Seal Patents (Class 415/230)
  • Patent number: 11834966
    Abstract: A vane adjustment assembly includes a plurality of vanes, an annular ring coupled to the vanes, and a ring adjustment assembly. The ring adjustment assembly includes a shim plate having a first shim surface removably arranged on an axially facing surface of the annular ring, a carrier plate having a first carrier surface removably arranged on a second shim surface of the shim plate opposite the first shim surface, and a roller pin coupled to a second carrier surface of the carrier plate opposite the first carrier surface. The shim plate is sized so as to locate the roller pin at a predetermined distance from the annular ring so as to adjust a position of the plurality of variable vanes relative to the roller pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Humes, Andrew Eifert, Paulo Bazan
  • Patent number: 11808212
    Abstract: A drive shaft of an aircraft turbine engine includes a first portion and a second portion, and connecting means connecting the first and second portions and being configured to transmit a torque from the second portion to the first portion. The connecting means has at least one bellows with a first section having a diameter greater than the diameters of the first and second portions and second sections flanking the first section. The first section includes at least one fusible section with at least one through-hole and being configured to break when the value of a torque applied to the first portion exceeds a predetermined threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Arnaud Nicolas Negri, Julien Fabien Patrick Becoulet, Michel Gilbert Roland Brault, Romain Guillaume Cuvillier
  • Patent number: 11746827
    Abstract: The invention relates to a shaft bearing having a seal arrangement to prevent steam leakages that can occur in the event of temperature fluctuations or pressure fluctuations between a liquid medium on the one side and a gaseous medium on the other side of the compact bearing, wherein, between a primary radial seal and a rotation bearing portion, a lubrication space surrounding a shaft circumference is arranged that receives a volume of lubricating grease that has a higher viscosity than a lubricating oil and a coolant; and a volume compensator for compensating a temperature-dependent volume fluctuation is provided that comprises a compressible material, and is arranged vertically in interaction with the volume of the lubricating oil and/or the volume of the lubricating grease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: NIDEC GPM GmbH
    Inventors: Franz Pawellek, Marcel Berner
  • Patent number: 11686218
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine having a bearing housing with a housing cavity and a shaft rotating about a rotation axis. One or more bearings support the shaft. A housing supporting the bearing and defining a chamber axially adjacent to the bearing. A seal assembly is in the housing between the chamber and an exterior of the chamber. The seal assembly includes a seal supported by the housing and surrounding the shaft so as to define an annular gap between an inner surface of the seal and an outer surface associated to the shaft, the gap defining a part of a sealing path of the seal assembly for air to flow from said exterior into the chamber. An impeller rotates with the shaft and located radially inward of the gap relative to the rotation axis, the impeller oriented to drive oil toward the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Stuart Hodgson, Felipe Perez, Daniel Poirier, Nadim Antoine Najjar
  • Patent number: 11624375
    Abstract: A compressor device includes a housing and a rotating group with a shaft and a compressor wheel supported on the shaft. The compressor wheel includes a back face. The compressor device further includes a bearing that supports the rotating group within the housing for rotation about an axis. Also, the compressor device includes a spacer that is disposed longitudinally along the axis between the back face of the compressor wheel and the bearing. The spacer is received within a wall of the housing. Moreover, the compressor device includes a moisture removal system configured to receive and remove moisture included within a fluid flow from the back face of the compressor wheel to an area between the spacer and the wall of the housing. The moisture removal system includes a channel cooperatively defined by the spacer and the wall of the housing. The channel extends about the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: GARRETT TRANSPORTATION I INC
    Inventors: Milan Nejedly, Daniel Turecek, Vit Houst
  • Patent number: 11608833
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a centrifugal compressor and air conditioning equipment. The centrifugal compressor includes: a main shaft; a diffuser, provided with a first thrust bearing at one end away from a diffusion surface; a supporting assembly, provided with a second thrust bearing at one end facing towards the diffuser; and a thrust disk, configured to rotate together with the main shaft, located between the diffuser and the supporting assembly along an axial direction and provided with a thrust portion, a clearance between one side of the thrust portion and the first thrust bearing and a clearance between the other side of the thrust portion and the second thrust bearing being limited through mutual abutting of the diffuser and the supporting assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Gree Electric Appliances, Inc. of Zhuhai
