And Circumferential Contact Seal Patents (Class 277/350)
  • Patent number: 10851664
    Abstract: A controlled gap radial oil sealing assembly in a gas turbine engine having a centre rotational axis defining an axial direction, the controlled gap radial sealing assembly comprises a seal element located around a cooperating seal runner and sized to define a controlled sealing gap between them, the seal runner having an axial length extending beyond an axial width of the seal element into an oiled region of the engine. A first annular surface radially outwardly spaced from and extending substantially along the axial length of the seal runner, the first annular surface sealingly cooperating with a seal housing of the seal element, and a second annular surface axially extending to overlap at least a portion of the first annular surface, the second annular surface radially outwardly spaced from the first annular surface relative to the center axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Michel Labbe, Stuart Hodgson, Daniel Poirier
  • Patent number: 10337618
    Abstract: A seal assembly includes a first member and a second member. The first member defines a first central passage, and the second member defines a second central passage, both of which extend along a central axis. An input shaft of a steering gear extends through the first and second central passages. The second member is attached to the input shaft, and is rotatable with the input shaft about the central axis relative to the first member. An outer seal is disposed between and in sealing engagement with the first member and the second member. An inner seal is supported by and moveable with the second member. The inner seal is disposed in sealing engagement with second member and the input shaft of the steering gear. The second member is PTFE fiber filled acetal, and the outer seal is glass filled PTFE to reduce noise generated by relative movement therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC.
    Inventor: Todd E. Allen
  • Patent number: 10326334
    Abstract: An electrical turbo-machine includes a stator (101), a rotor (102), and a turbine section (110) driven with a working flow containing vaporizable material, for example water, in vaporized form. The rotor includes cooling channels (106-109) for conducting, through the rotor, a cooling flow containing the vaporizable material in liquid form. The rotor is arranged to conduct the cooling flow through an area where an impeller or impellers (111-114) of the turbine section are directly connected to the rotor and conduct the cooling flow to a same room to which the working flow comes out from the turbine section. The above-presented cooling system facilitates constructing the electrical turbo-machine as a hermetic structure in a power plant where bearings of the electrical turbo-machine are lubricated by the vaporizable material, a supply pump is directly connected to the rotor, and the vaporizable material in gaseous form fills the gas spaces of the stator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: LAPEENRANNAN-LAHDEN TEKNILLINEN YLIOPISTO LUT
    Inventors: Jaakko Larjola, Juha Pyrhonen, Jari Backman
  • Patent number: 10260636
    Abstract: A controlled gap seal device is adapted to surround a shaft with an annular seal element. A ring is positioned on an outer surface of the seal element, the ring adapted to modify a diametrical dimension of the seal element by thermally expanding/contracting as a function of temperature variations. A housing assembly has an interior enclosing the seal element and the ring, with the seal configured to be generally stationary in the interior. The housing assembly has an air inlet and air outlet in fluid communication with a surrounding environment for directing a flow of gas from the surrounding environment onto the ring to controllably cool and shrink the ring. A method for modifying a diameter of a controlled gap seal relative to the shaft is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Richard A. Kostka, Dean Carpenter, Tibor Urac, Adam Logan, Aaron Grey
  • Patent number: 10066496
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to a hydrostatic advanced low leakage seal having a shoe supported by at least one beam. An anti-vibration seal is disposed in contact with beam and operative to mitigate an externally induced vibratory response of the beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: John T. Schmitz
  • Patent number: 9951809
    Abstract: A rolling-element bearing includes an inner bearing ring and an outer bearing ring. The inner bearing ring and the outer bearing ring define an axial direction and a circumferential direction. The rolling-element bearing includes a plurality of rolling elements. The rolling elements are configured to roll circumferentially between the inner bearing ring and the outer bearing ring. The rolling-element bearing includes at least one oil chamber. The oil chamber is between the inner bearing ring and the outer bearing ring. Each oil chamber is defined by the inner bearing ring, the outer bearing ring and an oil chamber housing. The oil chamber housing is fixed to one of the inner bearing ring and the outer bearing ring. The rolling-element bearing includes at least one duct corresponding to each oil chamber. The at least one duct is for a supply of oil to the corresponding oil chamber. Each duct extends through the bearing ring to which the oil chamber housing is fixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventor: Christopher J. Durling
  • Patent number: 9945485
    Abstract: A seal assembly includes a seal body having a space formed therein; a seal carrier held within the space, the seal carrier being selectively positionable between a sealing position and a rotation position by moving along a carrying path; at least one seal carried by the seal carrier; and a hermetic seal held within the space out of the carrying path of the seal carrier, the hermetic seal being configured to be abraded away by a rotating element that the hermetic seal is pressing against.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Trelleborg Sealing Solutions US, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy F. Miller, Christopher Berg
