Abstract: A passive auxiliary lubrication system for supplying lubricant to a gearbox assembly of an engine. The passive auxiliary lubrication system includes an auxiliary tank for storing lubricant. The auxiliary tank is passively pressurized. The passive auxiliary lubrication system also includes an auxiliary tank feed line fluidly coupled with the auxiliary tank and a primary lubrication system. The lubricant is supplied to the auxiliary tank from the primary lubrication system through the auxiliary tank feed line and the lubricant is passively pressurized in the auxiliary tank. The passive auxiliary lubrication system further includes an auxiliary supply line fluidly coupled with the auxiliary tank and the gearbox assembly. The lubricant in the auxiliary tank is supplied to the gearbox assembly through the auxiliary supply line.

Abstract: A gearbox assembly for a gas turbine engine includes a hollow gear. The hollow gear has one or more reservoirs configured to store a lubricant and one or more passages configured to supply the lubricant to one or more gear meshes in the gearbox assembly. The hollow gear provides a dampening system configured to absorb vibrations and loading experienced in the gearbox assembly and configured to provide impact resistance for the gearbox assembly.

Abstract: A windage cover for a plurality of fasteners coupling a ring gear assembly to an output shaft. The windage cover includes a clip retention member abutting an integral cover shell of the output shaft, and a foot portion configured to be inserted into a pilot groove between an integral lip and an arm portion of the output shaft. The windage cover also includes a wall portion connected to the foot portion, the wall portion being retained at one end of the wall portion by the clip retention member. The windage cover is configured to cover the plurality of fasteners.

Abstract: A seal arrangement for sealing the space between a rotating element and a stationary element, the sealing arrangement comprising a compliant plate seal housing supported adjustably in the stationary element, the compliant plate seal housing supporting a compliant plate seal; and a spring system provided between the compliant plate seal housing and the stationary element to bias the compliant plate seal housing in a direction away from a surface of the rotating element. Alternatively, or additionally, one or more actuators may be provided to move the compliant plate seal housing in a direction away from a surface of the rotating element.

Abstract: A seal arrangement for sealing the space between a rotating element and a stationary element, the sealing arrangement comprising a compliant plate seal housing supported adjustably in the stationary element, the compliant plate seal housing supporting a compliant plate seal; and a spring system provided between the compliant plate seal housing and the stationary element to bias the compliant plate seal housing in a direction away from a surface of the rotating element. Alternatively, or additionally, one or more actuators may be provided to move the compliant plate seal housing in a direction away from a surface of the rotating element.

Abstract: A shaft seal serves to reduce leakage between a rotating shaft and a static shell. The shaft seal includes a plurality of compliant plate members, each having a root and a tip. The compliant plate members are secured to the static shell at their root in facing relation. The tips of the compliant plate members define a sealing ring between the static shell and the rotating shaft. An axial flow resistance member is disposed within the compliant plate members and serves as a barrier to axial leakage flow between the compliant plate members.

Abstract: An article having low wettability is presented. The article comprises a body portion and a surface portion disposed on the body portion. The surface portion comprises a plurality of features disposed on the body portion, and the features have a size, shape, and orientation selected such that the surface portion has a wettability sufficient to generate, with a reference liquid, a contact angle of at least about 100 degrees. The features comprise a height dimension (h) and a width dimension (a), and are disposed in a spaced-apart relationship characterized by a spacing dimension (b). The ratio of b/a and the ratio of h/a are such that the drop exhibits metastable non-Wenzel behavior.

Abstract: An apparatus for the transfer of heat is presented. The apparatus comprises a textured heat transfer surface disposed to promote condensation of a vapor medium to a liquid condensate, the surface comprising a plurality of surface texture features disposed on the heat transfer surface. The plurality of features has a median size, a median spacing, and a median height displacement such that the force exerted by the surface to pin a drop of condensate to the surface is equal to or less than an external force acting to remove the drop from the surface. Also included are heat pumps, systems for power generation, and distillation systems comprising the apparatus.

Abstract: A compliant seal assembly for a rotating machine is provided. The seal assembly includes a static member, a movable member and a biasing member. The static member is rigidly fixed to the machine at its fore and aft ends. The movable portion has a first sealing surface configured to seal against a rotating member and a rear surface, which may be exposed to a fluid pressure to urge the first sealing surface toward a sealing position with the rotating member. The static and the movable members further include sealing surfaces at their fore, aft and end faces to seal against leakage of gas between the static and the movable members. The biasing member is configured to support the movable member on the static member and to urge the movable member away from the sealing position so as to reduce force on the rotating member during contact of the rotating member with the first sealing surface of the movable member.

Abstract: The invention provides spray coatings to achieve circumferentially non-uniform seal clearances in turbomachines. In steam and gas turbines it is desirable to assemble the machines with elliptical seal clearances to compensate for expected casing distortion, rotordynamics or phenomena that cause circumferentially non-uniform rotor-stator rubs. The claimed invention allows the casing hardware to be fabricated round, and a spray coating is applied to the radially inner surface such that the coating thickness varies circumferentially, providing the desired non-uniform rotor-stator clearance during assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing active clearance control between blade tips and seals in a turbomachine comprising: a first stator carrier segment, with stator seals centripetally disposed on it; a second stator carrier segment located along a same circumference as the first stator carrier segment, also with stator seals centripetally disposed on it; a shell that adjustably houses the first stator carrier segment and the second carrier segment; at least one displacement apparatus in operable communication with at least one stator carrier segment and configured to position the at least one stator carrier segment to provide active clearance control to the stator seals disposed on the at least one stator carrier segment.

Abstract: A brush seal is provided between static components of a turbine. The turbine flowpath has an inlet spaced from another the inner web of the first stage nozzle. A brush seal is disposed between the two static components to minimize leakage flow to the packing casing region. The bristles of the brush seal are preloaded to fill any gap between the static components caused by distortion or out-of-roundness of the opposed surfaces being sealed. A side plate may contact the opposed sealing surface, increasing the pressure capability of the brush seal and minimizing overall seal leakage by providing the minimum possible flow area restricted solely by the bristles.

Abstract: A plurality of brush seal segments are disposed in a groove of a component fixed against rotation and project into sealing relation with a rotating component. The brush seal segments are each comprised of a pair of plates having a plurality of brush bristles therebetween, the plates and bristles being secured along the outer arcuate face of the segments by a weld bead. The opposite ends of the bristles form the seal with the rotary component. Each brush seal segments is disposed in a groove with generous clearance between a hook on the segment and a flange on the fixed component. A spring between the fixed component and arcuate outer face of the brush seal segment biases the segment in a radial direction. The end of the spring has a pair of tabs spaced axially from one another for reception in a pair of axially spaced recesses to retain the spring against circumferential movement while simultaneously maintaining the integrity of the weld joint without loss of securement of the bristles.