Gap Or Clearance Patents (Class 277/411)
  • Patent number: 11953002
    Abstract: A scroll compressor and a method for oil enrichment and distribution, wherein the scroll compressor includes a compressor housing, two scrolls, a respective base plate, an eccentric drive, a drive shaft, an axis of rotation, a balance weight, a first bearing, a second bearing, and a counter-pressure space, and wherein a sealing washer is fixed on the first bearing at a side of the first bearing directed to the cavity of the rotatable balance weight and of the second bearing such that the sealing washer seals the first bearing on one side in a radially outer part of a region between an inner ring and an outer ring through which fluid can flow and is, at the same time, spaced from the inner ring in a radial manner such that a gap through which fluid can flow remains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: HANON SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Iman Nezami, Laura Arriazu, Thomas Klotten
  • Patent number: 11927236
    Abstract: A rotating machine system include a rotating machine. The rotating machine system can include a housing. The housing can include an inner surface. The housing can surround at least a portion of the rotating machine. The inner surface of the housing can be spaced from the rotating machine such that a space is defined therebetween. The rotating machine system can include a plurality of vibration isolators. The vibration isolators can be positioned in the space and can be operatively connected to the rotating machine and to the inner surface of the housing. The vibration isolators can be compression-type vibration isolators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Umesh N. Gandhi, Paul A. Gilmore, Ryohei Tsuruta, Brian J. Pinkelman
  • Patent number: 11913466
    Abstract: To eliminate accumulation of air while preventing a decrease in pump efficiency, a pump is provided. The pump includes a rotary shaft, an impeller that is attached to the rotary shaft and that rotates with rotation of the rotary shaft, a casing that surrounds the rotary shaft, a shaft sealing device that seals a gap between the casing and the rotary shaft, and a baffle plate part that is located between the impeller and the shaft sealing device and attached to a rotating body. The baffle plate part extends in a direction that is inclined or orthogonal with respect to a surface orthogonal to an axial direction of the rotary shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Seigo Kyo, Yoichi Nakamura, Akinori Murata, Soichiro Ogawa, Dong Min Kim
  • Patent number: 11913339
    Abstract: A sealing assembly and a turbomachine including the sealing assembly are provided. The sealing assembly includes a sealing body configured to be inserted into an insertion hole of a second component adjacent to a first component, and a sealing protrusion, formed on one circumferential side of the sealing body, protruding toward one circumferential direction from the sealing body and configured to be inserted into a sealing groove formed on the other circumferential side of a sealing body of the first adjacent sealing assembly, the sealing body of the first adjacent sealing assembly being adjacent to the sealing body in a circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: DOOSAN ENERBILITY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Eui Jun Ju
  • Patent number: 11891898
    Abstract: A rotary machine includes a stator and a rotor configured to rotate with respect to the stator. The rotor is arranged with the stator at a rotor-stator interface and defines a rotor face. Further, the rotary machine includes a seal assembly at the rotor-stator interface. The seal assembly includes at least one seal and a groove formed into the rotor at the rotor-stator interface. In addition, the seal assembly includes a removable insert positioned within the groove of the seal assembly and defining at least a portion of the rotor face. As such, during operation of the rotary machine, if the rotor and the stator make undesirable contact at the rotor-stator interface, the removable insert becomes damaged to prevent damage from occurring to the rotor and the stator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Narendra Anand Hardikar, Scott Alan Schimmels
  • Patent number: 11879553
    Abstract: A steam valve having a first inclined surface, which is formed at the distal end portion of a valve rod and in which the outer diameter of the valve rod increases from the distal end toward the base end of the valve rod, and a second inclined surface, which is formed on the inside of a portion of a main valve that is positioned on the base-end side of the valve rod and which inclines with the same inclination angle as the first inclined surface. In a state in which a slave valve and the main valve are closed the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface are separated from each other, and when the slave valve and the main valve are in a fully open state the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface abut each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Shingo Nishida, Megumu Tsuruta, Fumiyuki Suzuki, Masaki Hata
  • Patent number: 11873830
    Abstract: A dry gas seal includes a mating ring that can be coupled a the rotating shaft to rotate with the rotating shaft, a retainer ring that can be fixedly attached to the compressor and a carrier ring moveably coupled to the retainer ring. The carrier ring including a primary ring carrying face, a rear face and a sealing surface extending between the primary ring carrying face and the rear face. The sealing surface including an oleophobic coating disposed thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: JOHN CRANE UK LIMITED
