Fluidic actuator for application inside turbomachinery

• Main Authors: BURNETT MARK EDWARD, IMAM IMDAD, TURNQUIST NORMAN ARNOLD, BAILY FREDERICK GEORGE, GHASRIPOOR FARSHAD, AWTAR SHORYA, VARANASI KRIPA KIRAN
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 11.12.2012
• Subjects: BLASTING; CYLINDERS; DETAILS OF FLUID-PRESSURE SYSTEMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS; FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS, e.g. SERVO-MOTORS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVEFUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; HEATING; HYDRAULICS OR PNEUMATICS IN GENERAL; LIGHTING; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; PISTONS; SEALINGS; SYSTEMS ACTING BY MEANS OF FLUIDS IN GENERAL; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL; WEAPONS

Disclosed is an actuator that includes a cylinder having an input port, a piston disposed at least partially inside of the cylinder, and one or more piston rings disposed in a circumferential piston ring groove or grooves. The actuator also includes at least one spring, inserted into the circumferential piston ring groove adjacent to the one or more piston rings and a high pressure side of said piston ring. The spring preloads the one or more piston rings to seal between a low pressure face of the one or more piston rings and a low pressure face of the circumferential piston ring groove. The invention also includes a method for moving an adjustable seal in a radial direction using the piston-ring sealed actuator. The method includes moving the adjustable seal in an axial direction, breaking a primary axial contact between the adjustable seal and a primary sealing face.