Brush Seal Patents (Class 277/355)
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Publication number: 20120288361Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2012Publication date: November 15, 2012Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Guoqiang Lu, Mehmet Demiroglu, Binayak Roy, Deepak Trivedi, Xiaoqing Zheng
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Publication number: 20120251290Abstract: An aspirating face seal includes a primary seal, a secondary seal, and a biasing device. The primary seal includes a first seal component and a second seal component. The first seal component is configured to be coupled to a rotor and rotatable with the rotor. The secondary seal includes a plurality of flexible elements and configured to be disposed between the second seal component and a stator housing. A biasing device is coupled to the second seal component such that the second seal component is biased along an axial direction away from the first seal component during a non-operating condition.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2011Publication date: October 4, 2012Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Norman Arnold Turnquist, Rodrigo Rodriguez Erdmenger, Xiaoqing Zheng, Robbert Christiaan Pannekeet, Keith Michael Parker
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Publication number: 20120251303Abstract: 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 include a set of bristles having a fixed end and a free end, wherein the fixed end is attached to the rotating component, and wherein the set of bristles are angled axially with respect to the rotating component.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2011Publication date: October 4, 2012Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Xiaoqing Zheng, William Edward Adis, Bernard Arthur Couture, JR., Michael Dennis Mack, Kristan Brice Sears
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Patent number: 8272644Abstract: A card seal with an annular arrangement of leaf elements, where each leaf element has a T shape with an upper ear section and a leaf section extending from the ear section. the leaf elements each include a first raised portion and a second raised portion that form a cross, the raised portions allowing for air to pass to bend ends on the leaf sections to form a floating air seal and to limit leakage flow across the leaf elements from one side to the opposite side.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2010Date of Patent: September 25, 2012Assignee: Florida Turbine Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Wilho V Aho, Jr., Jack W Wilson, Jr., Vincent P Laurello
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Patent number: 8265715Abstract: There are a first packing 31 and a second packing 32 for covering and sealing a first opening portion 11a and a second opening portion 12a other than a groove portion 31a and a groove portion 32a for leading an FPC 20. The first packing 31 and the second packing 32 wipe surfaces of the FPC 20 corning in and going out of the groove portion 31a and the groove portion 32a by sliding operation of a second frame 12.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2011Date of Patent: September 11, 2012Assignee: NEC CorporationInventor: Takehiko Komiyama
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Patent number: 8256575Abstract: Methods and systems for reducing a flow of ambient air into a bearing lubricating oil system are provided. The system includes a lubricating oil bearing cover that is stationary with respect to the bearing wherein the bearing is configured to support a portion of a rotatable machine shaft. The cover includes a first end cap extending radially inwardly towards the shaft such that a cavity surrounding the bearing is formed by the cover and the first end cap and a set of seal rings positioned substantially concentric with the shaft and forming a seal against lubricating oil flow. The seal rings include a plurality of wire bristles extending radially inwardly from the end cap wherein the wire bristles are configured to extend to a surface of the shaft when assembled and the bristles are configured to present a tortuous flow path to gas infiltrating the cavity.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2007Date of Patent: September 4, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Nathan Robert Berberich
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Patent number: 8250756Abstract: A compliant plate seal arrangement manufacturing method is provided. A compliant plate seal manufacturing method includes assembling a plurality of t-shims and a plurality of spacer shims into a straight weld fixture, thereby forming a shim pack having a front and rear end and sides, welding the sides of the shim pack to a top plate, removing a portion of the weld fixture, removing the plurality of spacer shims, shaping the shim pack into a target diameter, and applying a radial flow plate to the leaf pack.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2009Date of Patent: August 28, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: William Edward Adis, Bernard Arthur Couture, Jr., Hrishikesh Vishvas Deo, Sean Douglas Feeny, Michael Dennis Mack, Daniel Frederick Purdy, Norman Arnold Turnquist