    Inventors: Simon Elcock, Klaus-Dieter Meck, Tomasz Rybak
  • Patent number: 11795826
    Abstract: A turbine blade for use in a gas turbine engine includes localized thickening of a neck pocket of the turbine blade to meet strength requirements while minimizing the weight of the turbine blade. More specifically, a convex spline is positioned within a suction side neck pocket of the turbine blade adjacent a leading edge of the neck pocket to increase the strength of the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: RTX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Carlos Calixtro, Stephen D. Doll
  • Patent number: 11795838
    Abstract: A device for cooling a turbine shroud comprising at least one annular flange configured to be attached to an annular radial collar of a shroud support structure being arranged upstream, with respect to a circulation direction of an air flow, of the turbine shroud, and comprising at least one cooling air circulation channel, a diffuser configured to be attached to said annular radial collar downstream of the annular flange and comprising at least one intake channel in fluid communication with the circulation channel of the annular flange, and comprising an injection cavity comprising a plurality of injection holes and being configured to inject on a radially external face of the shroud, via the injection holes, the cooling air originating in the intake channel, and a particle filter arranged on an inlet section of the circulation channel of the annular flange, the particle filter comprising a plurality of openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Clément Jarrossay, Antoine Claude Michel Etienne Danis, Lucien Henri Jacques Quennehen, Nicolas Paul Tableau, Sébastien Serge Francis Congratel
  • Patent number: 11788580
    Abstract: In an outer ring rotating rolling bearing, an inclined surface is formed on an outer peripheral surface of an inner ring and decreasing in diameter toward an axially outer side, a seal member includes an annular core metal and an annular elastic member fixed to the core metal, and an elastic member includes a neck portion extending from an inner peripheral edge portion of the core metal toward a radially inner side and a seal lip formed at a tip end portion of a neck portion and brought into contact with the inclined surface of the inner ring with a tightening margin. Here, T2?T1, where a width of the core metal is T1 and a thickness of the neck portion is T2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: NSK LTD.
    Inventor: Tomoya Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 11761536
    Abstract: An annular seal for sealing an opening in a pump housing surrounding a piston rod includes a primary sealing portion with an inner surface adjacent to the piston rod and an outer surface adjacent to the pump housing. An initial sealing portion features an inner wall and an outer wall so that an annular space is defined therebetween. A top wall extends between the inner and outer walls. A coil spring is positioned within the annular space of the initial sealing portion and urges the inner wall into engagement with the piston rod and the outer wall into engagement with the pump housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Chart Inc.
    Inventor: Eric Thor
  • Patent number: 11674402
    Abstract: A hydrostatic advanced low leakage seal configured to be disposed between relatively rotatable components. The seal includes a base. The seal also includes a shoe extending circumferentially. The seal further includes a radially outer beam operatively coupling the shoe to the base. The seal yet further includes a radially inner beam operatively coupling the shoe to the base, wherein one of the radially inner beam and the radially outer beam is oriented to be angled relative to the other of the radially inner and outer beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Michael G. McCaffrey
  • Patent number: 11674405
    Abstract: An abradable insert for a gas turbine engine, the abradable insert including: a base layer; a lattice layer connected to the base layer, wherein the lattice layer comprises a series of walls that define a plurality of cells; and a sheet layer connected to the lattice layer on an opposite side on the lattice layer from the base layer, wherein the sheet layer is curved and includes a direction of concavity that points away from the base layer, wherein the lattice layer and the sheet layer are integrally formed together and are a monolithic piece of material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Steven Douglas Johnson, Neelesh Nandkumar Sarawate
  • Patent number: 11624290
    Abstract: An aspirating face seal between high and low pressure regions of a turbomachine at a juncture between rotatable and non-rotatable members of turbomachine includes gas bearing rotatable and non-rotatable face surfaces. Primary and starter seal teeth and optional deflector seal tooth are mounted on seal teeth carrier on rotatable member. Non-rotatable face surface is mounted on an annular slider on the non-rotatable member. A pull-off biasing means urges the annular slider away from the rotatable member and the non-rotatable face surface away from the rotatable surface. A secondary seal is in sealing engagement with the annular slider in the low pressure region and the pull-off biasing means is located radially outwardly of the annular slider in the high pressure region. Biasing means may include coil springs within spring chambers of circumferentially spaced cartridges. Tongues extend inwardly from spring chambers into grooves in slider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Nathan Evan McCurdy Gibson, Christopher Jon Potokar, Hariharan Manickavasagam Sarojini, Arnab Sen, Bikramjit Chatterjee