  • Patent number: 9810095
    Abstract: A sealing device for a turbine engine bearing oil enclosure including a rotor shaft; an annular cover secured to an engine casing and arranged around the rotor shaft to co-operate therewith to define an oil enclosure that is to receive a bearing rotatably supporting the rotor shaft relative to the engine casing; a labyrinth seal mounted on the rotor shaft facing one end of the cover; an annular rim mounted inside the cover; a dynamic annular gasket interposed radially between the rim and the rotor shaft; and a clip for axially blocking the rim inside the cover and including at least one latch passing radially through the rim and being received radially inside a groove formed in the cover, is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Serge Rene Morreale, Dominik Igel
  • Patent number: 9770697
    Abstract: A lid (2) for closing a container (4) of liquid, the lid being provided with a spindle passageway (20) enabling an elongate body (30) of a stirrer member (3) for stirring the liquid to pass through the lid (2), which elongate body is designed to be mounted to rotate in the spindle passageway (20), the spindle passageway including a portion (23) for receiving the elongate body (30) and designed to allow the elongate body (30) of the stirrer member (3) to pass through it, and a portion (21) for receiving a seal (1), which portion has an inside diameter greater than the inside diameter of the portion (23) for receiving the elongate body (30) and receives an annular seal (1) designed to allow the elongate body of the stirrer member to pass through it. The inside peripheral face of the annular seal (1) is provided with a helical lip (120).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: FILLON TECHNOLOGIES
    Inventors: Cyril Denize, Patrick Saint
  • Patent number: 9616986
    Abstract: A transom mount has a transom mounting bracket and a leveling platform angularly adjustable relative to the transom mounting bracket. The leveling platform includes a vertical axis pintle, and a spring pin. Supported through the pintle onto the leveling platform is a carousel including rotary limit holes and a travel lock hole. The carousel generally spins freely about the pintle. However, when the spring pin is aligned with these carousel holes, it will automatically lock the carousel relative to the leveling platform. Supported on the carousel is a bell housing or other equivalent support having an engine coupling flange on one end and a long shaft coupler on the other. A set of tilt stop holes may be provided in combination with a tilt stop pin to control the maximum tilt of the bell housing and mud motor drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Inventors: Arlon J. Gilk, Lawrence L. Hoeschen, Jakob Gilk
  • Patent number: 9556609
    Abstract: Provided is a high-performance sliding seismic isolation device with a slider that realizes a contact pressure of 60 MPa. The device includes an upper shoe 1 and a lower shoe (2) having sliding surfaces 1a and 2a with curvatures, respectively; and a columnar steel slider (7) disposed between the upper shoe (1) and the lower shoe (2), the slider having an upper surface 4a and a lower surface 4b that are in contact with the upper and lower shoes, respectively, and have curvatures. The upper surface 4a and the lower surface 4b of the slider (7) have double-woven fabric layers (5) and (6), respectively, each double-woven fabric layer containing PTFE fibers and fibers with higher tensile strength than that of the PTFE fibers, and the PTFE fibers being arranged on the sides of the sliding surfaces 1a and 2a of the upper shoe (1) and the lower shoe (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignees: Nippon Steel & Sumikin Engineering Co., Ltd, Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Hideji Nakamura, Koji Nishimoto, Yuki Ninomiya, Hiroshi Tsuchikura, Koji Sugano
  • Patent number: 9255486
    Abstract: A brush seal for use between a rotating component and a stationary component in a turbomachine is disclosed. The brush seal according to embodiments of this invention includes a set of bristles having a fixed end and a free end, wherein the fixed end is attached to the rotating component with a mechanical clamping element and the free end extends towards the stationary component, and wherein the set of bristles are angled axially at an axial angle with respect to the rotating component. In one embodiment, the fixed end of the set of bristles are wrapped at least partially around a core element and the clamping element partially surrounds the core element and the fixed end of the set of bristles, wherein the clamping element secures the fixed end of the set of bristles within a circumferential groove in the rotating component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Guoqiang Lu, Mehmet Demiroglu, Binayak Roy, Deepak Trivedi, Xiaoqing Zheng
  • Patent number: 9140363
    Abstract: A brush seal cover assembly that includes a brush cover having a shroud that substantially encloses a brush mounted in a holder without removing the holder from the equipment to which it is mounted. The assembly includes a pair of brush cover halves integrally formed to provide an outer bristle guard capable of supporting the weight of a person and a pair of brush shields on opposite sides of the brush that prevent direct impingement of pressurized gas or liquid enabling maintenance and cleaning of the equipment to be performed while leaving the brush mounted in place without damaging the brush. The cover includes a pair of mounting plates configured for mounting of the cover by clamping or by compression between fasteners without having to remove the brush holder from the equipment or the brush from the holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Sealeze, A Unit of Jason Inc.
