Abstract: A seal assembly for rotary machines having a wear protection assembly with an abradable covering. The wear protection assembly has one or more wear protection features that enable in-operation opening of the seal assembly by increasing a clearance between a seal rotor and a seal slider of the seal assembly. In particular, the wear protection assembly is configured to open the seal assembly and increase the clearance of the seal rotor and the seal slider during slider air-bearing wear conditions, slider counterbore wear conditions, rotor air-bearing wear conditions, or extreme vibration wear conditions. Under such or similar wear conditions (or under conditions preceding or leading up to a wear condition), the wear protection assembly yields a pressure gradient and/or a fluid flow that oppose the forces acting to decrease the clearance between the seal rotor and the seal slider.

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.

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: 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.

Abstract: A seal assembly for a rotary machine, such as a turbine engine, may include a seal rotor comprising a rotor face, a seal slider comprising a slider face, a seal stator, wherein the seal slider is slidably coupled to the seal stator, and wherein the slider face and the rotor face define a primary seal. The seal slider may be configured to slidably engage and retract the slider face with respect to the rotor face. The seal assembly may further include a secondary seal disposed between the seal slider and the seal stator. The secondary seal may be configured to compress and rebound and/or to expand and rebound, over at least a portion of a range of motion of the seal slider.

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.

Abstract: Aspirating face seal between high and low pressure regions of turbomachine between rotatable and non-rotatable members of turbomachine includes gas bearing rotatable and non-rotatable face surfaces, non-rotatable face surface mounted on annular slider on non-rotatable member. Retracting means retracts annular slider away from rotatable member and non-rotatable face surface away from rotatable surface and includes circumferentially spaced apart non-coiled springs axially disposed between slider and non-rotatable engine member. Leaf springs may include first and second ends mounted or attached to first and second mounting lugs or tabs attached to non-rotatable member and slider respectively and middle portion between ends. Springs oriented for retracting slider if slider contacts rotatable member. Primary and starter seal teeth may be mounted on carrier on rotatable member. Primary seal tooth may be on non-rotatable member and starter seal tooth on rotatable member.

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. Starter seal tooth and optional deflector seal tooth are mounted on seal teeth carrier on rotatable member. Primary seal tooth and non-rotatable face surface are mounted on an annular slider on non-rotatable member. 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 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.

Abstract: Aspirating face seal between high and low pressure regions of turbomachine between rotatable and non-rotatable members of turbomachine includes gas bearing rotatable and non-rotatable face surfaces, non-rotatable face surface mounted on annular slider on non-rotatable member. Retracting means retracts annular slider away from rotatable member and non-rotatable face surface away from rotatable surface and includes circumferentially spaced apart non-coiled springs axially disposed between slider and non-rotatable engine member. Leaf springs may include first and second ends mounted or attached to first and second mounting lugs or tabs attached to non-rotatable member and slider respectively and middle portion between ends. Springs oriented for retracting slider if slider contacts rotatable member. Primary and starter seal teeth may be mounted on carrier on rotatable member. Primary seal tooth may be on non-rotatable member and starter seal tooth on rotatable member.

Abstract: A housing system can comprise a plastic cover (12); a plastic base (14) comprising a floor (20) having sidewalls (22, 24); a first elevation (26); a second elevation (34); a first mounting column (40) located in a transformer end (32) of the plastic base (14) adjacent a major axis first sidewall (22); a second mounting column (42) located in the transformer end (32) of the plastic base (14) adjacent a major axis second sidewall (22); wherein the first and second mounting columns (40,42) have a top surface (44) that protrudes a distance from the floor (20), in the Z direction, in an amount greater than or equal to elevation walls (28,36), wherein the top surface (44) is configured to receive an attachment element (46). The housing system can also comprise a transformer (72), physically attached to the mounting columns; a capacitor (74); a fan (78), and a printed circuit board (80).

Abstract: In an embodiment, a support arm comprises: a thermoplastic material and a filler. A cross-section of the support arm taken along a line from an inner edge to an outer edge of the support arm comprises a modified I-shaped, an I/U-shaped, or a U-shaped cross-section.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method of making a heat sink assembly can include: forming a heat sink assembly comprising a polymer heat sink around a metal insert, the polymer heat sink comprising a thermally conductive polymer material, wherein the heat sink assembly has a contact pressure between the polymer heat sink and the metal insert; and increasing the contact pressure. In an embodiment, a method of making a heat sink assembly includes: heating a mold and subsequently introducing a metal insert to the mold, wherein the metal insert has an insert temperature of 30° C. to 70° C. when it is inserted into the mold; closing the mold; and in less than or equal to 10 seconds of closing the mold, over-molding the metal insert with a thermally conductive polymer material to form a heat sink assembly.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a support arm includes: a thermoplastic material and a filler. A cross-section of the support arm taken along a line from an inner edge to an outer edge of the support arm comprises a modified I-shaped, a I/U-shaped, or a U-shaped cross-section.

