Hydrodynamic Feature Patents (Class 277/400)
  • Patent number: 11946383
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a first bearing compartment and a seal assembly within the first bearing compartment that includes a rotatable seal seat, a gutter radially outward of the seal seat and fixed against rotation. The gutter includes a channel on its radially inner face. A second bearing compartment is also included. A scavenge pump is in communication with a first supply line configured to supply the first bearing compartment and a second supply line configured to supply the second bearing compartment. The gutter is in communication with the scavenge pump through a gutter scavenge line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: RTX Corporation
    Inventors: Todd A. Davis, Christopher M. Valva
  • Patent number: 11946548
    Abstract: An apparatus has: a first member; a shaft rotatable relative to the first member about an axis; and a seal system. The seal system has: a seal carried by the first member and having a seal face; a seal housing; a seat carried by the shaft and having a seat face in sliding sealing engagement with the seal face; and a plurality of coil springs biasing the seal face against the seat face, each coil spring having a first end and a second end. The seal has a plurality of spring compartments. Each of the plurality of coil springs is partially within a respective associated compartment of the plurality of spring compartments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: RTX Corporation
    Inventors: Masayoshi Sonokawa, Jonathan F. Zimmitti, Nasr A. Shuaib, Sean P. McCutchan
  • Patent number: 11873903
    Abstract: A segment of a seal assembly for forming a hydrodynamic seal against a rotating member can include a main body extending between first and second sides and defining a radial internal surface for forming a hydrodynamic seal with the rotating member. The main body can include a main surface extending between the main body first and second sides, a fluid inlet portion recessed from the main surface, and a hydrodynamic pad region located adjacent the fluid inlet portion and extending in a circumferential direction. The hydrodynamic pad region can include a first section and a second section separated by a land portion, wherein the first and second sections are recessed from the main surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: Gerald Maurice Berard, Edward Nicholas Ruggeri
  • Patent number: 11821461
    Abstract: A pair of sliding components formed in an annular shape and disposed at a relatively rotating position of a rotary machine are constituted by a first sliding component 10 and a second sliding component. A sliding surface of the first sliding component has a plurality of dynamic pressure generation mechanisms each of which includes at least a shallow groove communicating with a leakage side. A sliding surface of the second sliding component has deep grooves each of which has a dimension deeper than that of the shallow groove of each of the dynamic pressure generation mechanisms and communicates with the leakage side, each of the deep grooves overlapping with the shallow groove each of the dynamic pressure generation mechanisms during relative rotation of the first and second sliding components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Inventors: Iwa Ou, Tadatsugu Imura, Hiroshi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11781653
    Abstract: A sealing device includes a reinforcing ring having annular shape around an axis line and an elastic body part formed from an elastic body, the elastic body part being attached to the reinforcing ring and having an annular shape around the axis line. The elastic body part includes an annular seal lip and an annular side lip that is provided on an outer side of the seal lip and that extends toward the outer side. In an inner peripheral surface of the side lip on an inner periphery side, at least one circumferential groove which is a groove having an annular shape around the axis line is provided and at least one axial groove which is a groove extending along a direction of the axis line is provided. The circumferential groove and the axial groove are connected with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Inventors: Takumi Yamada, Hiromi Sugihara, Hisato Yonai, Toshiki Watanabe, Satoshi Yamanaka, Yu Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 11767916
    Abstract: To provide sliding components capable of suppressing dynamic pressure generation mechanisms from being deformed and damaged due to wear of sliding surfaces. In a pair of sliding components which is disposed at a relatively rotating position of a rotary machine, has a plurality of dynamic pressure generation mechanisms formed in a sliding surface of the sliding component by recessed portions, and is formed in an annular shape to seal a sealed fluid by sliding the sliding surfaces of the sliding components. A surface region in the periphery of the recessed portions of the sliding component is formed to be separated from an opposite region of the sliding component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Inventors: Tadatsugu Imura, Hiroshi Suzuki, Iwa Ou, Yuichiro Tokunaga
  • Patent number: 11746907
    Abstract: A seal assembly includes a housing that includes a seal flange at least partially defining a seal opening. A carbon seal is located at least partially in the seal opening and includes a first axially facing surface. The seal flange includes an axially facing surface that has a carbide based coating and a diamond-like carbon coating in engagement with the first axially facing surface on the carbon seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: RTX Corporation
    Inventors: Pantcho P. Stoyanov, Jonathan F. Zimmitti, Nasr A. Shuaib
  • Patent number: 11732753