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Patent number: 8235392Abstract: The invention relates to a sealing arrangement for a non-hermetic seal of a gap (11) between a stator and a rotor with a brush seal (13), wherein the brush seal (13) has a bristle package (14) with several bristles (15), the bristles are wound about a core element (16) and fixed to the core element (16), wherein the brush seal (13) is disposed at least sectionally in an accommodating space, which is bounded by a supporting element (18) and a covering element (19), and wherein the bristles (15) have sealing bristle sections (21), which are at an angle to the bristle shafts (20) and the ends of which run against a sealing surface (22) of the rotor (12). According to the invention, the covering element (19) has a support surface (23) at an end adjacent to the sealing bristle sections (21), wherein the supporting surface (23) contacts the bristle shafts (20) in a defined, locally limited region, so that the radial mobility of the sealing bristle sections (21) is limited in the direction of the rotor (12).Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2007Date of Patent: August 7, 2012Assignee: MTU Aero Engines GmbHInventors: Alfons Gail, Wilhelm Gräbeldinger, Alexander Rauschmeier
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Publication number: 20120195741Abstract: A brush seal assembly for turbomachinery having a rotor can include a stationary seal component, a floating seal component coupled to the stationary seal component and circumferentially angled bristles arranged in a bristle pack, disposed in the floating seal component and extended axially with respect to the rotor.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2011Publication date: August 2, 2012Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Neelesh Nandkumar Sarawate, Norman Arnold Turnquist, William Edward Adis, Robert Gerard Baran, Rodrigo Rodriguez Erdmenger, Robbert Christiaan Pannekeet, Keith Michael Parker, Xiaoqing Zheng
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Patent number: 8231340Abstract: A leaf seal 10 in a rotary machine is located between a higher pressure region 14 and a lower pressure region 16 of the machine. Blow-down forces are greater on the lower pressure side 16 of the leaf seal 10 than on its higher pressure side 14, resulting in greater inward deflection of the leaves 20 on the lower pressure side of the seal than on its higher pressure side, leading in turn to greater wear of the leaves and the contacting rotor surface 44 on the lower pressure side 16 of the seal. To counteract this, the free ends 36 of the leaves 20 can be given a tapered profile 42 to gradually reduce the length of each leaf 20 over its width ‘w’ from its higher pressure side 14 to its lower pressure side 16, so that the leaves 20 are free to deflect under the blow-down forces by the amount of their reduction in length (a maximum of ‘x’), before they contact the rotor surface.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2011Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd.Inventor: Neil Howes
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Publication number: 20120187635Abstract: A brush seal assembly including a pair of annular plates defining an annular slot between them and a radially outer chamber opening into the slot; and an annular brush seal having bristles and an enlarged portion at its outer periphery formed by welding the bristles together, the brush seal extending through the slot with its enlarged portion retained in the chamber wherein at least a portion of one of the plates has an extension thereof which is deformed over the other plate to hold the plates together to form the assembly characterised in th at one of the plates has a flat face in the region of the slot.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2012Publication date: July 26, 2012Inventor: Peter Francis Crudgington
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Publication number: 20120177483Abstract: A system includes a brush seal segment. The brush seal segment includes a movable support including a head, an extension, and a seal surface, wherein the head is configured to mount in a chamber. The brush seal segment also includes a brush coupled to the movable support along the seal surface, wherein the seal surface consists essentially of the brush. The brush seal segment also includes a biasing element coupled to the movable support, wherein the biasing element is configured to bias the movable support from a first position to a second position to increase a brush clearance in a space between the brush and a rotor, and the movable support is configured to move from the second position to the first position to decrease the brush clearance in response to a fluid flow from the space to the chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 7, 2011Publication date: July 12, 2012Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: Sulficker Ali, Saravana Bhava T., Seshu Kumar Mahankali, Xiaoqing Zheng
