Bonded double wall seal assembly

Abstract

A seal assembly includes a first wall extending from a compression side to a fastened side of the seal assembly, a stiffening member embedded within the first wall adjacent to the compression side of the seal assembly, and a second wall exterior of the first wall and extending from the compression side to the fastened side of the seal assembly. When the seal assembly is pressurized, the first wall and the second wall define an insulated pocket.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A seal assembly, comprising:
 a first wall extending from a compression side of the seal assembly to a fastened side of the seal assembly;   a stiffening member embedded within the first wall adjacent to the compression side of the seal assembly; and   a second wall exterior of the first wall and extending from the compression side of the seal assembly to the fastened side of the seal assembly;   wherein when the seal assembly is pressurized, the first wall and the second wall define an insulated pocket.   
     
     
         2 . The seal assembly of  claim 1 , wherein when the seal assembly is pressurized, the first wall forms a first C-shape and the second wall forms a second C-shape exterior of the first C-shaped first wall such that the seal assembly has a double C-shaped cross-section with respect to a longitudinal axis of the seal assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The seal assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first wall includes a plurality of perforations such that pressurized air interior of the first wall passes through the first wall to inflate and maintain a pressure within the insulated pocket. 
     
     
         4 . The seal assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the second wall includes a tapered section such that a width of the second wall increases from the compression side to the fastened side of the seal assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The seal assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the tapered section of the second wall increases a stiffness of the second wall near the fastened side of the seal assembly. 
     
     
         6 . The seal assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first wall is bonded to the second wall at a low stress point adjacent to the fastened side of the seal assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The seal assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the first wall and the second wall are connected by a rubber bond. 
     
     
         8 . The seal assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the first wall and the second wall are connected by one or more mechanical fasteners. 
     
     
         9 . The seal assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first wall and the second wall of the seal assembly are formed as a unitary piece. 
     
     
         10 . The seal assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a connecting portion extending between the first wall and the second wall such that the first wall and the second wall define a first insulated pocket and a second insulated pocket, and the first insulated pocket and the second insulated pocket are vertically aligned. 
     
     
         11 . A thrust reverser assembly for an aircraft engine nacelle, comprising:
 a cowl mounted to the nacelle; and   a fire seal assembly coupled with the cowl, the fire seal assembly comprising:
 a first wall extending from a compression side of the fire seal assembly to a fastened side of the fire seal assembly; 
 a stiffening member embedded within the first wall adjacent to the compression side of the fire seal assembly; and 
 a second wall exterior of the first wall and extending from the compression side to the fastened side of the fire seal assembly; 
   wherein when the fire seal assembly is pressurized, the first wall and the second wall each maintain a curved shape and define an insulated pocket.   
     
     
         12 . The thrust reverser assembly of  claim 11 , wherein when the fire seal assembly is pressurized, the first wall forms a first C-shape and the second wall forms a second C-shape exterior of the first C-shaped first wall such that the fire seal assembly has a double C-shaped cross-section with respect to a longitudinal axis of the fire seal assembly. 
     
     
         13 . The thrust reverser assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the first wall includes a plurality of perforations such that when the fire seal assembly is pressurized, pressurized air interior of the first wall passes through the first wall to inflate and maintain a pressure within the insulated pocket. 
     
     
         14 . The thrust reverser assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the second wall includes a tapered section such that a width of the second wall increases from the compression side to the fastened side of the fire seal assembly. 
     
     
         15 . The thrust reverser assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the tapered section of the second wall increases a stiffness of the second wall near the fastened side of the fire seal assembly. 
     
     
         16 . The thrust reverser assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the first wall is bonded to the second wall at a low stress point adjacent to the fastened side of the seal assembly. 
     
     
         17 . The thrust reverser assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the seal assembly further comprises a connecting portion extending between the first wall and the second wall such that the first wall and the second wall define a first insulated pocket and a second insulated pocket, and the first insulated pocket and the second insulated pocket are vertically aligned. 
     
     
         18 . A method for manufacturing a fire seal assembly, comprising:
 forming a first wall from an elastomeric material and forming a plurality of perforations in the first wall, the first wall having a first end and a second end opposite the first end;   embedding a stiffening member within the first wall adjacent to the first end of the first wall;   forming a second wall from the elastomeric material, the second wall having a first end and a second end opposite the first end;   coupling the first wall to the second wall at a low stress point adjacent to the second end of each respective one of the first wall and the second wall; and   pressurizing the fire seal assembly such that each of the first wall and the second wall maintains a curved shape and an insulated pocket is defined between the first wall and the second wall.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein pressurizing the fire seal assembly causes the first wall and the second wall to form a double C-shaped cross-section with respect to a longitudinal axis of the fire seal assembly and wherein, during pressurization of the fire seal assembly, the embedded stiffening member prevents inversion of the fire seal assembly such that the fire seal assembly retains a pressurized double C-shaped cross-section. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the first wall and the second wall are connected at an upper, middle, and lower point such that pressurizing the fire seal assembly causes the first wall and the second wall to form a stacked bulb cross-section with respect to a longitudinal axis of the fire seal assembly.