    Inventors: Hua Liu, Zhiping Zhang, Hongbo Li, Ruixing Zhong, Yuhui Chen, Wenteng Ye, Jingli Qi, Sheng Liu
  • Patent number: 11560900
    Abstract: A compressor system includes a compressor housing and a driveshaft rotatably supported within the compressor housing. The compressor system further includes an impeller that imparts kinetic energy to incoming refrigerant gas upon rotation of the driveshaft, a thrust disk coupled to the driveshaft, and a bearing assembly mounted to the compressor housing. The impeller includes an impeller bore having an inner surface, and the thrust disk includes an outer disk and a hub. The bearing assembly rotatably supports the outer disk of the thrust disk. The hub is disposed within the impeller bore, and includes a hub outer surface in contact with the inner surface of the impeller bore. A first contact force between the hub outer surface and the inner surface of the impeller bore increases with increased rotational speed of the driveshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Wilkes, Zheji Liu
  • Patent number: 11530721
    Abstract: A sealing device includes a metal core configured to be attached to a stationary member of a bearing mechanism, an annular slinger configured to be attached to a rotary member of the bearing mechanism, a seal member attached to the metal core, and a discharge body. The discharge body includes a base having discharge holes, an attachment that is continuous with the base and attached to the slinger, and fins protruding from the base. The discharge body is configured to be rotated together with the slinger. A communication space surrounded by the slinger and the seal member is configured to communicate with an external space of the bearing mechanism via an opening. At least the fins of the discharge body are positioned in the communication space. When the rotary member rotates, an inflow flowed into the communication space is moved by the fins toward the external space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Katsuyuki Ichinohe, Kengo Ito, Yasufumi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11527703
    Abstract: A multi-layered piezoelectric ceramic-containing structure There is provided a multi-layered piezoelectric ceramic-containing structure comprising: a metal substrate; a metallic adhesive layer on a surface of the metal substrate; a non-metallic thermal barrier layer on the metallic adhesive layer; and a piezoelectric ceramic layer sandwiched between a first electrode layer and a second electrode layer, wherein the first electrode layer is on the non-metallic thermal barrier layer. There is also provided a method of forming the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Agency for Science, Technology and Research
    Inventors: Kui Yao, Chee Kiang Ivan Tan, Shuting Chen, Shifeng Guo, Lei Zhang
  • Patent number: 11525405
    Abstract: Disclosed is a turbine apparatus. The turbine apparatus includes s stator, a rotor rotatably installed in the stator, and a sealing mechanism provided to prevent a working fluid from leaking between the stator and the rotor. The sealing mechanism is configured such that when the rotor is stopped, the sealing mechanism is brought into contact with the rotor, and when the rotor is rotated, the sealing mechanism is formed to be spaced from the rotor by a predetermined gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: DOOSAN ENERBILITY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jin Woong Ha, GeonHwan Cho
  • Patent number: 11506217
    Abstract: A seal includes a mating ring that rotates relative to a porous carbon primary ring at a seal interface. A buffer gas is provided into the seal and passes from the back of the primary ring to the seal interface. The seal can be used as a separation seal or in combination with another seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: JOHN CRANE UK LIMITED
    Inventors: Inderpal Singh Sihra, Isaac Lopez Higuera, Aidaan James Nicholls
  • Patent number: 11408511
    Abstract: An improved mechanical radial seal. The seal includes a rotor that when in motion pressurizes air and directs it to the interface between the rotor and the stator to impart lift on the stator. The fluid pressure generated by the rotation of the rotor biases the stator away from the rotor, which improves the overall performance of the seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventor: Jeffrey Lavin
  • Patent number: 11322304