    Inventors: Roger Ferryman, Patrick Fitzgerald, David Chrisman, Pavan Kumar Ravulaparthy
  • Patent number: 9091349
    Abstract: A self-energizing seal includes a housing and a plurality of annular seal ring segments movable relative to the housing. The annular seal ring segments include a circumferential slot and a plurality of holes defining a flow passage into the circumferential slot. A plurality of self-energizing ring segments are disposed in the circumferential slot. The annular seal ring segments and the self-energizing ring segments establish a seal with the exterior of a pipe and permit movement of the pipe in a direction orthogonal to the axis of the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: HRST, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert James Krowech
  • Patent number: 8919779
    Abstract: There is disclosed a rotary air-riding seal between a first structure and an adjacent second structure, including: first and second seal members defining respective seal surfaces facing to one another. The first seal member is provided on the first structure and the second seal member is mounted to the second structure towards the first seal member. At least one of said seal members is configured to generate a riding film of air between said seal surfaces. One of said seal members is supported for axial oscillation relative to the other seal member by a secondary support arrangement configured to bias said seal member towards the other seal member. The said secondary support arrangement accommodates relatively high frequency axial movements between the seal members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventor: Ingo Henry Johannes Jahn
  • Publication number: 20140225325
    Abstract: A sealing system for process gas leakage from a turbomachine casing is provided. The sealing system may include a seal assembly housing coupled to or integral with the turbomachine casing. The seal assembly housing defines a bore configured to receive a rotary shaft and a sealing assembly. The sealing assembly includes a plurality of carbon rings mounted circumferentially about the rotary shaft. The plurality of carbon rings may include an inboard carbon ring configured to prevent flow of a separation gas inboard of the barrier seal, an outboard carbon ring configured to prevent flow of contaminates into the seal assembly housing, and an intermediate carbon ring interposed between the inboard carbon ring and outboard carbon ring. A pressure differential is maintained across the inboard carbon ring, such that the separation gas is prevented from flowing inboard across the inboard carbon ring by a residual portion of a seal gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: DRESSER-RAND COMPANY
    Inventors: Patrice Bardon, Raphael Bridon, Wee Sen Ng, William Runyan
  • Publication number: 20140217676
    Abstract: Sliding parts are provided where a plurality of dynamic pressure-generating grooves for generating dynamic pressure via the relative rotational sliding of the stationary ring and the rotating ring are formed in a circumferential direction on a sealing face of one of a stationary ring and the rotating ring so as to communicate with a sealed fluid-containing space, and pumping areas for generating pumping action via the relative rotational sliding of the stationary ring and the rotating ring are formed within the dynamic pressure-generating grooves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: EAGLE INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi Hosoe, Hideyuki Inoue
  • Publication number: 20140175751
    Abstract: An adjustable seal apparatus for mounting a mixing apparatus having a movable shaft in sealed engagement with a wall of a vessel and in a selected orientation with respect to the wall of the vessel. The adjustable seal apparatus includes a seal mechanism for creating a gas-tight seal between the shaft of the mixing apparatus and the wall of the vessel and an adjustable mounting mechanism for selectively positioning the shaft in a desired orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: MCNISH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daniel J. Schmitz, Arn W. Johnson, Richard L. Dornfeld
  • Publication number: 20140167360
    Abstract: A rolling diaphragm seal for a strut bearing, the seal inserted into an annulus formed between an upper and lower housing. The seal having a hollow tubular form, formed into a ring open at one end. The seal rolling along a length thereof during relative rotation of the upper and lower housings. Alternatively, the seal can be a continuous hollow tubular form inserted between the upper and lower housings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Robert Weiss, II
  • Publication number: 20140145403
    Abstract: To reduce leakage of pressure medium in a seal arrangement (1) comprising two sealing elements (8) that are pressed by a sealing medium against the piston rod (3) and against a wall (11) of a recess (10), it is provided that the radially interiorly disposed circumferential surface (24) constitutes at least one of the sealing elements (8) from a sealing surface (12) and a tributary area (23), a second end face (21) that faces away from the axial end (11) of the recess (10) connecting to the sealing surface (12), and a rigid cover ring (9) being provided that is positioned at least in part radially against the radially exterior circumferential surface (25) of the sealing element (8) and at least in part axially against the second end face (21) of the sealing element (8).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: Hoerbiger Kompressortechnik Holding GmbH
    Inventors: Martin LAGLER, Christian Hold, Alexander Jandl, Tino Lindner-Silwester, Alexander Loedl
  • Publication number: 20140117624