    Abstract: A circumferential seal assembly suitable for forming a thin film between a rotatable runner and a sealing ring is presented. The assembly includes an annular seal housing, a rotatable runner, an annular seal ring, and a plurality of groove structures. Each groove structure includes a groove and an optional feed groove. The groove includes at least two adjoining steps defined by base walls arranged to decrease depthwise. Two adjoining base walls are disposed about a base shoulder. Each base shoulder locally redirects a longitudinal flow to form an outward radial flow in the direction of the annular seal ring. The base walls are bounded by and intersect a pair of side walls. A side wall includes side shoulders which narrows the groove widthwise and locally redirects the longitudinal flow to form a lateral flow in the direction of the other side wall. Outward and lateral flows separately or in combination enhance stiffness of a thin-film layer between the annular seal ring and the rotatable runner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Stein Seal Company
    Inventor: Glenn M. Garrison
  • Patent number: 11713688
    Abstract: A seal segment has an arcuate body having: a first end; a second end circumferentially opposite the first end; a first face; a second face axially opposite the first face; an inner diameter (ID) face; and an outer diameter (OD) face. The seal segment is shaped to interfit with a plurality of identical seal segments first end to second end to form a seal surrounding a central longitudinal axis. The first face has: a circumferential channel closer to the ID face than the OD face; and a plurality of channels extending from the circumferential channel to the OD face. The ID face has: a circumferential channel closer to the first face than the second face; and a plurality of channels extending from the circumferential channel to the second face. The ID face circumferential channel has an open end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan Logan Miller, Thomas P. Obligado
  • Patent number: 11708911
    Abstract: A pair of sliding components have sliding faces (S) that slide with respect to each other, wherein at least one of the sliding faces (S) includes at least one dimple group (11) constituted by plural dimples (12), and each dimple group (11) includes at least one opening portion (11a) that is arranged in the one of the sliding faces (S) and radially open to the outside the one of the sliding faces (S). In the sliding components, a dynamic pressure generation mechanism can easily be formed, and a lubricating performance and a sealing performance can improve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Inventors: Tadatsugu Imura, Hideyuki Inoue, Yuichiro Tokunaga, Yuta Negishi, Yuki Maetani, Ayano Tanishima
  • Patent number: 11686346
    Abstract: A circumferential seal assembly suitable for forming a thin film between a rotatable runner and a sealing ring is presented. The assembly includes an annular seal housing, a rotatable runner, an annular seal ring, and a plurality of groove structures. Each groove structure includes a groove and an optional feed groove. The groove includes at least two adjoining steps defined by base walls arranged to decrease depthwise. Two adjoining base walls are disposed about a base shoulder. Each base shoulder locally redirects a longitudinal flow to form an outward radial flow in the direction of the annular seal ring. The base walls are bounded by and intersect a pair of side walls. A side wall includes side shoulders which narrows the groove widthwise and locally redirects the longitudinal flow to form a lateral flow in the direction of the other side wall. Outward and lateral flows separately or in combination enhance stiffness of a thin-film layer between the annular seal ring and the rotatable runner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Stein Seal Company
    Inventor: Glenn M. Garrison
  • Patent number: 11680643
    Abstract: A noncontacting intershaft seal system includes force generating mechanisms to reduce contact related effects. A sealing system includes an outer shaft that has a hollow interior. An inner shaft extends through the hollow interior of the outer shaft. Spaced apart end plates encircle and rotate with the inner shaft. A gland opening is defined between the inner and outer shafts and between the end plates. A ring is disposed in the gland opening. The end plates and/or the ring include force generating elements that generate force to separate the ring from the end plates, reducing contact related heat generation and wear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventor: Aaron G. Glafenhein
  • Patent number: 11662026
    Abstract: A seal assembly for preventing the flow of fluid includes a rotating component having a first sealing surface, a stationary component coaxial with the rotating component and having a second sealing surface with the second sealing surface configured to form a seal with the first sealing surface of the rotating component, and indents in one of the first sealing surface and the second sealing surface. The indents are configured to control a width of a gap between the first sealing surface and the second sealing surface to allow fluid to flow into the gap. At least two of the indents are at least partially aligned in the radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Hamilton Sandstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Weishun William Ni, Edward W. Goy, James Harder
  • Patent number: 11644100
    Abstract: Provided is a seal ring configured so that stable lubrication performance can be provided across a wide range of rotation speed. A seal ring for sealing a clearance between a rotary shaft and a housing includes inclined grooves formed at a sliding surface so as to be arranged in a circumferential direction, the inclined grooves being open on an outer diameter side of the seal ring to generate a drawing pressure. The seal ring further includes supply grooves being open on a sealed fluid side of the seal ring and extending in a radially outward direction toward inner diameter sides of the inclined grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Inventors: Wataru Kimura, Yuichiro Tokunaga, Yoshiaki Takigahira, Toru Kono, Hidetoshi Kasahara, Jun Hiromatsu, Takafumi Ota