    Abstract: A multilayer ceramic capacitor includes a body including a dielectric layer and first and second internal electrodes disposed with the dielectric layer interposed therebetween in a stacking direction, and including a first surface and a second surface opposing each other in the stacking direction, a first through electrode penetrating the body and connected to the first internal electrode; a second through electrode penetrating the body and connected to the second internal electrode, first and second external electrodes disposed on the first surface and the second surface, respectively, and connected to the first through electrode, third and fourth external electrodes spaced apart from the first and second external electrodes and connected to the second through electrode, and an identifier disposed on the first surface or the second surface of the body, and the first and second through electrodes protrude from the first surface of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRO-MECHANICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Byeong Chan Kwon, Ji Hong Jo, Min Gon Lee, Jin Kyung Joo, Taek Jung Lee
  • Patent number: 11280208
    Abstract: A labyrinth seal assembly for a gas turbine engine having a rotatable shaft. The labyrinth seal assembly has: a housing defining a cavity for receiving a lubricant; a labyrinth seal between the housing and the rotatable shaft of the gas turbine engine, the labyrinth seal having a seal rotor securable to the rotatable shaft and a seal stator secured to the housing; and an insulation layer between the seal stator and the housing, the insulation layer composed of a material different than those used for the seal stator and the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Kenneth Parkman, Maksim Pankratov
  • Patent number: 11174749
    Abstract: A method of fabricating an abradable coating of varying density, and an abradable coating of varying density. The method comprises the following steps: providing a substrate having a first portion and a second portion; depositing a first precursor material on the first portion of the substrate; compressing the first precursor material between the substrate and a first bearing surface; sintering the first precursor material as compressed in this way in order to obtain a first abradable coating portion on the first portion of the substrate, and possessing a first density; depositing a second precursor material on the second portion of the substrate; and compressing the second precursor material between the substrate and a second bearing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventor: Philippe Charles Alain Le Biez
  • Patent number: 11162378
    Abstract: Disclosed is a turbine apparatus. The turbine apparatus includes stator, a rotor rotatably installed in the stator, and a sealing mechanism provided to prevent a working fluid from leaking between the stator and the rotor. The sealing mechanism is configured such that when the rotor is stopped, the sealing mechanism is brought into contact with the rotor, and when the rotor is rotated, the sealing mechanism is formed to be spaced from the rotor by a predetermined gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Inventors: Jin Woong Ha, GeonHwan Cho
  • Patent number: 9568014
    Abstract: A gas system has a first compressor stage for compressing a process gas. The first compressor stage includes an intake side and a pressure side. A seal gas is provided outside the first compressor stage in order to prevent process gas from issuing from leaks in the first compressor stage, having at least one second line for returning a gas mixture issuing from the gas system, this mixture including at least of process gas and seal gas. The at least one second line is configured for returning the issuing gas mixture to the intake side of the first compressor stage and/or to a location in the gas system upstream of the first compressor stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Ludger Alfes, Klaus Eisele, Thomas Mönk, Markus Reinhold, Axel Spanel
  • Patent number: 9534690
    Abstract: This leakage prevention seal is provided with: a first seal ring which surrounds a rotating shaft and which is in circumferential contact with the surface of a housing which faces the upstream side; a second seal ring, which, on the upstream side of the first seal ring, surrounds the rotating shaft and which is in circumferential contact with the first seal ring; and a heat-driven section which, when high-temperature pressurized water reaches the heat-driven section, reduces the diameter of both the first seal ring and the second seal ring and causes the inner peripheral surfaces of both the first seal ring and the second seal ring to be in contact with the rotating shaft. The circumferential positions of both a first range between the first seal ring and the rotating shaft and a second range formed by the second seal ring are different.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Hidetaka Kafuku, Hidekazu Uehara, Yukihiro Sakaguchi
  • Patent number: 9429040
    Abstract: An expansion turbine, comprising: a case having an inlet and an outlet for a working fluid; at least one stator (3) installed inside the case; at least one rotor (2) installed inside the case and rotating around a respective revolution axis (X-X); a short-pipe (4) constrained to the case; a mechanical unit (5) installed inside the short-pipe (4). The mechanical unit (5) comprises a bushing (7) and a shaft (6) rotatably installed inside the bushing (7). The shaft (6) is connected to the rotor (2) in removable manner and the whole mechanical unit (5) inclusive of the shaft (6) is extractable from the short-pipe (4) in a unitary form from the side opposite to said rotor (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: EXERGY S.P.A.