    Abstract: A seal assembly for a rotary machine is provided. The seal assembly includes multiple sealing device segments disposed circumferentially intermediate to a stationary housing and a rotor. Each of the sealing device segments includes a stator interface element, a shoe plate having an extended portion having one or more labyrinth teeth facing the rotor and a load bearing portion, wherein the shoe plate is configured to generate an aerodynamic force between the shoe plate and the rotor. The sealing device segment further includes a secondary seal configured to be in contact with the stator interface element at a radially outer end and configured to be in contact with an elevated nose section of the extended portion of the shoe plate on a radially inner end; and multiple flexible elements attached to the shoe plate and to the stator interface element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2013
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Rahul Anil Bidkar, Azam Mihir Thatte, Nathan Evan McCurdy Gibson, Andrew Paul Giametta
  • Publication number: 20140093198
    Abstract: A bearing assembly includes an inner member having an outer engagement surface and an outer race. The outer race has an inner surface defining a first end and a second end and an inner engagement surface therebetween, the inner engagement surface is positioned on the outer engagement surface of the inner member. A first annular groove is formed in the inner surface, proximate one of the first end and the second end. A second annular groove is formed in the inner surface and is positioned axially inward from the first annular groove. An external seal is positioned in first annular groove and slidably engages the inner member. An internal seal is positioned in the second annular groove and slidingly engages the inner member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: ROLLER BEARING COMPANY OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: James Voisine
  • Publication number: 20140044607
    Abstract: A seal device is provided for sealing intermediate spaces formed between bodies arranged to be relatively movable, wherein the seal device has a resilient, gas-tight main body which is extendable in a peripheral direction and through which a portion of the first of the two bodies is guided, and a first end portion, which fastenable to the second body, and a second end portion, which is settable against the first movable body, wherein the second end portion is movable with respect to the first end portion in a first transverse direction which extends at an angle different from 0° with respect to a longitudinal direction. A sliding seal device, which is applicable to the first movable body so that a relative rotation is made possible between the first body and the second body by a pre-set angle, is arranged on the second end portion of the seal device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Florian Geltinger, Michael Neubauer
  • Publication number: 20130322794
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sealing arrangement for a rotating shaft which is in particular designed as a drive shaft of a pump. The sealing arrangement has a stationary seal holder in which a first and a second slide ring seal are supported. The slide ring seals each have a co-rotating rotary seal part and a stationary seal part. A sealing space is formed between the slide ring seals and the seal holder to which sealing fluid can be supplied via a feed line. In order to enable good rotor dynamics of the shaft with the seal arrangement, in accordance with the invention a bearing is arranged between the first and the second slide ring seals by means of which the shaft can be supported with respect to the seal holder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Inventor: Paul MEUTER
  • Publication number: 20130241153
    Abstract: The disclosure describes a windback device for a circumferential seal within a turbine engine. The windback device includes an annular collar at one end of an annular fluid seal housing, at least one inclined thread, and a plurality of inclined baffles separately disposed along an outer circumferential surface of a rotatable runner. The housing is adapted at another end for an annular seal. The collar has an opening therethrough sized to receive the runner without contact. The annular seal surrounds and sealingly engages the runner. The threads extend from an inner face of the collar toward the runner. The baffles are separately recessed in or raised above the outer circumferential surface of the runner. The baffles are interposed between the runner and threads. Each baffle is separated from the threads via a radial clearance. Threads and baffles direct lubricant away from the annular seal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: Stein Seal Company
    Inventor: Glenn M. Garrison
  • Publication number: 20130078091
    Abstract: A seal assembly for a bearing chamber of a gas turbine engine. The seal assembly includes a seal land having a sealing surface and a non-sealing surface, and at least one non-contact seal member having a sealing surface and a non-sealing surface. The opposing sealing surfaces define a fluid flow path for a sealing fluid such as air from a compressor of the gas turbine engine. The seal assembly includes a sealing fluid cooling arrangement comprising an oil jet configured to provide cooling oil to one or both of the seal member and the seal runner non-sealing surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventor: Paul D. REES
  • Publication number: 20130075975
    Abstract: Non-contacting cartridge shaft seals prevent leakage loss of process gases in an “oil free” rotary screw compressor or blower, while simultaneously preventing ingress of lubricating oil to the pumping chamber, allowing the compressor/blower to generate process pressure differentials without oil contamination. A compact unitized seal cartridge assembly is provided in the end plates of the pump housing. One of the rotor shafts extends through an aperture in the end plate or housing, between the pumping chamber and oil-lubricated gear/bearing cases. Internal elements have the ability to self-align radially achieving essential concentricity with shaft rotational axes. The rotor shafts or sleeves non-contact relationship during operation allow increased ranges of shaft rotational speeds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: HYDRO-ERGOSEAL INC.
