SHAPE MEMORY ALLOY MEMBER FOR USE IN POLYMER OR COMPOSITE SEAL APPLICATIONS

摘要

A sealing system (100) that includes a first component (112), a second component (114) and a polymer seal (116) positioned in a seal recess (118) in the first component. A TWSMA member (122) is positioned in the seal recess (118), wherein the TWSMA member (122) has a retracted shape (122R) and an expanded shape (122E), the TWSMA member (122) transitioning from the retracted shape (122R) to the expanded shape (122E) at a temperature that is less than an installation temperature when the polymer seal (116) and the TWSMA member (122) were positioned in the seal recess (118). In the expanded shape (122E) the TWSMA member (122) exerts a force (130) on the polymer seal (116) so as to urge the polymer seal (116) into sealing contact with the second component (114) and wherein in the expanded shape (122E), at least a portion (122S1) of a surface (122S) of the TWSMA member (122) is positioned at a location that is farther away from a surface (118A, 118X) of the seal recess (118) that the portion (122S1) was when the TWSMA member (122) was in its retracted shape (122R).