  • Patent number: 11635147
    Abstract: The seal ring is annular around an axis x and includes an annular outer peripheral surface facing an outer periphery side, and a plurality of recessed parts. The recessed parts are formed in such a way as to be spaced apart from each other in a circumferential direction and are recessed from the outer peripheral surface toward an inner periphery side. The recessed parts expand, in the axis x direction, from one side surface to a position which does not reach another side surface. The outer peripheral surface includes a annular contact surface between the another side surface and the position, and rib surfaces respectively between mutually neighboring recessed parts in the circumferential direction. Each of the rib surfaces extends between the one side surface and the position in the axis x direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: NOK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yusuke Yoshida, Koji Watanabe
  • Patent number: 11624325
    Abstract: A bearing is mounted to a static structure outwardly of the shaft, and supporting the shaft. A bearing compartment is defined by face seal arrangements on each of two axial sides of a bearing. Each face seal arrangement includes a seal seat rotating with the shaft and a non-rotating sealing ring. The seal housing is exposed to high pressure air outward of the bearing compartment. A coil spring biases the seal housing towards the seal seat, such that the sealing face is biased into contact with the seal seat by a bias force including a net fluid force acting on the seal housing and the coil spring. The sealing face is defined by a contact portion contacting the seal seat and a feed portion recessed from the seal seat. The feed portion includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced feed slots fluidly connected to at least one annular groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan Logan Miller, Colin D. Craig, Michael M. Davis
  • Patent number: 11619309
    Abstract: An assembly is provided for rotational equipment. This rotational equipment assembly includes a plurality of seal shoes, a seal base, a plurality of spring elements and a secondary seal assembly. The seal shoes are arranged circumferentially about an axial centerline in an annular array. The seal shoes include a first seal shoe. The seal base circumscribes the annular array. The spring elements include a first spring element. The first spring element connects and extends between the first seal shoe and the seal base. The secondary seal assembly is configured to seal a gap between the seal base and the seal shoes. An axial end portion of the first seal shoe projects axially along the axial centerline, in a direction away from the first spring element, beyond the secondary seal assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Eric A. Grover, Jagannath Pranatharthikaran
  • Patent number: 11473679
    Abstract: An end face mechanical seal for a high pressure, compressible fluid includes metal or ceramic seal faces separated by a seal gap having at least one supersonic region that accelerates the fluid in the leakage direction, producing a shockwave that reduces fluid pressure to significantly reduce viscous heating and gap length. A choke width of the seal gap formed between the converging and diverging segments of the first supersonic region is between 50 and 200 micro-inches, and upper and lower boundaries thereof are flat, with combined slopes of less than 10 degrees. A total length of all of the supersonic regions is less than 0.1 inches. A non-supersonic region can further reduce fluid pressure by inducing viscous stresses. The seal can be configured axially or radially, and can be used as a pre-conditioner in combination with a conventional downstream mechanical fluid seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Flowserve Management Company
    Inventors: Cheng-Kang Guan, Daniel A. Nelson, Chris John Riché, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11466778
    Abstract: An assembly is provided for rotational equipment. This assembly includes a seal land and a seal element. The seal land extends circumferentially around and is rotatable about an axial centerline. The seal land includes a seal land surface. The seal element extends circumferentially around the axial centerline. The seal element includes a seal element surface and a seal element passage. The seal element surface is abutted against and is sealingly engaged with the seal land surface. The seal element passage extends through the seal element to an interface between the seal element surface and the seal land surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin Nasman, Michael M. Davis
  • Patent number: 11466584
    Abstract: A seal assembly adapted for use with a gas turbine engine includes a runner, a seal, and a compliant holder. The runner extends circumferentially about an axis and the compliant holder. The compliant holder engages the runner and is configured to support the runner radially relative to the axis. The seal extends circumferentially around the runner to block fluid flow through the seal assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventor: Joseph D. Black
  • Patent number: 11434930
    Abstract: A sealing system of a turbomachine for sealing a rotor of the turbomachine relative to a stator of the turbomachine, having a rotor-side component rotating together with the rotor, a stator-side component that is stationary together with the stator, and a dry gas seal, which includes a rotor-side sealing component and a stator-side sealing component compressed via a spring element forming a sealing gap, and a cleaning device, via which detergent is conducted in the direction of the spring element for cleaning the same and/or in the direction of the sealing gap for cleaning the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignees: MAN ENERGY SOLUTIONS SE, EAGLEBURGMANN GERMANY GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Michael Betschart, Simon Fischer, Marcel Rosenberger, Roger Suter