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Patent number: 8205889Abstract: A method for assembling a rotary machine is provided. The method includes providing at least one seal assembly that includes at least one annular seal housing defined by a top wall, a front wall, and a rear wall, that are connected together such that a cavity is defined within the housing, coupling a plurality of flexible plates within the cavity such that the plates are axially-spaced from the front wall and the rear wall within the cavity, coupling at least one side plate to the at least one annular seal housing such that the at least one side plate is moveable with respect the front wall and the rear wall, and coupling the at least one sealing assembly within a rotary machine to facilitate sealing between a rotary component and a stator component.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2007Date of Patent: June 26, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Nikhil Kumar Verma, Jason Paul Mortzheim, Yogesh Sathe, Hrishikesh Vishvas Deo
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Patent number: 8191898Abstract: A brush seal assembly including a pair of annular plates defining an annular slot between them and a radially outer chamber opening into the slot; and an annular brush seal having bristles and an enlarged portion at its outer periphery formed by welding the bristles together, the brush seal extending through the slot with its enlarged portion retained in the chamber wherein at least a portion of one of the plates has an extension thereof which is deformed over the other plate to hold the plates together to form the assembly characterized in that one of the plates has a flat face in the region of the slot.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2011Date of Patent: June 5, 2012Assignee: Cross Manufacturing Company (1938) LimitedInventor: Peter Francis Crudgington
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Publication number: 20120126484Abstract: The invention concerns a system for providing a seal between two volumes (V1, V2) delimited by a part (2A) mounted to rotate about an axis (A) and a stator (6), said system (S) including an annular brush seal (7) that comprises: a brush body (8) pivotally mounted in the stator; and fibers (10) fixed to the brush body and inclined at an angle ? relative to a plane (P) orthogonal to the rotation axis (A), wherein it includes means (11, 12) for adjusting the angle ? of the fibers (10) so as to be able to adjust precisely the clearance between the free end (10A) of the fibers and the rotary part (2A).Type: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2011Publication date: May 24, 2012Applicant: SNECMAInventors: Nelson DOS SANTOS, Dominik Igel, Gérard Philippe Gauthier
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Patent number: 8181965Abstract: The present invention relates to replaceable brush seal assemblies for use with turbines such as industrial gas turbines. In accordance with the present invention, a brush seal assembly comprises a flange, a brush seal mounted to the flange, and retainers preventing rotation of the brush seal relative to the flange. A method of repairing a brush seal having a back plate, side plate, and bristles is also disclosed. The method comprises the steps of removing the side plate and the bristles from the back plate, and securing a second brush seal to the back plate.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2002Date of Patent: May 22, 2012Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventor: Mark E. Addis
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Publication number: 20120104700Abstract: A brush seal is disclosed that may include a spring-ioaded seal arrangement configured to conform to a wide range of sealing diameters along the length of a rotor of a turbomachine. In particular, the brush seal may be manufactured with free ends configured to overlap and provide a finite amount of radially expandable/contractible play and yet maintain an effective seal. Consequently, the same brush seal design may be used in a range of locations along a rotor length without the need to specifically manufacture separate brush seals for each variance in dimension.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2010Publication date: May 3, 2012Applicant: Dresser-Rand CompanyInventors: David J. Peer, Robert E. Kunselman
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Patent number: 8167313Abstract: A brush seal assembly and method for sealing a turbine machine rotary member relative to a stationary member circumscribing the rotary member. The seal assembly includes a first compliant seal component disposed at a radially inward region of the stationary member in rubbing contact with a surface of the rotary member. The seal assembly also includes at least one hard seal element formed integrally with a carrier of the first compliant seal component, located a specified axial distance from the first compliant seal component.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2009Date of Patent: May 1, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Steven Sebastian Burdgick, Andrew Greif
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Patent number: 8162323Abstract: A leaf seal arrangement is provided in which within a housing there are edge portions to inter associate with non parallel chamfer edges in leaf seal elements. In such circumstances, deflection of the leaf seal elements in an outward direction or inward direction relative to a rotating shaft creates variation in a control gap X, XX between the edges and the chamfer edge. Such increase or decrease in the control gap X, XX adjusts the aerodynamic radial force that is presented to the leaf seal elements whereby those elements can be more accurately maintained at a desired leaf position for optimizing leakage while achieving better wear resistance performance.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2008Date of Patent: April 24, 2012Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLCInventors: Richard Nicholson, Terence Valentine Jones
