Abstract: A rotary machine seal assembly includes seal segments configured to circumferentially extend around a rotor between a stator and the rotor of a rotary machine. One or more seal segments include a shoe plate, a seal base, and at least one intermediate member. The shoe plate is disposed along the rotor. The seal base is disposed radially outward of the shoe plate. At least one intermediate member is coupled to and disposed between the seal base and the shoe plate. The at least one intermediate member includes an actuator portion having a first coefficient of thermal expansion and a constrictor portion having a different, second coefficient of thermal expansion. The at least one intermediate member is configured to move the shoe plate from a radially outward position to a radially inward position with respect to the rotor responsive to the at least one intermediate member undergoing a temperature change.

Abstract: A rotary machine seal assembly (200) includes seal segments (102) configured to circumferentially extend around a rotor (108) between a stator (106) and the rotor (108) of a rotary machine. One or more seal segments include a shoe plate (110, 410, 710, 910), a seal base (112, 412, 712, 912), and at least one intermediate member (114, 414, 714). The shoe plate is disposed along the rotor. The seal base is disposed radially outward of the shoe plate. At least one intermediate member is coupled to and disposed between the seal base and the shoe plate. The at least one intermediate member includes an actuator portion (302, 402, 702, 902) having first coefficient of thermal expansion and a constrictor portion (304, 404, 704, 904) having a different, second coefficient of thermal expansion.

Abstract: A system for use in servicing a machine. The system includes a tubular body including a longitudinal axis, a tip end, a dispensing nozzle defined at the tip end, and an interior channel in flow communication with the dispensing nozzle. The tubular body is configured to be flexible. An actuator is configured to selectively modify an orientation of the tubular body, and a reservoir is in flow communication with the interior channel. The reservoir is configured to supply a maintenance fluid to the tubular body for discharge from the dispensing nozzle.

Abstract: A seal monitoring apparatus is provided. The seal monitoring apparatus includes one or more pressure sensors and a controller in communication with the one or more pressure sensors. The one or more pressure sensors is mounted at a seal of a turbine to measure pressure on a first side of the seal and/or a second side of the seal. The controller is configured to receive pressure data from the one or more pressure sensors and determine a condition of the seal based at least in part on the pressure data. The controller is configured to output a signal upon determining a change in the condition of the seal.

Abstract: A turbine engine is provided. The turbine engine defines an axial direction and a radial direction, and includes: a rotor; a stator comprising a carrier; a seal assembly disposed between the rotor and the stator, the seal assembly defining a high-pressure side and a low-pressure side and comprising a plurality of seal segments, the plurality of seal segments including a seal segment having a seal face forming a fluid bearing with the rotor, a lip, and a body, the lip extending from the body along the axial direction of the turbine engine on the high-pressure side and including an outer pressurization surface along the radial direction of the turbine engine; and a seal support assembly, the seal support assembly comprising a spring arrangement extending between the carrier and the first seal segment to counter a pressure on the outer pressurization surface during operation of the turbine engine.

Abstract: A rigidizable insertion tool includes a first segment having a pin extension and a second segment having a pin slot that is elongated. The first segment and the second segment are connected via a joint comprising the pin extension of the first segment and the pin slot of the second segment. The pin extension is movable between a proximal end and a distal end of the pin slot with movement of the first segment relative to the second segment.

Abstract: A turbine engine is provided. The turbine engine defines a radial direction and includes: a rotor; a stator comprising a carrier; a seal assembly disposed between the rotor and the stator, the seal assembly comprising a first seal segment, the seal segment having a seal face configured to form a fluid bearing with the rotor; and a seal support assembly, the seal support assembly comprising a prestressed spring assembly extending from the seal segment for biasing the seal segment along the radial direction.

Abstract: A seal assembly for a turbomachine includes a rotating component, a non-rotating component having a ring carrier, a face seal ring, and a joint disposed between the ring carrier and the non-rotating component. The non-rotating component is arranged with the rotating component at a sealing interface. The joint is capable of linear and tilt displacement to allow the non-rotating component to displace with respect to the rotating component. The sealing interface defines a gap between the face seal ring and the rotating component. The seal assembly also includes at least one damping element arranged with the ring carrier for maintaining the seal assembly centrally in a radial direction in the turbomachine. Further, the damping element(s) includes at least one mass element.

Abstract: A tunneling device includes a body assembly, an expander coupled to the body assembly and extending along a longitudinal axis, and a tip coupled to the expander. The expander is disposed between a force transmitter and the tip. The expander is expandable in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis between a first configuration having a first width measured perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and a second configuration having a second width measured perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The tip has a width measured perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The first width of the expander is equal to or less than the width of the tip. The force transmitter is configured to deliver a force through the expander to the tip to move the tip in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis with the expander in the second configuration.

Abstract: A seal assembly at a rotor-stator interface includes at least one non-contacting seal interface and at least one rub detection feature. The rub detection feature(s) is configured to generate a signal upon the rotor and the stator making contact at the rotor-stator interface and causing wear above a certain threshold at the rotor-stator interface. The seal assembly also includes at least one sensor arranged at the rotor-stator interface. The sensor is configured to sense the signal. The seal assembly further includes a controller communicatively coupled with the sensor(s). The controller is configured to receive the signal and estimate at least one of an amount and a location of the wear at the rotor-stator interface based on the signal.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to seal assemblies for a turbomachine. The seal assemblies include one or more paired rotors and stators and at least one interface between the rotors and the stators. The components of the stator may be axially and radially movable by vibrations and other mechanical interference. The stators comprise a sealing element, a seal housing, and a stator interface connected to the engine housing. In some examples, seal assembly includes a damping element to isolate one or more of the rotating components from vibrations mechanical interference that might misalign the rotating components from the stationary components while the turbomachine is operational. In some examples, the damping element is positioned between the seal housing and the stator interface. In other examples, the damping element is positioned between the stator interface and the engine housing.