    Inventor: Claudio Spadacini
  • Publication number: 20150132126
    Abstract: An adjustable seal and method for varying a radial distance between the adjustable seal and a rotor of a turbomachine are provided. The adjustable seal may include a first annular member defining a plurality of radial channels, and a second annular member defining a plurality of slots at least partially extending therethrough. The second annular member may be concentric with the first annular member and configured to rotate relative to the first annular member. The adjustable seal may also include a plurality of seal segments interposed between the first annular member and the second annular member. Each seal segment of the plurality of seal segments may be slidably disposed in a respective radial channel of the plurality of radial channels and may have an axial projection slidably disposed in a respective slot of the plurality of slots.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: DRESSER-RAND COMPANY
    Inventors: James M. Sorokes, Igor M. Belousov, Chris M. Leasure, Austin Kimes, Tyler Johnson
  • Publication number: 20150132116
    Abstract: A hydrodynamic face seal ring for use in a rotary machine includes a support ring having at least two support ring segments and a radially-extending, first face. The support ring is configured to releasably couple to an inner surface of an outer casing of the rotary machine. The face seal ring also includes a sealing ring substantially concentric with the support ring. The sealing ring includes at least two sealing ring segments and a radially-extending, second face. The sealing ring is releasably coupled to the support ring such that the first face is mated against the second face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Xiaoqing Zheng, Roderick Mark Lusted, Azam Mihir Thatte, Christopher David Suttles
  • Publication number: 20150110621
    Abstract: Embodiments of a gas turbine engine including a finger-foil seal are provided, as are embodiments of a finger-foil seal. In one embodiment, the finger-foil seal includes an aerodynamic foil having a generally annular body through which a first opening is formed. A finger seal retention structure is disposed around the aerodynamic foil. A finger seal backing spring is coupled to the finger seal retention structure and extends radially inward therefrom to contact an outer circumference of the aerodynamic foil. A first anti-rotation pin extends radially from the finger seal retention structure and into the first opening formed in the aerodynamic foil to inhibit rotation of the aerodynamic foil during operation of the finger-foil seal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: Marshall Saville, Keith Alan Hurley, Joseph Yanof, Tina Hynes, David Waldman
  • Patent number: 9004849
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a bearing structure mounted to the front center body case structure to rotationally support a shaft driven by a geared architecture. A bearing compartment passage structure is in communication with the bearing structure through a front center body case structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Peter M. Munsell, Philip S. Stripinis
  • Publication number: 20150078893
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a seal arrangement (1) for a turbomachine which comprises a seal support (2) and a stripping lining (3) which is arranged on the seal support, wherein the seal support comprises a fiber-reinforced plastic and the stripping lining comprises polysiloxane, and wherein the seal support and the stripping lining are prepared in a non-cured state and are arranged in direct contact with one another in accordance with the configuration of the seal arrangement, and are subsequently subjected to a common curing process such that fiber-reinforced plastic and polysiloxane cross-link with one another. The present invention further relates to a correspondingly produced seal arrangement and to a turbomachine having such a seal arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Siegfried SCHMID, Michael SCHOBER, Siegfried SIKORSKI, Axel MATTSCHAS, Robert BADER
  • Patent number: 8974179