  • Patent number: 11536200
    Abstract: A non-contact seal assembly for sealing a gap between relatively rotatable components in a gas turbine engine is presented. The non-contact seal assembly includes a primary seal having a radially movable seal shoe, a mid-plate, an aft secondary seal radially movable along with the seal shoe, a forward secondary seal and a U-shaped seal carrier for holding the components together using pins. The seal shoe includes a plurality of seal shoe segments. The aft secondary seal includes a plurality of aft secondary seal segments. Each aft secondary seal segment is attached to each seal shoe segment. Each aft secondary seal segment includes at least a notch at outer radial side to receive the pin for accommodating radial movement of the seal shoe segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Siemens Energy Global GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Amit K. Paspulati, Abdullatif M. Chehab, Kai Kadau
  • Patent number: 11434827
    Abstract: A hydrostatic seal assembly configured to be disposed between relatively rotatable components includes a base. The seal also includes a shoe operatively coupled to the base. The seal further includes a secondary seal disposed proximate an axially forward end of the shoe, the secondary seal extending radially from a radially inner end to a radially outer end to define a radial distance of the secondary seal, the secondary seal having an axially forward face. The seal yet further includes a structural component located adjacent to the axially forward face of the secondary seal and extending radially inwardly to cover at least half of the radial distance of the secondary seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Conway Chuong
  • Patent number: 11371617
    Abstract: A seal assembly for sealing a circumferential gap between a first machine component and a second machine component which is rotatable relative to the first machine component about a longitudinal axis. The seal assembly includes a seal carrier, a primary seal, a mid plate, at least one secondary seal, and a front plate. The at least one secondary seal interfaces with the front plate and the mid plate. A harder material is introduced at the interface of the mid plate and the front plate with the at least one secondary seal, that is made from a more wear resistant material than the other components at the interface, to provide the other component/s as a wear component that is replaced more often.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY GLOBAL GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Jonathon Baker, William Halchak, Douglas J. Arrell, Matthew Kelly
  • Patent number: 11286950
    Abstract: A stage piece for a multistage pump includes a first ring, a second ring, and a post. The connects the first ring to the second ring and has a first radial end and a second radial end and a first side and a second side connecting the first and second ends. The first and second sides are arcuate and extend toward each other such that the first radial end is longer that the second radial end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: SULZER MANAGEMENT AG
    Inventor: Ryan Haack
  • Patent number: 11255207
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure are directed to a seal comprising: a shoe, and at least two beams coupled to the shoe, where a first width associated with the beams exceeds a second width associated with the shoe in a reference direction. Aspects of the disclosure are directed to an engine comprising: a compressor section, a turbine section, and a floating, non-contact seal that includes: a shoe, and at least two beams coupled to the shoe, where the beams extend past an edge of a flowpath surface associated with the shoe in a reference direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Christopher J. Peters
  • Patent number: 11255201
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine has a transition duct assembly. Between two adjacent transition ducts (20) there is a transition side groove (23) that is formed by transition side rails (22). In this transition side groove (23) is inserted a side seal (30a-30e) that engages transition side grooves (23) that are formed in the transition side rails (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Siemens Energy Global GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Anthony L. Schiavo
  • Patent number: 11199262
    Abstract: A segment seal is configured to seal an annular clearance between a housing and a rotary shaft in a state in which a pair of seal rings are attached in an unrotatable state between one end portion of the housing and a support member attached to the housing so as to be opposite to the one end portion in an axial direction. The segment seal includes an anti-rotation member placed not to rotate relative to the housing or the support member, provided with a pair of raised portions fitted to the pair of seal rings to prevent rotation of the pair of seal rings, and configured such that at least one of the raised portions has a shape fittable only to either one of the seal rings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Kuroki, Toru Kono, Akira Urabe
  • Patent number: 11131317
    Abstract: A hydraulic ram used for maintaining pressure on pump packing. A pump packing closure mechanism is sized to extend around a shaft of a pump, and to close a space between the shaft of the pump and a housing. The closure mechanism presses against packing rings that surround the shaft of the pump. A hydraulic ram presses the closure mechanism against the packing rings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Inventor: Ned T Foxglove