    Inventor: John A. Hilaris
  • Publication number: 20130001882
    Abstract: A sealing arrangement for a control device of an internal combustion engine includes a housing. A channel is formed in the housing. The channel has a gas flow therethrough. A control member controls a flow of the gas in the channel. The control member is arranged on a shaft. A bearing supports the shaft in a bearing bore of the housing. A vent bore extends in the housing from an inner wall of the channel on an inlet side of the control member to a rear side, facing outward from the channel, of the bearing arranged in the housing, and into the bearing bore. A first groove is formed in the shaft behind the bearing. The first groove is configured so as to be circumferential when seen from the channel. The first groove is surrounded radially by a sealing device which is configured to cooperate with the first groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: PIERBURG GMBH
    Inventors: Karsten Voigtlaender, Carsten Dickmann, Elina Sovva
  • Publication number: 20120038113
    Abstract: A seal backup ring is provided with undulating surfaces which create circumferential convergence with a relatively rotatable surface. The backup ring is configured so that differential pressure acting across a rotary seal forces portions of the backup ring against the relatively rotatable surface, closing, or substantially closing, the extrusion gap that the rotary seal is exposed to. In response to relative rotation between the backup ring and the mating relatively rotatable surface, the circumferential convergence promotes hydrodynamic lubrication within the dynamic interface that exists between the backup ring and the relatively rotatable surface. The modulus of elasticity of the backup ring is greater than the modulus of elasticity of the rotary seal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2011
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Inventors: Lannie Laroy Dietle, Aaron Richie, Victor Garcia, JR., Jeffrey D. Gobeli, John Erick Schroeder
  • Patent number: 8047548
    Abstract: An alignment apparatus includes a first stator, located in a stator of a piece of rotating equipment, and a second stator couplingly connected to the first stator and able to be angularly rotated relative to the first stator. The second stator can seal an interface between a shaft and housing in the piece of rotating equipment. The alignment apparatus permits angular misalignment between a stator, a housing and a rotor shaft, and may be used, for example, in a bearing protector or an isolator installed on a Pillow Box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: AES Engineering Ltd.
    Inventor: Alan James Roddis
  • Publication number: 20100133756
    Abstract: A shaft seal for steam turbines is provided. The shaft seal steam barrier is supplied with a slight excess pressure. In order to avoid complex additional devices necessary for liquefying the water vapor once again, a condensation chamber, which is sealed from the surrounding air as well as from the steam barrier chamber with brush seals, is provided between the steam barrier chamber and the surrounding air. The condensation chamber is constructed in such a manner that the heat, developing in the interior thereof, is discharged to the outside.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2008
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Inventors: Edwin Gobrecht, Achim Hammann, Dirk Knudsen, Karsten Peters, Jan Walkenhorst
  • Publication number: 20100066027
    Abstract: An intershaft seal assembly for counter-rotating and co-rotating turbine engines is described. The seal assembly includes a pair of end rings and a seal element. At least one end ring has a flange, with upper and lower surfaces, disposed along and extending from one side of the ring. The seal element includes a ring, with inner and outer radial surfaces, and a ring flange wider than the ring. The ring flange is disposed along and extends diametrically from the outer radial surface, the latter also contacting the lower surface along at least one flange. The seal element is disposed between the end rings so that the ring flange extends beyond the flanges. The invention avoids the wear and heating problems inherit to intershaft seal systems, thus allowing the seal element to be composed of a temperature resistant metal, metal alloy, or carbon graphite.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2008
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Inventor: Thurai Manik Vasagar
  • Publication number: 20090189355
    Abstract: A mechanical seal 4 is a static pressure type non-contact gas seal, including a rotary sealing ring 5 that is fixed to a rotating shaft, and a stationary sealing ring 7 that is engaged and held in an inner periphery of a seal case 6 made of a metal by means of O-rings 12 so as to move in an axial direction thereof. The O-rings 12 are held engaging with the outer periphery of the stationary sealing ring 7, and come in press contact with the inner periphery of the seal case 6 so as to give a secondary seal to a gap between the stationary sealing ring 7 and the seal case 6, while allowing the stationary sealing ring 7 to move ih ng a thickness in the range of 5 to 100 ?m is formed on the inner periphery of the seal case 6 at least within a range in which the O-rings 12 relatively move in accordance with the movement of the stationary sealing ring 7 in the axial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2005