    Abstract: A turbine system is disclosed. In one embodiment, the turbine system includes a transition duct. The transition duct includes an inlet, an outlet, and a passage extending between the inlet and the outlet and defining a longitudinal axis, a radial axis, and a tangential axis. The outlet of the transition duct is offset from the inlet along the longitudinal axis and the tangential axis. The transition duct further includes an interface member for interfacing with a turbine section. The turbine system further includes a convolution seal contacting the interface member to provide a seal between the interface member and the turbine section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Scott Flanagan, Jeffrey Scott LeBegue, Kevin Weston McMahan, Daniel Jackson Dillard, Ronnie Ray Pentecost
  • Patent number: 8966895
    Abstract: A turbocharger assembly includes a center housing rotating assembly, which comprises a center housing, bearings housed in the center housing, a shaft rotatably supported in the bearings, and compressor and turbine wheels affixed to opposite ends of the shaft; an engine cylinder head and a housing member formed together as a one-piece integral structure, wherein the housing member defines a compressor volute that receives compressed air from the compressor wheel, a turbine volute for receiving exhaust gas from the engine, a turbine nozzle for directing exhaust gas from the turbine volute into the turbine wheel, and a turbine contour; a compressor contour plug that defines an axial inlet for the compressor and a compressor contour; and a wastegate unit operable for allowing exhaust gas to bypass the turbine wheel when the wastegate unit is open and preventing exhaust gas from bypassing the turbine wheel when the wastegate unit is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Manuel Marques, Jean-Jacques Laissus, Mani Palaniyappan, Alain Lombard, Quentin Roberts, Johann Kurtzmann, Aitor Herrera Celaya, Nicolas Serres
  • Patent number: 8961102
    Abstract: A system and method for sealing a shaft disposed for rotation within a casing, where two axially-spaced seal rings of an oil film seal extend around the shaft and define a clearance therebetween. Oil is pumped into the clearance from an oil reservoir and a portion of the oil is received in an annular port defined in the casing between an outer labyrinth seal and one of the axially-spaced seal rings. The oil mixes with a process gas to for an oil and gas mixture. A blower is in fluid communication with the annular port and circulates the oil and gas mixture to a trap where the oil is separated from the process gas and a separated process gas is returned back to the annular port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Dresser-Rand Company
    Inventor: Philippe Auber
  • Publication number: 20150050141
    Abstract: This invention relates to a passive shutdown sealing device (20, 40) for a reactor coolant pump set comprising a set of bimetallic strips (21, 41) having a first position called the cold position when the temperature of said bimetallic strips is less than said temperature threshold, and a second position called the hot position when the temperature of said bimetallic strips is greater than said temperature threshold; a sealing ring (23) with an active position when said bimetallic strips (21, 41) are in their hot position and with an inactive position when said bimetallic strips are in their cold position; locking/unlocking means (25) adapted to lock said sealing ring (23) in its inactive position when said bimetallic strips (21, 41) are in their cold position and to release said sealing ring (23) when said bimetallic strips (21, 41) are in their hot position; elastic means (24) adapted to constrain said sealing ring (23) in the active position when said locking/unlocking means (25) are unlocked.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Inventor: Eric Savin
  • Publication number: 20150044444
    Abstract: A thermal barrier coating that includes a YAG-based ceramic is prepared by a solution precursor plasma spray method that includes injecting a precursor solution into a thermal jet, evaporating solvent from the precursor solution droplets, and pyrolyzing the resulting solid to form a YAG-based ceramic that is melted and deposited on a substrate. The thermal barrier coating can include through-coating-thickness cracks that improve the strain tolerance of the coating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventors: Maurice Gell, Eric Jordan, Jeffrey Roth
  • Patent number: 8939710
    Abstract: An exemplary turbomachine seal assembly includes a ring seal that has a radially-facing sealing surface, an axially-facing sealing surface, and a first tapered surface. The turbomachine seal assembly also includes a spacer that has a second tapered surface. The second tapered surface interfaces with the first tapered surface to bias the radially facing sealing surface and the axially facing sealing surface toward a sealing position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Scot A. Webb