  • Patent number: 11008890
    Abstract: A case assembly for a gas turbine engine, includes a case with a case boss, said case boss including a peripheral wall that defines a first inner diameter in a first condition to receive a piston seal, and a second inner diameter in a second condition, the second condition including enlargement of the first inner diameter to form a second inner diameter and a bushing mounted within the second inner diameter, an inner diameter of the bushing defines a bushing inner diameter about equivalent to the first inner diameter to receive the piston seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan Lemoine, Steven J Bauer, Judith F Brooks
  • Patent number: 11002362
    Abstract: A shaft seal assembly may include a stator and a rotor. The rotor may be configured to rotate with a shaft, and the stator may be engaged with a housing. The stator and rotor may be configured with radial and/or axial recesses and/or radial and/or axial projections. These various features may be configured such that the stator and rotor cooperate to form a ring cavity. A cooperating ring may be positioned in the ring cavity, and the cooperating ring may be configured such that is circumferentially expandable so that the cooperating ring changes size and/or shape when it rotates as opposed to when it is not rotating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Inpro/Seal LLC
    Inventor: Neil F. Hoehle
  • Patent number: 11002310
    Abstract: A rolling-element bearing unit includes at least one outer ring and at least one inner ring, and a plurality of rolling elements between the at least one outer ring and the at least one inner ring. The inner ring has a surface, which may be cylindrical, at an axial end region of the rolling-element bearing unit which surface is configured to contact a seal element. A projection extends radially outwardly from the surface at an angle and forms a guide surface facing the plurality of rolling elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventors: Ralf Siebenbrodt, Volker Wendt, Karsten Zuhl
  • Patent number: 10982770
    Abstract: A hydrostatic seal configured to be disposed between relatively rotatable components. The seal includes a base. The seal also includes a shoe operatively coupled to the base and extending axially from a forward end to an aft end to define an axial length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eric A. Grover, Brian F. Hilbert
  • Patent number: 10900369
    Abstract: An aspirating face seal between high and low pressure regions of a turbomachine at a juncture between rotatable and non-rotatable members of turbomachine includes gas bearing rotatable and non-rotatable face surfaces. Primary and starter seal teeth and optional deflector seal tooth are mounted on seal teeth carrier on rotatable member. Non-rotatable face surface is mounted on an annular slider on the non-rotatable member. A pull-off biasing means urges the annular slider away from the rotatable member and the non-rotatable face surface away from the rotatable surface. A secondary seal is in sealing engagement with the annular slider in the low pressure region and the pull-off biasing means is located radially outwardly of the annular slider in the high pressure region. Biasing means may include coil springs within spring chambers of circumferentially spaced cartridges. Tongues extend inwardly from spring chambers into grooves in slider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Nathan Evan McCurdy Gibson, Christopher Jon Potokar, Hariharan Manickavasagam Sarojini, Arnab Sen, Bikramjit Chatterjee
  • Patent number: 10890082
    Abstract: An aspirating face seal between high and low pressure regions of a turbomachine at a juncture between rotatable and non-rotatable members of turbomachine includes gas bearing rotatable and non-rotatable face surfaces. A starter seal tooth and optional deflector seal tooth are mounted on a seal teeth carrier on the rotatable member. The primary seal tooth and non-rotatable face surface are mounted on an annular slider on the non-rotatable member. A pull-off biasing means urges the annular slider away from the rotatable member and the non-rotatable face surface away from the rotatable surface. A secondary seal is in sealing engagement with the annular slider in the low-pressure region and the pull-off biasing means is located radially outwardly of the annular slider in the high pressure region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Narendra Anand Hardikar, Nathan Evan McCurdy Gibson
  • Patent number: 10746040
    Abstract: A steam turbine system includes: a steam turbine having a casing into which steam is fed from an outside of the casing and a rotating shaft that is provided within the casing so as to be rotatable around a central axis; a deaerator that is connected to the steam turbine and that deaerates leaked steam that has leaked from a gap between the casing and the rotating shaft to the outside of the casing; a vacuum pump that is connected to the deaerator and that lowers a pressure within the deaerator; and a shaft sealing device that is connected to the deaerator and that seals the gap between the casing and the rotating shaft. The shaft sealing device has a seal member having a seal body, a housing, a biasing member, and a negative-pressure introduction part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES COMPRESSOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoaki Nogami, Takuro Koda
  • Patent number: 10724546