  • Patent number: 11434828
    Abstract: A bearing is mounted to a static structure outwardly of the shaft, and supporting the shaft. A bearing compartment is defined by face seal arrangements on each of two axial sides of a bearing. Each face seal arrangement includes a seal seat rotating with the shaft and a non-rotating sealing ring. The seal housing is exposed to high pressure air outward of the bearing compartment. A coil spring biases the seal housing towards the seal seat, such that the sealing face is biased into contact with the seal seat by a bias force including a net fluid force acting on the seal housing and the coil spring. The sealing face is defined by a contact portion contacting the seal seat and a feed portion recessed from the seal seat. The feed portion includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced feed slots fluidly connected to at least one annular groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan Logan Miller, Colin D. Craig, Michael M. Davis
  • Patent number: 11359669
    Abstract: A circumferential seal assembly capable of separating a gas into two separate flow paths before communication between a rotatable runner and a pair of seal rings is presented. The seal assembly includes an annular seal housing, a pair of annular seal rings, a rotatable runner, and a plurality of groove structures. The seal housing is interposed between a pair of compartments. The seal rings are separately disposed within the seal housing and separately disposed around the rotatable runner. The groove structures are disposed along an outer annular surface of the rotatable runner. A gas is communicable onto the groove structures. Each groove structure includes at least two hydrodynamic grooves that separate and communicate the gas onto the seal rings. Each groove includes steps whereby the depth of at least one adjoining step decreases in the direction opposite to rotation with or without the depth of another adjoining steps increasing in the direction opposite to rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Stein Seal Company
    Inventor: Glenn M. Garrison
  • Patent number: 11274571
    Abstract: Oil slinger systems include a seal runner comprising an annular radial member having a radius (R) and an outer axially extending member having an axial length (L), wherein a proximal surface of the outer axially extending member comprising a plurality of helical grooves. Methods of radial convective cooling include pumping a cooling liquid through the oil slinger system and convectively cooling the oil slinger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Campo, Timothy Castaldo
  • Patent number: 11221074
    Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a mechanical seal in which a stationary-side sealing ring can follow the movement of a rotating-side sealing ring to provide reliable sealing properties and by which the entire device can be made compact. A mechanical seal in which a rotating-side sealing ring 13 attached to a shaft 2 and a stationary-side sealing ring 21 attached to a housing 3 slide relative to each other and seal between the housing 3 and the shaft 2 includes a case 22 which is attached to the housing 3 and which contains the stationary-side sealing ring 21, and a seal member 23 which is disposed between the case 22 and the stationary-side sealing ring 21, and the case 22 includes a holding part 22d which regulates the seal member 23 from moving to both sides in the axial direction thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: EAGLE INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tadahiro Kimura, Hikaru Katori, Masatoshi Itadani, Takeshi Hosoe, Yasuhiro Ikeda, Tomoko Yamaki
  • Patent number: 11199103
    Abstract: A seal assembly for a turbomachine. The turbomachine includes a rotating shaft extending along a centerline and a fixed housing positioned exterior to the rotating shaft in a radial direction relative to the centerline. The seal assembly includes a sump housing at least partially defining a bearing compartment for holding a cooling lubricant. The seal assembly further includes a bearing supporting the rotating shaft. In addition, the seal assembly also includes a sump seal at least partially defining the bearing compartment. A pressurized housing of the seal assembly is positioned exterior to the sump housing and defines a pressurized compartment to at least partially enclose the sump housing. Further, a non-contacting carbon seal is positioned between the rotating shaft and the fixed housing to at least partially define the pressurized compartment to enclose the sump housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Scott Francis Wolfer, Kevin Richard Crain, Jonathan K. Remer, Robert Burton Brown, Nicholas Rowe Dinsmore
  • Patent number: 11187093
    Abstract: A face seal assembly including a thermal fluid circuit, a turbomachine including the face seal assembly and a method of operating the turbomachine are disclosed. The face seal assembly includes a seal ring including a seal bearing face, at least one internal cavity including a cavity inlet and a cavity outlet. The face seal assembly further including a fluid inlet channel in fluid communication with the cavity inlet of the at least one internal cavity and a pressurized fluid and a fluid outlet port in fluid communication with the cavity outlet of the at least one internal cavity. The at least one internal cavity, the fluid inlet channel and the fluid outlet port define a thermal fluid circuit providing thermal management of the seal ring. In the turbomachine, the face seal assembly is disposed between a stationary component and a rotating component including a rotating component bearing face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignees: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