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Inventors: Makoto Ueda, Satoshi Fujiwara, Mitsuru Kudari, Masanobu Ninomiya
  • Publication number: 20090142180
    Abstract: A circumferential sealing arrangement is disclosed herein. The circumferential sealing arrangement includes a structure operable to rotate about an axis and having a first surface facing radially outward. The circumferential sealing arrangement also includes a static housing circumscribing the rotatable structure. The circumferential sealing arrangement also includes at least one seal element connected to the static housing and having a second surface facing radially inward. The circumferential sealing arrangement also includes a seal runner rotatable with the structure and having a third surface facing radially outward. The third surface cooperates with the second surface to form a circumferential seal between the static housing and the rotatable structure. A radial gap is defined between the first surface of the rotatable structure and a fourth surface of the seal runner facing radially inward and opposing the first surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Inventor: JOHN MUNSON
  • Patent number: 7210687
    Abstract: A primary technical goal of this shaft seal device is to decrease the pressure of a sealant at a communication passage between a fluid chamber and a first seal portion, to further reduce the pressure by a floating ring, to make the first seal portion pressure-proof for sealing a high pressure process fluid, and to reduce the cost of the shaft seal device by simplifying its structure. The device comprises a fluid chamber being located between the first seal portion and the second seal portion, an intake passage being communicated to a communication passage between the fluid chamber and the first seal portion for allowing a sealant S to flow in, a floating ring being disposed within the fluid chamber and defining a pressure reduction gap between its own inner surface and the rotary shaft, and an outlet passage being communicated to the pressure reduction gap for circulating the pressure reduced sealant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Eagle Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hidekazu Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7191875
    Abstract: A disc brake includes a piston seal made of rubber that is shaped to fit into a seal groove on the inner surface of a cylinder of a caliper for a brake piston. To prevent braking effectiveness from being impaired, even if the temperature of a caliper rises in a disc brake for a vehicle, the piston seal and/or the seal groove is shaped to control and contain the effects of thermal expansion due to the heat of the disc brake. The clearance between the piston seal and the seal groove is removed and clearance is provided between parts of the periphery of the piston seal and the seal groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seiji Kurimoto, Kuniaki Wakamatsu, Hidetoshi Toyoda, Shinichi Kuwahara
  • Patent number: 6905123
    Abstract: A gas seal for providing a seal between a pair of relatively rotatable components is provided with a stand-still seal which will seal between the components when the components are stationary, the stand-still seal having a sealing element mounted in sealing relationship with respect to one of said components and being displaceable into sealing engagement with the other component when the components are stationary with respect to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: John Crane UK Limited
    Inventor: Ian Martyn Goldswain
  • Patent number: 6880829
    Abstract: A brush shroud assembly for reducing the tip clearance between a rotating blade and an engine casing is disclosed. The assembly includes a plurality of bristle packs supported within a housing such that the bristle distribution at the inner diameter of the bristle packs is substantially continuous. The continuous surface is created by mounting the bristles packs within a housing such that the packs are flared, i.e. width at the outer diameter of the bristle pack is smaller than that at the inner diameter. Various embodiments are disclosed for mounting the flared bristle packs to form a substantially continuous inner diameter. The bristle strips may be mounted in one or more annular rings, may be secured within one or more channels in the housing, the bristle packs may be formed into a tufted ring, or any of these may be utilized in combination with a backplate supporting an abradable seal, i.e. a hybrid design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Advanced Components & Materials, Inc.
