surface or another seal of the same design. This sealing system has been designed to accommodate multiple sealing cycles and has exhibited extremely low leak rates, making it an attractive solution within a variety of industries from aerospace to agriculture.
Submarine Hatch Door This seal features an innovative shroud that protects the seal elements from harsh environments
Benefits
  • Fault-tolerant design: Features a protective shroud that reduces the likelihood of system failure by shielding seal elements from hazardous conditions
  • Extremely low leak rates: Maintains an air-tight, water-tight seal when the shroud is retracted
  • Time Savings: Reduces the need for maintenance and increases operating time
  • Cost Savings: Protects seal elements from harmful conditions, resulting in a longer lifetime of the product and fewer repairs and replacement parts

Applications
  • Aerospace
  • Agriculture
  • Building construction
  • Maritime
  • Petroleum
  • Pharmaceutical
  • Plastics processing
Technology Details

mechanical and fluid systems
LEW-TOPS-116
LEW-19283-1
10,330,201
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