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Patent number: 8157266Abstract: A seal assembly for a regenerative heat exchanger can include a sealing member with a mounting base and a flexible contact portion having a contact edge that resiliently contacts a sector plate of the heat exchanger housing when the seal assembly is mounted to the heat exchanger. The seal assembly can also include a curvilinear support with a mounting section and a curved extended portion attached to the mounting section and having a predetermined curvature that gradually contacts the flexible contact portion as flexion of the flexible contact portion is increased, thereby gradually moving a flex point of the flexible contact portion toward the contact edge of the curvilinear support and gradually increasing a spring constant of the unsupported end of the flexible contact portion to resist further flexion of the flexible contact portion.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2009Date of Patent: April 17, 2012Assignee: Paragon Airheater Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Frank Klisura, Stephan Hastings
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Publication number: 20120086172Abstract: A brush seal and brush seal segment for use in a rotary device are provided. In one embodiment, the invention provides a brush seal comprising: a plurality of brush seal segments, each segment including: an arcuate fence; an arcuate backplate substantially circumferentially coextensive with the arcuate fence, the arcuate backplate including a first end and a second end; and a plurality of brush seal bristles between the arcuate backplate and the arcuate fence, the plurality of brush seal bristles being angled with respect to a radial axis of the arcuate backplate and at least one of the first end and the second end of the arcuate backplate; and a static member to which at least one of the plurality of brush seal segments is affixed.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 6, 2010Publication date: April 12, 2012Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Xiaoqing Zheng, William Edward Adis, Bernard Arthur Couture, JR., Michael Dennis Mack
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Patent number: 8152462Abstract: A card seal with an annular arrangement of cards that are positioned within an annular groove of a casing, and a conical flexible seal is secured to the casing on the low pressure side of the cards. The cards and the flexible seal both includes slanted surfaces that interact during operation such that the flexible seal gap decreases with the rotor shaft and the cards are secured within the annular groove during assembly and installation of the card seal. The flexible seal blocks leakage through the cards and includes an axial extending inner end that can include an abradable material to allow for rub with the shaft while decreasing the gap to prevent leakage across the cards.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2009Date of Patent: April 10, 2012Assignee: Florida Turbine Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Gregory C Williams
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Patent number: 8132815Abstract: A card seal with an annular arrangement of cards that form the card seal, where the cards each form an L-shape cross section with a wide front face and a narrow side face, where the side face has a constant width from a top end to a location greater than a mid-point, and from this point decreases in width to zero width at the bottom end. The side faces form a blockage against leakage flowing between adjacent cards in a cards seal assembly.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2009Date of Patent: March 13, 2012Assignee: Florida Turbine Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Daniel R Dillon
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Patent number: 8118310Abstract: A brush seal including a bristle pack mounted in a holder, and having a free end for sealing with a member, a front plate for lying on a high pressure side of the seal and extending part way along the length of the bristle pack to a free end being spaced from the bristle pack characterized in that the front plate is formed for or carries a formation for reducing the influence of swirling fluid on the high pressure side on the bristle pack.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2009Date of Patent: February 21, 2012Assignee: Cross Manufacturing Company (1938) LimitedInventors: Peter Francis Crudgington, Aaron Bowsher