  • Patent number: 8932011
    Abstract: A shaft assembly for a gas turbine engine that includes a shaft with a threaded shaft segment, an annular rotor disposed on the shaft, and annular stack nut. The stack nut includes a base nut segment and a clamping nut segment. The base nut segment includes a threaded nut bore that is mated with the threaded shaft segment. The clamping nut segment axially extends from the base nut segment to a load bearing surface. The clamping nut segment includes a radial thickness that decreases as the clamping nut segment extends from the load bearing surface towards the base nut segment. The load bearing surface exerts a force against the rotor securing the rotor to the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Eric C. Mundell, Todd M. LaPierre, Marc J. Muldoon, Stephen J. Lyle
  • Patent number: 8927175
    Abstract: A pump has a shaft, an impeller arranged on the shaft, and a labyrinth seal which is arranged between stationary and moving parts of the pump. A plurality of blades are arranged on the rotor and a labyrinth seal extends at least between the shaft and a rear portion of the blades. A gap in the labyrinth seal is designed such that liquid water can be actively carried away, with the labyrinth seal for this purpose being designed at least in places with a channel in the form of a spiral and/or a staircase. The invention also relates to a fuel cell system having such a pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Oliver Harr, Andreas Knoop, Cosimo S. Mazzotta, Patrick L. Padgett, Hans-Joerg Schabel, Klaus Scherrbacher
  • Patent number: 8919134
    Abstract: An assembly for gas turbine engine includes a cross-over housing, an inter-shaft seal housing, and a linkage. The inter-shaft seal housing is disposed within the cross-over housing. The linkage is connected to the inter-shaft seal housing and extends through a slot in the cross-over housing. The linkage is removable from both the inner radial housing and the outer radial housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Neil L. Tatman, Christopher J. Larson
  • Patent number: 8915705
    Abstract: A seal assembly disposed between a rotor and a stator especially of a turbo-machinery is provided with a close clearance gap there between. The clearance gap is bordered by a rotor surface at the side of the rotor and by a stator surface at the side of the stator. The rotor surface or the stator surface or both are provided with openings which open into at least one chamber arranged at the side of the openings turned away from the clearance gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Rob Eelman
  • Publication number: 20140369832
    Abstract: A contact seal assembly for a shaft of a gas turbine engine includes a seal runner adapted to be connected to the shaft and rotatable relative to a carbon ring. The seal runner includes concentric inner and outer annular portions radially spaced apart to define at least one internal fluid passage between the inner and outer annular portions of the seal runner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Daniel BLAIS, Alain Lewis, Alain C. Martel
  • Patent number: 8911204
    Abstract: A method for servicing a gas turbine engine includes disassembling a bearing compartment, providing access from a forward side of the gas turbine engine to a gearbox contained within said bearing compartment. The gas turbine engine provides a core flow path that extends from the forward side aftward in a core flow direction. The method includes servicing a component located within the bearing compartment. A method for servicing a gas turbine engine includes providing access from a forward side of a front center body assembly, and servicing a component located within a bearing compartment aft of the front center body assembly. The gas turbine engine includes a seal package located aft of a bearing package. A front wall is mounted to the front center body support and is removable from a front center body support to access at least one of the gearbox, the bearing package and the seal package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Todd A. Davis, Brian P. Cigal
  • Publication number: 20140356160