    Abstract: A centrifugal compressor includes a casing, a first impeller, a motor, a cooling medium delivery structure, a shaft, and a first bearing. The casing has a first inlet portion and a first outlet portion. The first impeller is attached to the shaft and disposed between the first inlet portion and the first outlet portion. A first axial gap exists between the first impeller and the casing. The shaft is rotatably supported and axially moveable with respect to the casing by the first bearing. The motor is arranged inside the casing to rotate the shaft. The cooling medium delivery structure is configured to vary a supply of a cooling medium to the casing. An impeller clearance control apparatus for a centrifugal compressor includes a sensor and a controller. The controller controls a supply of a cooling medium to the casing based on a value detected by the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: DAIKIN APPLIED AMERICAS INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Allen Morgan, Fumiaki Onodera, Tsuyoshi Ueda
  • Patent number: 10718347
    Abstract: A turbomachinery gasket comprising at least a first curved elongated element having a coupling part configured to cooperate with a tubular assembly in order to keep the gasket in position on the tubular assembly, and an outer surface configured to seal against an outer casing provided to house the tubular assembly, the first curved elongated element comprising a first and a second free end, the first free end providing a first protruding lip and the second free end providing a second protruding lip, the first protruding lip being configured to overlap with the second protruding lip of the first curved elongated element or with a second protruding lip of a second elongated element functionally identical to the first one, so that, when the gasket is in use, a seal in that part of the gasket having said protruding lips is granted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Nuovo Pignone SRL
    Inventors: Franco Sarri, Andrea Bernocchi, Franco Smorti
  • Patent number: 10718270
    Abstract: A non-contact seal assembly is provided. The non-contact seal assembly includes a plurality of seal shoes arranged about a centerline in an annular array, the seal shoes including a first seal shoe extending axially along the centerline between a first shoe end and a second shoe end; a seal base circumscribing the annular array of the seal shoes; and a plurality of spring elements, each of the spring elements radially between and connecting a respective one of the seal shoes with the seal base, where the seal base and the plurality of spring elements are formed of a first material and the plurality of seal shoes are formed of a second material, where the first and second materials are joined together and the second material has a density lower than the first material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Conway Chuong, Tara L. D'Ambruoso, Michael DiFrancesco
  • Patent number: 10690248
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to seal rings useful in oil-lubricated systems such as automobile transmissions, torque converters and automatic clutches. In one embodiment, the disclosure provides an injection molded seal ring comprising a circular ring body extending between a first end and a second end engageable with the first end, the circular ring body including an inner circumferential face; an outer circumferential face; a first lateral face; a second lateral face opposing the first lateral face; a recess formed in the outer circumferential face, the recess not extending to both the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge of the outer circumferential face; and an injection molding gate vestige disposed in the recess, the injection molding gate vestige not extending beyond the outer circumferential face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics L+S GmbH
    Inventor: Micro Gronitzki
  • Patent number: 10655492
    Abstract: An abrasive tip comprises an additive, the additive is configured to prevent adhesion of an organic component from an abradable seal onto an abrasive blade tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: James O Hansen, Christopher W Strock
  • Patent number: 10612669
    Abstract: A non-contact seal assembly includes a plurality of seal shoes, a seal base and a plurality of spring elements. A first of the spring elements includes a first mount, a second mount and a spring beam. The spring beam extends a length longitudinally along a centerline from the first mount to the second mount. The spring beam includes opposing first and second surfaces. The first surface is disposed a first distance from the centerline, and the second surface is disposed a second distance from the centerline. The first distance and the second distance change as the spring beam extends longitudinally along the centerline to provide at least a portion of the spring beam with a tapered geometry. The portion of the spring beam has a longitudinal length that is at least about five percent of the length of the spring beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Alex J. Simpson, Christopher J. Peters, Zachary D. Ryan
  • Patent number: 10590935
    Abstract: An automotive electric liquid pump includes a pump housing comprising a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end, a rotor which defines a longitudinal rotor axis, a pump chamber inlet, a pump chamber outlet, an electric motor, a power electronics chamber, a pump chamber, and a separation wall. The electric motor comprises stator coils arranged at the first longitudinal end. The electric motor drives a pump rotor. The power electronics chamber comprises power semiconductors to drive the stator coils. The power electronics chamber is arranged at the second longitudinal end. The pump chamber is configured to have the pump rotor driven by the electric motor rotate therein so as to pump a liquid from the pump chamber inlet to the pump chamber outlet. The separation wall is arranged in a transversal plane. The separating wall separates the pump chamber from the power electronics chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: PIERBURG PUMP TECHNOLOGY GMBH