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Publication number: 20120027582Abstract: A packing ring assembly for use between a rotating and a stationary component in a turbomachine is disclosed, the assembly including an arcuate packing ring casing, an arcuate packing ring segment positioned at least partially within the packing ring casing, and a resistance component configured to allow movement of the packing ring segment in an axial direction, relative to the rotating component, between a first and second position in response to a pressure condition. In one embodiment, the resistance component allows movement when the pressure condition comprises approximately 30% of the turbomachine load. Also disclosed is an altered surface topography of the rotating component to accommodate variable length teeth extending from the packing ring segment, such that when the packing ring segment is in the first position, a clearance between the packing ring segment and the rotating component is larger than when the packing ring segment is in the second position.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 2, 2010Publication date: February 2, 2012Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Rajasekar Natarajan, Rakesh Vamsi Alamsetty, Mahendra Singh Mehra, Nestor Hernandez Sanchez, Manikandan Srinivasan
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Publication number: 20120025472Abstract: A labyrinth seal has a plurality of arcuate labyrinth seal segments 14 in which the confronting ends of adjacent arcuate labyrinth seal segments 14 have planar faces 26 which are oriented radially and axially but which are canted away from a strictly axial orientation 28 by a cant angle. A plurality of arcuate brush seal segments 16 may be retained in the plurality of arcuate labyrinth seal segments 14, thereby forming a combined labyrinth and brush seal.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 19, 2011Publication date: February 2, 2012Inventors: Wilhelm Reiter, Christos Georgakis, Ivan Ramirez, Venkatesan Palaniappan
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Publication number: 20120017594Abstract: A seal assembly (50, 60) for a gas turbine engine for controlling air flow between a diffuser (48) and rotor disks comprising first and second annular flange ends (52, 54) and an annular seal mid-section (56) between and operatively connected to the flange ends (52, 54). The first and second annular flange ends (52, 54) abut respective outer frame members (46) of the diffuser, whereby a fluid flow path is formed between the seal assembly (50, 60) and the rotor disks (42). The first and second end flanges (52, 54) are composed of a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion that is substantially the same as a coefficient of thermal expansion of the material of the outer frame members (46). In addition, the material of the seal mid-section (56) has a coefficient of thermal expansion that is different than that of the materials of the annular flange ends (52, 54) and outer frame members (46).Type: ApplicationFiled: July 8, 2011Publication date: January 26, 2012Inventors: Christian Kowalski, Fan Zhang, Uwe Lohse, Robert W. Sunshine, Burkhard Voss
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Patent number: 8100406Abstract: A gap 6 between a stationary component 2 and a rotating component 4 is sealed by means of a leaf seal comprising an array of leaves 8, 9. The leaves 8, 9 are disposed in pairs, comprising a higher curvature leaf 8 and a lower curvature leaf 9 which contact each other resiliently at their tips 12. The contact at the tips 12 provides a damping effect. As a result, the tips 12 of the leaves 8, 9 are relatively stable when subjected to an air flow F, enabling damaging flutter to be suppressed.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2009Date of Patent: January 24, 2012Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLCInventor: Christopher Wright
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Patent number: 8100404Abstract: In order to provide simpler manufacture and lift up and blow down control, leaf elements are provided which have profile edges arranged to associate with each other in order to create a ring carousel, either about the front or rear edge of a leaf seal arrangement. In such circumstances gas flow through the leaf seal arrangement encounters the profile edge in order to adjust leaf section position for appropriate sealing efficiency.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2007Date of Patent: January 24, 2012Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLCInventor: David S Williams
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Patent number: 8100405Abstract: A system for providing compliant rotating seals including a rotating portion that has one or more teeth extending radially from it, and a stationary portion that has a plurality of bristles extending radially from it. The one or more teeth rotatively engage the plurality of bristles creating a tortuous path between them that resists a leakage of gas or fluid through them.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2009Date of Patent: January 24, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Andrew Ray Kneeland, Eric David Roush
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Patent number: 8082680Abstract: A shoe device secured to a syphon is disclosed for removing condensate from an internal surface of a rotating cylinder. The shoe device includes a shoe portion which is disposed adjacent to the internal surface of the rotating cylinder. The shoe portion defines a passageway having an upstream and a downstream end. The passageway permits a flow there through of the condensate from the internal surface of the rotating cylinder, through the upstream end of the passageway to the downstream end of the passageway. The shoe portion has a first and a second side, a surface extending between the first and second sides of the shoe portion. The surface is disposed adjacent to the internal surface of the cylinder. The shoe portion also has a leading and a trailing end and a face extending between the leading and trailing ends of the shoe portion. A clamp is secured to a distal end of the syphon and is connected to the shoe portion for clamping the shoe portion to the syphon.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2008Date of Patent: December 27, 2011Assignee: Kadant Inc.Inventors: Alan T Ives, Gregory L. Wedel