    Inventors: Deepak Trivedi, Uttara Vijay Kumar, Rahul Anil Bidkar
  • Patent number: 11187326
    Abstract: A mechanical seal in which a rotary ring can be more reliably positioned. A rotary ring unit 100 includes: a sleeve 120 fixed to a rotary shaft 500; and a rotary ring 110 of which a movement in an axial direction and a rotation with respect to the sleeve 120 is restricted, a fixed ring unit 200 includes: a fixed ring 210 configured to slide on an end surface of the rotary ring 110; and a bellows 250 which presses the fixed ring 210 toward the rotary ring 110, and the sleeve 120 is provided with a stopper 140 which restricts a movement of the rotary ring 110 toward the fixed ring 210.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: EAGLE INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Osamu Moriya, Akira Yoshino
  • Patent number: 11174946
    Abstract: A magnetic fluid seal includes an outer cylinder member that houses therein a rotating shaft extending from a housing of a fluid machine, magnetic pole members housed in the outer cylinder member, disposed around the rotating shaft and forming a magnetic circuit, and sealing films to be formed from magnetic fluids, in an axial direction, in magnetic connection with the magnetic circuit, and between the magnetic pole members and the rotating shaft. The magnetic fluid seal further includes a gas supply passage that allows a gas to flow from an outside toward the magnetic pole members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Sato
  • Patent number: 11174947
    Abstract: A magnetic liquid sealing device (100) with a heat conductive rod and a heat dissipating jacket includes: a shaft casing (1), a rotating shaft (2), two bearings (3), two pole shoes (4), a permanent magnet (5), a heat conductive rod (6) and a heat dissipating jacket (7). The rotating shaft (2) is rotatably arranged in the shaft casing (1), two bearings (3) and two pole shoes (4) are fitted over the rotating shaft (2), and the two pole shoes (4) are located between the two bearings (3). The permanent magnet (5) is fitted over the rotating shaft (2) and is located between the two pole shoes (4). The heat conductive rod (6) is inserted in the pole shoe (4), the heat dissipating jacket (7) is fitted over the shaft casing (2), and the heat conductive rod (6) is connected with the heat dissipating jacket (7) through a connecting member (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: TSINGHUA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Decai Li, Jixian Yang, Siyu Chen, Qian Li, Rui Sun, Xiao Liu, Zhenghao Li
  • Patent number: 11168573
    Abstract: A circumferential seal assembly for use between a higher pressure side and a lower pressure side is presented. The seal assembly includes a primary sealing ring, a second sealing ring, a third sealing ring, and an insert. The segmented primary sealing ring sealingly engages both a face sealing surface along a housing and a radial sealing surface along a rotatable element. The insert is disposed within and directly contacts the housing. The second sealing ring is adjacent to the primary sealing ring and sealingly engages both the primary sealing ring and the insert. The segmented third sealing ring contacts and sealingly engages the primary sealing ring opposite the housing. The insert, the second sealing ring, and the third sealing ring cooperate to form a first cavity adjacent to the second sealing ring and the third sealing ring. The primary sealing ring, the second sealing ring, the insert, and the housing cooperate to form a second cavity adjacent to the primary sealing ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Stein Seal Company
    Inventor: Glenn M. Garrison
  • Patent number: 11125337
    Abstract: A housing for a magnetic fluid sealing device and an agitation kettle/reaction kettle are disclosed. The housing includes: a first end cover, a casing and an elastic member. The first end cover is spaced apart from a first portion of the casing in radially inward and outward directions of the casing. At least one of the casing, a positioning platform and the first end cover is provided with a mounting groove, and the elastic member is arranged in the mounting groove. A first sealing ring is provided between the casing and the first end cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: TSINGHUA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Decai Li, Qian Li, Zhi Gao
  • Patent number: 11118682
    Abstract: A seal arrangement includes first and second machine parts rotationally movable and forming a sealing gap. A radial shaft seal ring seals a high pressure side against a low pressure side. A base section held on a sealing holding structure of the first machine part has a sealing head contacting the sealing surface of the second machine part. The sealing surface has a high and low pressure first sealing surface sections. The first sealing surface section extends away from the sealing holding structure forming an acute angle. The sealing head contacts the first sealing section when an operating pressure is applied to the high pressure side, said operating pressure being smaller than a specified limit operating pressure value. The second sealing surface section forms an axial stop for the sealing head when an operating pressure is applied to the high pressure side being at least the limit operating pressure value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Trelleborg Sealing Solutions Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Holger Jordan, Mandy Wilke
  • Patent number: 11053974
    Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, a sliding component includes a pair of sliding parts 3 and 5 sliding relative to each other, with a high-pressure gas present on one side of the pair of sliding parts 3 and 5 and a low-pressure liquid on the other side. At least the sliding part 5 has a sliding face S provided with positive pressure generation mechanisms 10 each having a positive pressure generation groove 11, and provided with an annular deep groove 14 on the high-pressure gas side. The annular deep groove 14 is isolated from the high-pressure gas side by a land R, and is connected to the low-pressure liquid side through radial deep grooves 13. The sliding component is capable of fulfilling both conflicting conditions of sealing and lubrication, with a gas on the high-pressure fluid side and a liquid on the low-pressure fluid side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: EAGLE INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuta Negishi, Hiroki Inoue, Yuki Maetani, Takeshi Hosoe, Hideyuki Inoue
  • Patent number: 11028713
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine assembly includes a compressor including a plurality of rotors, where at least one of the plurality of rotors includes a radial inner sealing surface. A rotating shaft drives rotation of the plurality of rotors, where the rotating shaft includes an annular groove proximate the radial inner sealing surface. A seal is disposed within the annular groove, and the seal comprises at least two annular sections forming a complete circumference. Each of the at least two annular sections are separate parts and include a radially-facing sealing surface engaged to the radial inner sealing surface of the rotor and an annular slot disposed radially inward of the radially-facing sealing surface. A retainer is disposed within the annular slot limiting radial expansion of the at least two annular sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Scot A. Webb
  • Patent number: 11028925
    Abstract: [Object] To provide a seal ring capable of both reducing a friction loss and reducing oil leakage. [Solving Means] A seal ring includes: an inner circumferential surface; an outer circumferential surface orthogonal to the inner circumferential surface; side surfaces orthogonal to the inner circumferential surface and the outer circumferential surface; and a plurality of pockets provided, spaced apart from one another in one of the side surfaces. The plurality of pockets each have a symmetrical shape in a circumferential direction and are opened on a side of the inner circumferential surface and closed on a side of the outer circumferential surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA RIKEN
    Inventor: Namsun Park
  • Patent number: 11009072
    Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, a sliding component includes a pair of sliding parts 4 and 7 sliding relatively to each other and having sliding faces S formed radially for sealing a liquid or a misty fluid as a sealed fluid against leakage. One sliding part is a stationary-side seal ring 7, and the other sliding part is a rotating-side seal ring 4. At least one of the sliding faces S is provided with positive pressure generation mechanisms 11 having positive pressure generation grooves 12 configured to communicate with a circumferential edge of the sliding face S on the sealed-fluid side and not to communicate with a circumferential edge on the leakage side, and discharge grooves 10 disposed at an angle such that upstream ends are located on the leakage side and downstream ends are located on the sealed-fluid side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: EAGLE INDUSTRY CO., LTD
    Inventors: Wataru Kimura, Yuichiro Tokunaga, Yuta Negishi, Takeshi Hosoe, Hideyuki Inoue, Tetsuya Iguchi
  • Patent number: 10989249
    Abstract: A sliding component is provided. At least one sliding face of sliding faces sliding relatively to each other of a pair of sliding parts of annular shapes is provided with positive pressure generation mechanisms with positive pressure generation grooves and negative pressure generation mechanisms with negative pressure generation grooves. The positive pressure generation grooves and the negative pressure generation grooves are separated from the opposite-to-sealed-fluid side by a land. Deep grooves deeper than the groove depth of the positive pressure generation grooves and the negative pressure generation grooves are located at least on the opposite-to-sealed-fluid side of the positive pressure generation grooves and the negative pressure generation grooves. The deep grooves are provided in such a manner as to communicate at least with the sealed fluid side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Inventors: Yuta Negishi, Hideyuki Inoue, Takeshi Hosoe, Yuichiro Tokunaga
  • Patent number: 10948014
    Abstract: An intershaft seal assembly for maintaining separation between a piston ring and a pair of mating rings is presented. The assembly includes a piston ring interposed between forward and aft mating rings and a plurality of hydrodynamic grooves disposed along a sealing face of each mating ring. Each hydrodynamic groove further includes at least two adjoining steps wherein each step is defined by a base wall arranged to decrease depthwise in the direction opposite to rotation of an inner shaft. Two adjoining base walls define a base shoulder which locally redirects potion of a longitudinal flow within the groove to form an outward flow in the direction of the piston ring. Base walls are bounded by and intersect a pair of side walls with at least one side shoulder thereon which narrows the groove widthwise and locally redirects portion of the longitudinal flow to form a lateral flow from one side wall toward another side wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Stein Seal Company
    Inventor: Glenn M. Garrison
  • Patent number: 10941863
