SEAL SYSTEM IN SITU LIFETIME MEASUREMENT

• US 20090315267A1
• Filed: 12/29/2008
• Published: 12/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trelleborg Sealing Solutions Germany Gmbh (Trelleborg AB)
• Original Assignee: Trelleborg Sealing Solutions US Incorporated (Trelleborg AB)
• Inventors: Castleman, Larry
• Granted Patent: US 8,264,347 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 277/312
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/064 the packing combining the sealing function with other functions

Abstract

A sealing system for sealing between two members includes a polymer seal disposed between the two members, a measurement device, and an evaluation unit. The measurement device is at least partially disposed within the polymer seal, is configured for measuring an aspect of the polymer seal indicating sealing performance of the polymer seal, and is configured for creating a signal corresponding to a measured aspect of the polymer seal. The evaluation unit is configured for evaluating the signal corresponding to the measured aspect of the polymer seal and for determining a sealing performance capability of said polymer seal.

Claims

1. A sealing system for sealing between two members, said sealing system comprising:

a polymer seal disposed between the two members;

a measurement device which is at least partially disposed within said polymer seal, is configured for measuring an aspect of said polymer seal indicating sealing performance of said polymer seal, and is configured for creating a signal corresponding to a measured said aspect of said polymer seal; and

an evaluation unit configured for evaluating said signal corresponding to said measured aspect of said polymer seal and for determining a sealing performance capability of said polymer seal.

2. The sealing system of claim 1, wherein said measurement device includes a sensor which is at least partially embedded in said polymer seal.

3. The sealing system of claim 2, wherein said sensor includes at least one of a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, a leakage sensor, a friction sensor, a strain sensor, a fluid film thickness sensor, a wear sensor, a deformation sensor, a vibration sensor, and a noise sensor.

4. The sealing system of claim 2, wherein said sensor measures at least one of a permanent condition and a temporary condition of said polymer seal.

5. The sealing system of claim 1, wherein said measurement device includes a material disposed within said polymer seal and at least in part forming said polymer seal, said material changing its material properties dependent upon at least one of applied pressure, temperature, shear, strain, fretting, material loss, wear, exposure to system components, system fluid, seal absorption of said system fluid, and time.

6. The sealing system of claim 5, wherein said material includes a highly conductive polymer.

7. The sealing system of claim 1, wherein said measurement device is one of remotely powered and self-powered.

8. The sealing system of claim 1, wherein said signal is one of electrical and magnetic.

9. The sealing system of claim 1, further including a communication device configured for communicating said signal away from said polymer seal, said evaluation unit configured for receiving said signal from said communication device.

10. The sealing system of claim 9, wherein said communication device is one of a wired and a wireless connection for transmitting said signal away from said polymer seal.

11. The sealing system of claim 9, wherein said communication device is a radio-frequency identification device which applies power to said measurement device.

12. The sealing system of claim 1, further comprising a second polymer seal and a second measurement device, said second polymer seal disposed between the two members, said second measurement device being at least partially disposed within said second polymer seal, being configured for measuring an aspect of said second polymer seal indicating sealing performance of said second polymer seal, and being configured for creating a second signal corresponding to a measured said aspect of said second polymer seal, said evaluation unit configured for evaluating said second signal corresponding to said measured aspect of said second polymer seal and for determining a sealing performance capability of said second polymer seal, said second measurement device including one of (a) a sensor which is at least partially embedded in said second polymer seal and (b) a material disposed within said second polymer seal and at least in part forming said second polymer seal, said material changing its material properties dependent upon at least one of applied pressure, temperature, shear, strain, fretting, material loss, wear, exposure to system components, system fluid, seal absorption of said system fluid, and time.

13. The sealing system of claim 1, further including a data storage medium and a communication device, said evaluation unit being a processor, said signal being an input signal, said processor having said input signal and an output signal, said data storage medium operatively connected to said processor, said data storage medium including at least one of performance data and a plurality of thresholds regarding a plurality of at least one of polymer seals and seal assemblies, said processor configured for comparing at least one said input signal to at least one of said performance data and said plurality of thresholds to create said output signal, said communication device configured for communicating said output signal to an operator.

14. The sealing system of claim 13, wherein said output signal is in the form of a feedback signal.

15. The sealing system of claim 14, wherein said feedback signal to said operator includes at least one of a stop signal, a reduce use signal, a reduce speed signal, a nominal signal, a sealing lifetime remaining signal, a sealing leakage signal, a sealing friction signal, a sealing system out-of-bounds signal, a maintenance required signal, and a sealing replacement signal.

16. The sealing system of claim 13, wherein said performance data is historical, said output signal corresponding to lifetime prediction data of said polymer seal.

17. A sealing system for sealing between two members, comprising:

a data storage medium having polymer sealing performance criteria stored thereon;

a processor in operative communication with said data storage medium; and

a communication device for obtaining a sealing signal from a polymer seal, said communication device passing an obtained said sealing signal to said processor, said data storage medium including file information specifying a plurality of threshold sealing signals, said processor comparing said obtained sealing signal to said plurality of threshold sealing signals and thereby computing an output signal based upon whether said obtained sealing signal is within bounds of said plurality of threshold sealing signals.

18. The sealing system of claim 17, wherein said processor forms at least one output signal as at least one of a stop signal, a reduce use signal, a reduce speed signal, a nominal signal, a sealing lifetime remaining signal, a sealing leakage signal, a sealing friction signal, a sealing system out-of-bounds signal, a maintenance required signal, and sealing replacement signal.

19. The sealing system of claim 17, further comprising a warning indicator, said processor activating said warning indicator.

20. The sealing system of claim 17, wherein the sealing system is configured for at least one of communicating data to and from the internet, said data including at least one of said polymer sealing performance criteria, said obtained sealing signal, said plurality of threshold sealing signals, and said output signal.

21. A method of sealing between two members, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a polymer seal at least partially disposed between the two members;

measuring an aspect of said polymer seal indicating sealing performance of said polymer seal;

creating a signal corresponding to a measured said aspect of said polymer seal;

evaluating said signal corresponding to said measured aspect of said polymer seal; and

determining a sealing performance capability of said polymer seal.

22. The method of sealing of claim 21, wherein said step of measuring is carried out at least in part by a sensor disposed within said polymer seal, said sensor including at least one of a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, a leakage sensor, a friction sensor, a strain sensor, a fluid film thickness sensor, a wear sensor, a deformation sensor, a vibration sensor, and a noise sensor.

23. The method of sealing of claim 21, wherein said step of measuring is carried out at least in part by a material disposed within said polymer seal and at least in part forming said polymer seal, said material changing its material properties dependent upon at least one of applied pressure, temperature, shear, strain, fretting, material loss, wear, exposure to system components, system fluid, seal absorption of said system fluid, and time.