    Inventor: Amitava Datta
  • Patent number: 6742496
    Abstract: The butterfly valve of the invention is provided with a valve shaft to which a valve body is mounted, and a pair of slide bearings which rotatably support both ends of the valve shaft. Inner peripheral surfaces of the slide bearings being in contact with the valve shaft are formed in a convex curved surface protruding to an inner peripheral side, and the inner peripheral surfaces of the slide bearings are formed in a circular arc shape in cross section along an axial direction. The inner peripheral surfaces in the slide bearings in both sides being in contact with the valve shaft are formed in a convex curved shape protruding to the inner peripheral side, and the inner peripheral surfaces of the slide bearings are formed in a circular arc shape in cross section along the axial direction. Accordingly, the inner peripheral surfaces of the bearings are in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the valve shaft in a substantially line contact manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoshi Hattori, Kazuhisa Nomura
  • Patent number: 6722657
    Abstract: Disclosed is a labyrinth seal assembly for sealing an annular gap defined between a bore of a housing and an outer surface of a cylindrical shaft, wherein the housing and shaft are relatively movable. The seal assembly includes radially inner and radially outer shield rings. The radially inner shield ring has an inner surface which is adapted and configured for support by the shaft. The radially outer shield ring is partially disposed within the sealing channel of the inner shield ring. The outer shield ring includes a casing member, foam seal elements, and a shield element retainer. The foam seal elements depend radially inward into the sealing channel so as to form a circuitous sealing labyrinth therein. The seal elements are formed preferably from polyurethane. A highly viscous fluid is disposed within the circuitous sealing labyrinth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignees: Stemco LLC, The Timken Company
    Inventors: Charles Robin Hood, Donald G. Wells, Mark N. Gold, Richard Borowski
  • Patent number: 6663110
    Abstract: A seal assembly seal assembly includes an outer member, an inner member, and a resilient member therebetwen. The resilient member is located between an inner diameter of the outer member and an outer diameter of the inner member. The resilient member includes substantially V-shaped or opposed parabolic members in cross-section which define a cavity therebetween. The cavity formed between the parabolic members is filled with the hydrophobic material to provide a barrier to undesirable moisture, lubricate the interface between the parabolic members and the outer diameter of the inner member, and further minimize ingestion of contaminants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Meritor Heavy Vehicle Technology LLC
    Inventor: David K. Platner
  • Patent number: 6536773
    Abstract: A brush shroud assembly for reducing the tip clearance between a rotating blade and an engine casing is disclosed. The assembly includes a plurality of bristle packs supported within a housing such that the bristle distribution at the inner diameter of the bristle packs is substantially continuous. The continuous surface is created by mounting the bristles packs within a housing such that the packs are flared, i.e. width at the outer diameter of the bristle pack is smaller than that at the inner diameter. Various embodiments are disclosed for mounting the flared bristle packs to form a substantially continuous inner diameter. The bristle strips may be mounted in one or more annular rings, may be secured within one or more channels in the housing, the bristle packs may be formed into a tufted ring, or any of these may be utilized in combination with a backplate supporting an abradable seal, i.e. a hybrid design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Advanced Components & Materials, Inc.
    Inventor: Amitava Datta
  • Patent number: 6435513
    Abstract: A brush seal is comprised of arcuate seal segments having ends cut in a radial direction with bristles “canted” at an approximate 45° angle relative to radii of the segments, leaving triangular regions adjacent one end of each segment devoid of bristles at the segment interfaces. The brush seals are retrofit into conventional labyrinth seals with the backing plate for the bristles comprising a labyrinth tooth profile extending fully 360° about the seal, including those areas where bristles are not present. The sealing capacity is not substantially degraded, while affording significant sealing improvements over conventional labyrinth seals. Additionally, when retrofit into labyrinth seals with radial movement, the individual labyrinth seal segments are free to move radially independently of one another during transients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David Robert Skinner, Bharat S. Bagepalli, Robert Harold Cromer, Osman Saim Dinc, Norman Arnold Turnquist, Christopher Edward Wolfe
  • Patent number: 6357757
    Abstract: A seal assembly having a case, an annular seal member and an annular guide member. The case is adapted to be mounted to a housing within a bore. The annular seal member is coupled to the case and extends radially inward therefrom. A seal lip is formed into the annular seal member and is adapted to provide a seal between the housing and a shaft. The annular guide member is coupled to one of the case and the seal member and extends radially inward therefrom. The annular guide includes an inner tip which extends radially inward beyond the seal lip when the seal assembly is in a free state disengaged from the shaft. The inner tip of the annular guide is adapted to protect the sealing integrity of the seal lip when the seal assembly and the shaft are assembled to one another. A method for installing a seal assembly with a guide member is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: John Clinton Hibbler, David Marshall Morse, Rajendra G. Kumashi
  • Patent number: 6257586
    Abstract: A brush seal is comprised of arcuate seal segments having ends cut in a radial direction with bristles “canted” at an approximate 45° angle relative to radii of the segments, leaving triangular regions adjacent one end of each segment devoid of bristles at the segment interfaces. The brush seals are retrofit into conventional labyrinth seals with the backing plate for the bristles comprising a labyrinth tooth profile extending fully 360° about the seal, including those areas where bristles are not present. The sealing capacity is not substantially degraded, while affording significant sealing improvements over conventional labyrinth seals. Additionally, when retrofit into labyrinth seals with radial movement, the individual labyrinth seal segments are free to move radially independently of one another during transients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: General Electric Co.