Abstract: A seal assembly for an aeronautical turbine engine includes a passive flow regulator. The passive flow regulator includes a seal body defining an aspiration conduit, and a flow constrictor disposed within and/or adjacently upstream of the aspiration conduit. The aspiration conduit provides fluid communication across the seal body from a relatively higher-pressure fluid volume to a relatively lower-pressure fluid volume. The flow constrictor includes one or more flexure elements that move in one or more degrees of freedom as a result of changes in a pressure differential across the flow constrictor. The movement of the one or more flexure elements changes a hydraulic resistance of fluid flow past the flow constrictor based at least in part on a position of the flow constrictor in relation to the aspiration conduit.

Abstract: A turbine engine is provided. The turbine engine defines an axial direction and a radial direction, and includes: a rotor; a stator comprising a carrier; a seal assembly disposed between the rotor and the stator, the seal assembly defining a high-pressure side and a low-pressure side and comprising a plurality of seal segments, the plurality of seal segments including a seal segment having a seal face forming a fluid bearing with the rotor, a lip, and a body, the lip extending from the body along the axial direction of the turbine engine on the high-pressure side and including an outer pressurization surface along the radial direction of the turbine engine; and a seal support assembly, the seal support assembly comprising a spring arrangement extending between the carrier and the first seal segment to counter a pressure on the outer pressurization surface during operation of the turbine engine.

Abstract: A turbine engine is provided. The turbine engine defines a radial direction and includes: a rotor; a stator comprising a carrier; a seal assembly disposed between the rotor and the stator, the seal assembly comprising a first seal segment, the seal segment having a seal face configured to form a fluid bearing with the rotor; and a seal support assembly, the seal support assembly comprising a prestressed spring assembly extending from the seal segment for biasing the seal segment along the radial direction.

Abstract: A seal monitoring apparatus is provided. The seal monitoring apparatus includes a temperature sensor and a controller in communication with the temperature sensor. The temperature sensor is mounted at a seal of a device. The controller is configured to receive measured temperature data from the temperature sensor and calculate expected temperature data for the seal based at least in part on operating conditions of the device. The controller is configured to determine a condition of the seal based at least in part on a temperature difference of the measured temperature data from the expected temperature data.

Abstract: A seal monitoring apparatus is provided. The seal monitoring apparatus includes one or more pressure sensors and a controller in communication with the one or more pressure sensors. The one or more pressure sensors is mounted at a seal of a turbine to measure pressure on a first side of the seal and/or a second side of the seal. The controller is configured to receive pressure data from the one or more pressure sensors and determine a condition of the seal based at least in part on the pressure data. The controller is configured to output a signal upon determining a change in the condition of the seal.

Abstract: A turbomachine includes a rotor shaft having an outer surface, a seal carrier forming an annulus about the rotor shaft, and a seal member. The seal carrier at least partially defines a pressure chamber. The turbomachine further includes a seal member support system including a flex body having a contact portion in contact with the seal carrier, and a flex portion extending from the contact portion towards the outer surface of the rotor shaft. The flex portion is coupled to the seal member and is configured to hold the seal member at a radial distance away from the outer surface of the rotor shaft when a pressure inside the pressure chamber is equal to or below a minimum pressure threshold value, and to flex and move the seal member towards the outer surface of the rotor when the pressure inside the pressure chamber exceeds the minimum pressure threshold value.

Abstract: A seal assembly for a component of a turbomachine and method of assembly thereof is provided. The seal assembly includes at least one mating face positioned adjacent to the component and a seal coupled to the mating face. The seal includes an outer shell defining an interior space; an inner matrix filling the interior space comprising a plurality of unit cells comprising one or more metamaterials, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of unit cells are identical, and wherein the plurality of unit cells are repeated throughout the inner matrix; and one or more support struts extending throughout the inner matrix. The method of building the seal assembly may include selecting a first material for the outer shell and selecting the one or more metamaterials for the inner matrix based on the first material.

Abstract: A system for use in navigating and/or forming a tunnel includes a tunneling device including a body assembly and a fluid line coupled to the body assembly. The body assembly includes a first section and a second section that are configured to selectively adjust their size and move the body assembly through an underground location when a pressurized fluid is delivered to the body assembly through the fluid line. The system further includes at least one sensor coupled to the body assembly and/or the fluid line. The at least one sensor is configured to provide information related to an operating parameter of at least one of the first section of the body assembly or the second section of the body assembly. The system also includes a controller configured to determine an environmental characteristic of the tunnel based on the information provided by the at least one sensor.

Abstract: A system includes a navigation apparatus and controller. The navigation apparatus includes a body assembly that includes a plurality of pneumatic or artificial muscles that are configured to interact with a sidewall of the conduit and move the body assembly through the conduit. The plurality of pneumatic or artificial muscles are independently actuated to steer the body assembly. The navigation apparatus also includes a sensor array coupled to the body assembly. The sensor array is positioned to interact with the sidewall of the conduit and provide signals as the body assembly moves through the interior cavity. The controller is communicatively coupled to the sensor array and configured to determine a characteristic of the conduit based on the signals provided by the sensor array.