Abstract: A housing system can comprise a plastic cover (12); a plastic base (14) comprising a floor (20) having sidewalls (22, 24); a first elevation (26); a second elevation (34); a first mounting column (40) located in a transformer end (32) of the plastic base (14) adjacent a major axis first sidewall (22); a second mounting column (42) located in the transformer end (32) of the plastic base (14) adjacent a major axis second sidewall (22); wherein the first and second mounting columns (40,42) have a top surface (44) that protrudes a distance from the floor (20), in the Z direction, in an amount greater than or equal to elevation walls (28,36), wherein the top surface (44) is configured to receive an attachment element (46). The housing system can also comprise a transformer (72), physically attached to the mounting columns; a capacitor (74); a fan (78), and a printed circuit board (80).

Abstract: A housing system can comprise a plastic cover (12); a plastic base (14) comprising a floor (20) having side walls (22, 24); a first elevation (26); a second elevation (34); a first mounting column (40) located in a transformer end (32) of the plastic base (14) adjacent a major axis first sidewall (22); a second mounting column (42) located in the transformer end (32) of the plastic base (14) adjacent a major axis second sidewall (22); wherein the first and second mounting columns (40,42) have a top surface (44) that protrudes a distance from the floor (20), in the Z direction, in an amount greater than or equal to elevation walls (28,36), wherein the top surface (44) is configured to receive an attachment element (46). The housing system can also comprise a transformer (72), physically attached to the mounting columns; a capacitor (74); a fan (78), and a printed circuit board (80).

Abstract: In an embodiment, a power inverter casing, comprises: a body having a first component removably attached to a second component, wherein, when joined, a recess is formed therebetween; a member removably attached to the first component and the second component opposite the recess; and a handle located in the recess and removably attached to the first component and the second component; wherein the member contains a first member illuminating element, and/or the recess contains a recess illuminating element, and/or the handle contains a handle illuminating element.

Abstract: A housing system can comprise a plastic cover (12); a plastic base (14) comprising a floor (20) having side walls (22, 24); a first elevation (26); a second elevation (34); a first mounting column (40) located in a transformer end (32) of the plastic base (14) adjacent a major axis first sidewall (22); a second mounting column (42) located in the transformer end (32) of the plastic base (14) adjacent a major axis second sidewall (22); wherein the first and second mounting columns (40,42) have a top surface (44) that protrudes a distance from the floor (20), in the Z direction, in an amount greater than or equal to elevation walls (28,36), wherein the top surface (44) is configured to receive an attachment element (46). The housing system can also comprise a transformer (72), physically attached to the mounting columns; a capacitor (74); a fan (78), and a printed circuit board (80).

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method of making a heat sink assembly (10) can comprise: forming an heat sink assembly (10) comprising a polymer heat sink (14) around a metal insert (12), the polymer heat sink (14) comprising a thermally conductive polymer material, wherein the heat sink assembly (10) has a contact pressure between the polymer heat sink (14) and the metal insert (12); and increasing the contact pressure. In an embodiment, a method of making a heat sink assembly (10), comprises: heating a mold and subsequently introducing a metal insert to the mold, wherein the metal insert has an insert temperature of 30° C. to 70° C. when it is inserted into the mold; closing the mold; and in less than or equal to 10 seconds of closing the mold, over-molding the metal insert with a thermally conductive polymer material to form a heat sink assembly (10).

Abstract: In an embodiment, a support arm comprises: a thermoplastic material and a filler. A cross-section of the support arm taken along a line from an inner edge to an outer edge of the support arm comprises a modified I-shaped, a I/U-shaped, or a U-shaped cross-section.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a power inverter casing, comprises: a body having a first component removably attached to a second component, wherein, when joined, a recess is formed therebetween; a member removably attached to the first component and the second component opposite the recess; and a handle located in the recess and removably attached to the first component and the second component; wherein the member contains a first member illuminating element, and/or the recess contains a recess illuminating element, and/or the handle contains a handle illuminating element.