    Inventors: Alessandro Malvasi, Giacomo Armenio
  • Patent number: 10550708
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure are directed to a floating, non-contact seal comprising: a shoe, and at least three beams, each beam having a first axial end and a second axial end, where the first axial ends are coupled to the shoe and the second axial ends are coupled to a ring structure. Aspects of the disclosure are directed to an engine comprising: a first structure, a second structure configured to rotate relative to the first structure, and a floating, non-contact seal that interfaces the first structure and the second structure, where the seal includes: a shoe, and at least three beams, where each beam has a first axial end and a second axial end, where the first axial ends are coupled to the shoe and the second axial ends are coupled to a ring structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Jose R. Paulino, Conway Chuong, Joey Wong, Christopher J. Peters, Ross Wilson
  • Patent number: 10544695
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate generally to rotary machines and, more particularly, to the control of wheel space purge flow in gas turbines. In one embodiment, the invention provides a turbine bucket comprising: a platform portion; an airfoil extending radially outward from the platform portion; a shank portion extending radially inward from the platform portion; at least one angel wing extending axially from a face of the shank portion; a platform lip extending axially from the platform portion, the platform lip disposed radially outward from the at least one angel wing; and a plurality of turbulators disposed along and extending outward from the face of the shank portion between the platform lip and the at least one angel wing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Rohit Chouhan, Soumyik Kumar Bhaumik
  • Patent number: 10539034
    Abstract: A seal assembly for a turbine engine is disclosed and includes a fixed housing including an axial surface defining an inner diameter and an annular seal that is disposed within the housing and seal against a radial surface of the fixed housing. The annular seal includes a first surface transverse to an axis of rotation and a second surface parallel to the axis of rotation defining an inner periphery. The first surface includes a first notch spaced apart from the inner periphery and overlapping the inner diameter of the fixed housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Jonathan Logan Miller
  • Patent number: 10508602
    Abstract: A sealing arrangement for sealing between a first stage nozzle and a plurality of aft frames includes a first inner seal and a second inner seal which are circumferentially oriented and circumferentially aligned. Each of the inner seals includes a wing extending radially inward at an oblique angle. A side seal is radially disposed between the first inner seal and the second inner seal. The side seal includes a first wing extending radially outward at an oblique angle and a second wing extending radially outward at an oblique angle, the first wing of the side seal sealingly interfaces with the wing of the first inner seal and the second wing of the side seal sealingly interfaces with the wing of the second inner seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jesse Ellis Barton, Richard Martin DiCintio, Elizabeth Angelyn Monaghan
  • Patent number: 10502083
    Abstract: A turbomachine element includes a stator, a rotor, and a first sealing means for sealing between the rotor and the stator. The element is arranged to be active when the rotor is in the operating position of same around the axis of rotation thereof. The element includes an auxiliary pressure sealing means, sealing between the rotor and the stator and is arranged so that the two sealing means are active when the rotor is placed along the axis of rotation thereof during an assembly operation in a test position. In the test position, the rotor and the stator form an enclosure between said two sealing means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Florence Irène Noëlle Leutard, Thibault Jamon, Olivier Renon
  • Patent number: 10428673
    Abstract: An aspirating face seal assembly for a turbo-machine including a rotor assembly having a first radially extending portion defining a rotor surface is disclosed. The aspirating face seal assembly includes a seal body including a second radially extending portion defining a bearing surface and having a plurality of return channels. The second radially extending portion is disposed in the turbo-machine such that the bearing surface is disposed facing the rotor surface. The aspirating face seal assembly further includes an annular ring including one or more openings. The annular ring is concentrically disposed on the second radially extending portion and between the rotor surface and the second radially extending portion and configured to rotate in an event of rub between the first radially extending portion and the annular ring. A turbo-machine including the aspirating face seal assembly and a method for operating an aspirating face seal are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Rodrigo Rodriguez Erdmenger, Nathan Evan McCurdy Gibson, Quang Tue Nguyen Tran