    Inventors: David Robert Skinner, Bharat S. Bagepalli, Robert Harold Cromer, Osman Saim Dinc, Norman Arnold Turnquist, Christopher Edward Wolfe
  • Patent number: 6250639
    Abstract: This invention relates to a seal for protecting an end of an idler roll against contaminants. The seal includes a fastener engageable with the end of the idler roll and an integral first sealing member molded onto the fastener and extending radially outward from the fastener. A second sealing member is integrated with the first sealing member. The first sealing member and the second sealing member project into frictional engagement with the end of the idler roll. When assembled with the end of the idler roll, the first sealing member and the sealing member are biased into frictional engagement with the end of the idler roll, thus protecting the end of the idler roll from contaminants in wet environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas Hayes, B. Shane Kelley, Charles F. East
  • Patent number: 6182972
    Abstract: A mechanical labyrinth seal for rotating shafts having first and second ring members. The first ring member, includes a series of annular axially extending grooves and flanges. The second ring member is adopted for insertion into said first ring member with a plurality of complimentary inwardly extending flanges and grooves to form a well known labyrinth seal. There is a slot or channel through the labyrinth or maze connecting the exterior atmosphere to the interior of the seal assembly. The second ring member is adapted to rotate with the shaft and includes an annular recess near the shaft and inwardly toward the housing. There is a recess in the first ring member to be opposite the recess in said second ring member and a strip of material is inserted via a passage into the recesses of said first and second ring member. The recess second ring member being slightly larger in axial direction than the strip of material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: IsoTech of Illinois, Inc.
    Inventor: David C. Orlowski
  • Patent number: 6173958
    Abstract: A seal is provided between relatively moving parts and includes plural layers of woven material such as metal, polymer or ceramic materials. The layers are secured to one another and to a first part of the relatively moving first and second parts and extend freely from that first part into engagement with the second part. The woven material layers accommodate shape variations between the parts. In a further form, bristles are disposed between layers of woven material and secured at one end to one part. The free ends of the bristles and the free marginal portion of the woven material project toward the second part in sealing engagement therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Assignee: General Electric Co.
    Inventors: Osman S. Dinc, James Maynard, Bharat S. Bagepalli, Robert H. Cromer
  • Patent number: 6129246
    Abstract: A rotary feeder for dosing bulk material, includes a casing having an inner chamber and formed with a top inlet, a bottom outlet and spaced-apart bearing covers flanking the inlet and the outlet. A rotor is accommodated in the chamber and is mounted on a shaft for rotation about a pivot axis. The shaft supports a plurality of vanes extending radially outward from the shaft between lateral end disks, with the shaft being supported on opposite sides of the rotor by bearings. In order to minimize the length of the shaft and a flexure of the shaft when encountering a substantial pressure differential between the inlet and the outlet, the chamber of the housing is sealed from the ambient environment by at least one shaft seal situated axially outwardly from the one bearing of the first and second bearings which is located on a same side of the rotor as the shaft seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Assignee: Waeschle GmbH
    Inventor: Eugen Metzler
  • Patent number: 5961124
    Abstract: A sealing system for an essentially vertical shaft includes an active sealing element disposed between a first structural part rotating with the shaft and a second structural part stationary on a housing. A wall of the housing separates an upper oil-free volume from a lower volume containing oil. The oil flows through the sealing system through a gap formed by the first structural part and a third structural part stationary on the housing. The active sealing element is preferably a threaded shaft seal. In another embodiment, the active sealing element is a combination of a primary contact seal and a threaded shaft seal. The oil flow removes heat generated by the rotating system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Leybold Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Heinz K. Muller