    Abstract: A mechanical seal is disclosed having a rotatable sealing face and a stationary sealing face that are in opposed relation and arranged to be urged, into contact to form a seal. One of the sealing faces is mounted on a support assembly that includes a biasing device operative to move that sealing face into contact with the other sealing face. In one form of the invention, the biasing device comprises one or more resilient members that in use are deformed to provide the biasing force. In a second form of the invention, the support assembly forms part of a fluid barrier of the seal and the biasing device is fluid impervious and forms part of the barrier. In a third form of the invention, the biasing device is exposed to fluid pressure in the chamber and the biasing force increases on increasing the fluid pressure in the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: Ricardo Abarca Melo, Rodrigo Guzman Castro, Osvaldo Quiroz Venegas
  • Patent number: 8899912
    Abstract: A turbomachine is disclosed that has a main fluid flowpath extending axially along the turbomachine with a rotating shaft partly enclosed in a casing, wherein the rotating shaft and casing are moveable relative to each other and define a clearance opening about the rotating shaft, whereby the main fluid flowpath fluidly communicates with an outside region, and an annular seal body defining a fluid passage having a primary fluid inlet configured to receive a pressurized fluid, a fluid outlet disposed proximate to the clearance opening, and a convergent chamber interposed therebetween, wherein the convergent chamber is configured to accelerate the pressurized fluid out of the fluid outlet so as to create a local reduced pressure at the clearance opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Dresser-Rand Company
    Inventor: Inam Ul Haq
  • Publication number: 20140341731
    Abstract: A gas turbine having a device and a further device is provided. The device includes an outer casing, an inner casing and a seal ring. The outer casing and the inner casing are arranged in such a way that a cooling duct is formed between each other. The seal ring is arranged between the outer casing and the inner casing in such a way that the seal ring seals the cooling duct from an environment surrounding the outer casing. The device and the further device are mounted together such that working fluid is flowable from the further device to the device. Furthermore the device includes a rotatable shaft and the further device includes a further rotatable shaft, wherein the rotatable shaft and the further rotatable shaft are mechanically decoupled from each other, and wherein the seal ring exclusively abuts against the inner casing and against the outer casing of the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Kevin Scott
  • Patent number: 8888441
    Abstract: Systems and devices for sealing portions of a rotary machine are disclosed. In one embodiment, a seal assembly element includes: a head flange; an axial neck connected to the head flange, wherein the axial neck includes a mating flange extending circumferentially from a distal end of the seal assembly element, the mating flange configured to form a multidirectional seal with a recessed portion of a complementary seal assembly element; and a set of axial seal teeth connected to the axial neck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Daniel Edward Jordy, William Edward Adis, Bernard Arthur Couture, Jr., Dexter Andrew Young
  • Patent number: 8882446
    Abstract: A bearing system for a rotor in rotating machines, such as compressors, pumps, turbines, expanders, has points of bearing and sealing for the rotor each being in the form of a combined bearing and sealing formed by a stator situated within a rotating machine house and surrounding the rotor. The stator is formed with a bore, whereby an annular clearance is created between stator and rotor, and the bore is having sectional area gradually increasing in the direction of larger pressure within the rotating machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Statoil Petroleum AS
    Inventor: Harald Underbakke
  • Patent number: 8882459
    Abstract: Wind turbine provided with a bearing supporting a hub carrying rotor blades, the bearing comprising a rotational bearing race connected to the hub and a stationary bearing race, a lubrication area between the bearing races which area is confined at both ends by first seal rings sealing the gap between the rotational bearing race and stationary parts to form a lubrication barrier. At one or both ends of the lubrication area a redundant seal ring is arranged at a distance from the first seal ring in or near the gap to be sealed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: XEMC Darwind B.V.