    Abstract: A sliding component includes a pair of sliding parts of which a rotating-side sliding part rotates in both forward and reverse directions. In the sliding component, at least one of the sliding parts has a sliding face provided with positive pressure generation grooves on the sealed fluid side, and a negative pressure generation groove on the opposite-to-sealed-fluid side and separated from the opposite-to-sealed-fluid side by a land, and a deep groove communicating with the sealed fluid side on the sealed fluid side of the negative pressure generation groove. The positive pressure generation grooves each have an upstream end communicating with the deep groove, and the negative pressure generation groove has an upstream inlet and a downstream outlet that communicate with the deep groove, and an intermediate portion between the inlet and the outlet located on the opposite-to-sealed-fluid side of the inlet and the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Inventors: Yuta Negishi, Sayaka Kosugi, Hideyuki Inoue, Takeshi Hosoe, Yuichiro Tokunaga
  • Patent number: 10859164
    Abstract: A double mechanical seal includes a primary stationary seal ring, a primary rotary seal ring, a secondary stationary seal ring and a secondary rotary seal ring. The primary stationary seal ring includes a slide ring and a primary carrier ring, the primary carrier ring having a first axial end with a seat for the slide ring and a second axial end with a rim opposite the first axial end. The secondary stationary seal ring includes a slide ring and a secondary carrier ring, the secondary carrier ring having an inlet recess or opening and an outlet recess or opening for a barrier fluid. The primary carrier ring has a recessed and oblong section or an oblong opening, and the inlet and outlet recesses or openings in the secondary carrier ring are arranged, when in use, in radial flow communication with the recessed and oblong section or the oblong opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: SULZER MANAGEMENT AG
    Inventor: Jukka Vainikainen
  • Patent number: 10808752
    Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, a sliding member includes sliding faces S configured to slide in relation to one another, at least one sliding face 5 of the sliding faces being provided with a plurality of dimples 11 having multi-sided shapes whose edges are formed without interruption. A pair of the edges A1-B1, A1-C1 of each of the multi-sided dimples 11, extending radially on opposite sides of a radial axis R of the sliding member, are sloped to become farther apart as they extend toward a high-pressure fluid side, and an edge B1-C1, which connects end points B1, C1 on the high-pressure fluid side of the pair of the edges, is formed such that its length is not greater than the lengths of the pair of the edges A1-B1, A1-C1. The sliding member can reduce friction between the sliding faces and improve sealing performance regardless of the direction of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: EAGLE INDUSTRY CO., LTD
    Inventor: Masatoshi Itadani
  • Patent number: 10753478
    Abstract: A bearing isolator having a simple design and made from low-cost materials but which performs comparably to other higher-cost bearing isolators is described. The bearing isolator generally includes a rotor having a snap fit feature protruding from a radially-oriented flange and a stator having a snap fit feature recess for receiving the snap fit feature to thereby join together the stator and rotor without need for, e.g., a separate unitizing element. Furthermore, the rotor and/or stator can be made from lost cost material, such as a nylon/moly material. In some embodiments, the stator further includes a lip seal biased against the radially-oriented flange of the rotor, which, when combined with the labyrinth passage formed at least in part by the snap fit feature and snap fit feature recess, helps to prevent egress and ingress of lubricant and/or contaminates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Garlock Sealing Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Tones, Christopher Fink
  • Patent number: 10704417
    Abstract: Both conflicting functions of sealing and lubrication of sliding faces are made compatible over an entire period from the time of startup through the time of steady operation. A pair of sliding parts that relatively slide on each other is provided, one of the sliding parts being a stationary-side seal ring, the other of the sliding parts being a rotating-side seal ring, the seal rings each having a sliding face S formed radially for sealing sealed fluid from leaking, at least one of the sliding faces S being provided with fluid introduction grooves 10 configured to communicate with a first peripheral edge of the sliding face S and not to communicate with a second peripheral edge, and being provided with dynamic pressure generation grooves configured to communicate with the second peripheral edge of the sliding face S and not to communicate with the first peripheral edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: EAGLE INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuichiro Tokunaga, Keiichi Chiba, Masatoshi Itadani, Hikaru Katori, Wataru Kimura
  • Patent number: 10697547
    Abstract: The present invention provides a shaft sealing device for being mounted on a rotating shaft. The shaft sealing device of the present invention includes a stationary member disposed on a housing of the shaft sealing device and having a first sealing surface; and a rotary member corresponding to the stationary member, disposed on the rotating shaft and having a second sealing surface opposite to the first sealing surface of the stationary member. A groove is disposed on the first sealing surface or the second sealing surface, and extends inwardly from the outer peripheral edge. When the groove extends inwardly, an end (a bottom wall) of the groove extends along a tangential direction of an imaginary circle containing the bottom wall of the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: SCENIC PRECISE ELEMENT INC.