  • Patent number: 10422242
    Abstract: A method of applying an additive to an abrasive coated blade tip comprises applying the additive to the abrasive coated blade tip and wicking the additive into the abrasive coated blade tip, wherein the additive is configured to prevent adhesion of an organic component of an abradable seal onto the abrasive coated blade tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Christopher W Strock
  • Patent number: 10370991
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to a hydrostatic advanced low leakage seal having a shoe supported by at least two beams. An anti-vibration beam spacer is disposed in contact with two adjacent beams and operative to mitigate an externally induced vibratory response of the beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ross Wilson, Michael G McCaffrey, John R Farris, Theodore W Hall, John J Korzendorfer, Elizabeth F. Vinson, Jeffrey Michael Jacques, Edwin Otero, John E Paul
  • Patent number: 10344621
    Abstract: A system for use in limiting axial movement between a hanger and a fairing assembly within a turbine assembly is provided. The hanger includes an inner radial hanger bend portion that defines a hook channel therein. The fairing assembly includes an outer surface, a hook member extending from the outer surface to mate with the hook channel, and a circumferential groove defined in the outer surface such that at least a portion of the hanger bend portion is positioned between the circumferential groove and the hook member. The system includes a retention member sized for insertion into the circumferential groove, wherein the retention member is configured to extend from the circumferential groove and press against the hanger bend portion to facilitate maintaining the hook member within the hook channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Derek Thomas Dreischarf, Courtland Earl Pegan, Jr., Scott Patrick Ryczek
  • Patent number: 10280780
    Abstract: A sealing system for a turbomachine includes an annular seal defining a centerline axis and an inner diameter sealing surface. The sealing system also includes a turbomachine component radially inboard of the annular seal having a surface defined on an outer diameter surface. The sealing surface of the turbomachine component has a radius of curvature configured to be non-concentric with respect to the inner diameter surface of the annular seal in a cold state. The radius of curvature of the surface is configured to be substantially concentric with respect to the inner diameter surface of the annular seal in a hot state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Russell J. Bergman
  • Patent number: 10077672
    Abstract: A ring-shaped compliant support for a gas turbine engine includes, among other things, an annular case, and an adjustment member that will turn relative to the annular case if exposed to thermal energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Dmitriy A. Romanov
  • Patent number: 9951625
    Abstract: A turbine wheel for a turbine engine, comprising a disk carrying blades each having a platform, carrying an impeller connected by a stilt to a root. Each blade comprises an upstream radial wall and a downstream radial wall extending inwards from the platform of the blade. The roots of the blades are engaged into slots on the periphery of the disk, so that the radial walls of the blades and the platforms of the blades are circumferentially arranged end-to-end, and define inter-blade cavities radially inside the platforms, each accommodating an inter-blade sealing and vibration damping member. At least one member comprises an elastically deformable element configured so as to be elastically prestressed against the walls of a cavity in the member mounting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Sébastien Serge Francis Congratel, Maurice Guy Judet
  • Patent number: 9771817
    Abstract: A sealing system for a rotatable element defining an axis of rotation includes a rotor blade including a shank and an angel wing extending axially from the shank. The sealing system also includes a stator vane positioned axially adjacent the rotor blade. The stator vane includes a platform extending in an axial direction over the angel wing such that a clearance gap is defined therebetween. The sealing system also includes a sealing mechanism including a portion of the platform and a portion of the angel wing. The sealing mechanism includes at least one obliquely oriented surface such that the clearance gap defines a converging nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Eric John Ruggiero, Gregory Paul Rodebaugh, Rinaldo Luigi Miorini
  • Patent number: 9702371
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sealing arrangement for a high-pressure space having a bounding element and a termination element. The bounding element has an outer sealing surface and the termination element has an inner sealing surface. The outer sealing surface and the inner sealing surface are arranged such that a sealing-off of the high-pressure space is achieved via a contact of the two sealing surfaces. In accordance with the invention the bounding element is designed such that a force in the direction of the inner sealing surface can act on the outer sealing surface due to a pressure in the high-pressure space. Thereby a sealing function is also achieved then when the termination element deforms due to the pressure in the high-pressure space. The sealing arrangement in accordance with the invention can be used particularly advantageously in pumps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Sulzer Management AG
    Inventors: Paul Meuter, Thomas Welschinger