    Inventors: Gustave Paul Corten, Cornelis Johannes Antonius Versteegh, Herman Luimes
  • Publication number: 20140321969
    Abstract: A turbomachine in the form of a stationary gas turbine or an aircraft engine, respectively a housing structure therefor; the housing structure including an outer housing wall (1) and an inner wall (2) defining the flow channel; and a hollow space (4) being formed between the inner wall and the outer housing wall. The hollow space is separable into at least two regions (5, 6); a movable wire element (slide ring seal) (10, 10?), which is adapted to rest against the contact faces (8, 9), being configured in the hollow space for purposes of the separation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: MTU Aero Engines AG
    Inventors: Manfred Feldmann, Norbert Schinko, Janine Sangl
  • Patent number: 8870522
    Abstract: In a centrifugal pump, in particular a radial or semi-axial pump including a housing with a pump chamber and a dry chamber, a drive shaft rotatably supported in the housing and connected to an impeller for pumping a liquid flow medium disposed in the pump chamber and a shaft seal arranged in an inner radial area for sealing the dry space with respect to the flow medium, a seal carrier is provided with a guide structure by which fluid flow medium is conducted from an outer radial area to an inner radial area for directing flow medium into the seal for lubrication and cooling of the seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Reischmann, Alexej Vaulin, Joachim Ruck
  • Patent number: 8870521
    Abstract: A centrifugal pump for delivering hot fluids, having a contacting shaft seal, a seal housing (13) for the shaft seal (14), and a return line (8) for a partial flow of the delivered fluid, in which no delivered fluid is discharged out of the seal housing (13); a separate housing cover (9) is disposed between the seal housing (13) and the pump housing (1); there is a contact surface which minimizes heat transfer between the seal housing (13) and the housing cover (9); and the return line (8) is connected to the housing cover (9) and/or to the pump housing (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: KSB Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Bernhard Brecht, Uwe Bruhns, Frank Sehr
  • Patent number: 8864461
    Abstract: The invention concerns a turbine structure for the expansion of gas and vapour, comprising a body or casing with a peripheral work fluid transit volute from an entrance to an exit passage, at least a first stator and possible subsequent stators, a turbine shaft rotating around an axis and carrying at least a first rotor and possible subsequent rotors working together downstream of the first stator and subsequent rotors, respectively, an external tube member jutting out frontally from said body or casing and coaxial to the rotating turbine shaft, and where between the tube member (18) and the turbine shaft (15) is positioned a supporting unit (19) extractable en bloc from said external tube (18) except for the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Turboden S.r.l.
    Inventors: Mario Gaia, Roberto Bini
  • Publication number: 20140308112
    Abstract: The present invention refers to a mechanical seal assembly, comprising at least one mechanical seal (2) with a rotating seal ring (21) and a stationary seal ring (22), the rotating seal ring (21) and the stationary seal ring (22) defining a sealing gap (23) between them, and a Tesla pump (6) co-rotating with the rotating seal ring (21).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2012
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: EAGLEBURGMANN GERMANY GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Stefan Ledig, Thomas Boehm, Rudolf Kollinger
  • Patent number: 8858166
    Abstract: Systems and devices for substantially fluidly isolating portions of a rotary machine are disclosed. In one embodiment, a seal assembly for a rotary machine includes: a complementary set of seal segments configured relative one another so as to form a substantially continuous body with butt gaps between the seal segments, the segments including: a head flange; and an axial neck connected to the head flange, wherein the axial neck extends radially inboard and includes an axial slot formed substantially there through; and at least one butt gap seal element, wherein the at least one butt gap seal element includes an axial flange and a radial flange, the axial flange disposed within the axial slots of adjacent seal segments; and the radial flange extending radially inboard from the axial slots to a proximity of the rotary machine substantially forming a barrier to axial flow through the butt gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Xiaoqing Zheng, Bernard Arthur Couture, Jr., Mehmet Demiroglu, Gregory Leonard Diantonio, Daniel Edward Jordy
  • Patent number: 8858162
    Abstract: A labyrinth seal is provided for forming a seal between a first and a second component which rotate relative to each other. The seal has an abradable lining mounted to the first component, and a plurality of fins projecting from the second component. The fins are arranged in abutment with the abradable lining to form a labyrinthal path for a flow of air through the seal. The seal further has a bypass passage which extends through the abradable lining. The bypass passage allows air to flow through the seal and bypass the labyrinthal path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventor: Reza Manzoori
  • Publication number: 20140290213
    Abstract: A seal system for a gas turbine engine includes an annular seal carrier and an annular compliant seal mounted around the annular seal carrier, the compliant seal includes a multiple of legs in cross-section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Nicholas Lefevre, John J. Korzendorfer, Peter Balawajder, Paul W. Palmer, Paul J. Colucci, Mahamoud Coulibaly