    Inventors: Cheng-Hsiu Huang, Tzu-Hsing Chen
  • Patent number: 10670151
    Abstract: A segmented seal and segmented seal assembly (10) are disclosed. An embodiment of a radial seal assembly includes a plurality of seal segments (12) that may interconnect to form a seal ring, each seal segment having a male joint end (20) and a female joint end (30). A male joint end of one seal segment may be configured to interconnect with a female joint end of an adjacent seal segment to provide a joint interface (50). In embodiments, the male joint end may include a shallow groove or pad (40) on an inner diameter of the male joint end, and the male joint end and the female joint end may be configured to provide a seal at the joint interface. With embodiments, the female joint end may include a deep groove or pad (60) on an inner diameter of the female joint end and/or may include a vent hole (70) that is isolated from the shallow groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: Edward N. Ruggeri, Drew Bangs, Gerry Berard
  • Patent number: 10648507
    Abstract: A circumferential seal assembly capable of separating a gas into two separate flow paths before communication between a rotatable runner and a pair of seal rings is presented. The seal assembly includes an annular seal housing, a pair of annular seal rings, a rotatable runner, and a plurality of groove structures. The seal housing is interposed between a pair of compartments. The seal rings are separately disposed within the seal housing and separately disposed around the rotatable runner. The groove structures are disposed along an outer annular surface of the rotatable runner. A gas is communicable onto the groove structures. Each groove structure includes at least two hydrodynamic grooves that separate and communicate the gas onto the seal rings. Each groove includes steps whereby the depth of at least one adjoining step decreases in the direction opposite to rotation with or without the depth of another adjoining steps increasing in the direction opposite to rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Stein Seal Company
    Inventor: Glenn M. Garrison
  • Patent number: 10648569
    Abstract: Provided is a sliding component having sealing face of one of a pair of sliding parts that slide relative to each other provided with a first pumping groove that is open to the high-pressure fluid side but isolated from the low-pressure fluid side by a seal area and also angled to discharge the fluid toward the high-pressure fluid side by sliding relative to the mating sealing face, as well as a second pumping groove that is open to the low-pressure fluid side but isolated from the high-pressure fluid side by a seal area and also angled to discharge the fluid toward the high-pressure fluid side by sliding relative to the mating sealing face, wherein the low-pressure fluid-side end of the first pumping groove is arranged adjacent to the high-pressure fluid-side end of the second pumping groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: EAGLE INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masatoshi Itadani
  • Patent number: 10495228
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a pair of sliding components that slide relative to each other is included. One of the sliding components is a stationary-side seal ring 2, and the other sliding component is a rotating-side seal ring 3. The seal rings 2 and 3 have sliding faces S2 and S3 extending radially, respectively, for sealing sealed fluid against leakage. The sliding faces S2 and S3 are provided with a static pressure groove 22 communicating with a sealing gas supply passage, and pumping grooves 5 capable of controlling the radial flow of sealing gas to a flow from the low-pressure fluid side to the high-pressure fluid side by relative sliding of the sliding faces. By controlling the radial flow of sealing gas at the sliding face, the amount of flow of the sealing gas flowing to the low-pressure fluid side is reduced to improve sealing performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: EAGLE INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masatoshi Itadani, Keiichi Chiba, Hideyuki Inoue, Yuichiro Tokunaga, Kenji Kiryu
  • Patent number: 10473110
    Abstract: A centrifugal compressor including: a impeller; a wall portion having an opposed surface that is spaced apart from and opposed to a back surface of the impeller; an insertion hole, which is formed in the wall portion, and is configured to receive a shaft inserted into the insertion hole; a bearing, which is provided in the insertion hole or apart from the impeller with respect to the insertion hole, and is configured to axially support the shaft through interposition of grease being a lubricant inside; an electric motor which is provided on a side opposite to the impeller over the wall portion; and an opposed hole, which is formed in the wall portion, is disclosed. The opposed hole has one end opened in the opposed surface and another end opened at a position opposed to a stator of the electric motor on a side opposite to the impeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: IHI Corporation
    Inventors: Kuniaki Iizuka, Takashi Yoshida, Tatsumi Inomata, Takuya Ozasa, Kouta Kimachi