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Patent number: 8066286Abstract: The invention relates to a multistage brush seal of a steam turbine that comprises several brushes which in turn comprise several bristles. A plurality of brushes are arranged next to each other and are configured different from each other with regard to the length of the bristles, or to the bristle thicknesses, or to the bristle rigidities, or to the lay angle of the bristles, or to the height of a first guard ring in front of or behind the brush seal in the flow direction, which delimits this brush seal, or to a gap between the bristles and an opposing surface.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2007Date of Patent: November 29, 2011Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Matthias Neef, Norbert Sürken, Karl Urlichs
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Publication number: 20110285090Abstract: A seal assembly for sealing a stationary component and a rotating component including a seal tooth mating surface for mating with a seal tooth, the seal tooth mating surface including a plateau portion for sealingly receiving the seal tooth during a steady-state operation of the seal assembly and a first concave portion adjacent to the plateau portion for receiving the seal tooth with a clearance during a first non-steady-state operation of the seal assembly, wherein the seal tooth is coupled to one of the stationary component and the rotating component and the seal tooth mating surface is coupled to the other of the stationary component and the rotating component.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2010Publication date: November 24, 2011Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventor: Xiaoqing Zheng
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Publication number: 20110272891Abstract: A method for fabricating a brush seal assembly comprising, bending a first plate member to a helical shape, bending a second plate member to a helical shape, securing the first plate member to a drum, winding a wire material around the drum and the first plate member, securing the second plate member to the drum, attaching the second plate member and the first plate member to the wire, and cutting the wire to define a bristle length.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2011Publication date: November 10, 2011Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: William Edward Adis, Bernard Arthur Couture, JR., Marshall Gordon Jones, Michael Dennis Mack, Daniel Frederick Purdy
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Patent number: 8055315Abstract: There are a first packing 31 and a second packing 32 for covering and sealing a first opening portion 11a and a second opening portion 12a other than a groove portion 31a and a groove portion 32a for leading an FPC 20. The first packing 31 and the second packing 32 wipe surfaces of the FPC 20 coming in and going out of the groove portion 31a and the groove portion 32a by sliding operation of a second frame 12.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2007Date of Patent: November 8, 2011Assignee: NEC CorporationInventor: Takehiko Komiyama
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Patent number: 8043012Abstract: A seal arrangement for sealing a bearing comprising a first component and a second component which are rotatably movable with respect to each other is provided. The seal arrangement includes brush seal having an annular brush body carried by the first component and a bundle of resiliently bendable bristles. The brush seal is adapted to maintain a sealing condition when the first and second component are moved relative to each other in a non-rotational manner. Further, a brush seal and a wind turbine having a brush seal are provided.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2009Date of Patent: October 25, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Peter Rogall, Meng Gao, Yuanyuan Qiu
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Patent number: 8028996Abstract: A brush sealing system includes a plurality of bristles, each having a first end coupled to a holding device and a second end protruding outwards from the holding device. One or more shims are disposed between the first end of each of the bristles and the holding device; wherein the shims are configured to controlling a pinch point diameter of the bristles.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2008Date of Patent: October 4, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Eric John Ruggiero, Roderick Mark Lusted
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Patent number: 8028977Abstract: The invention relates to a device for supporting sheet-like materials for at least one separating process in the sheet-like materials, with at least one jet cutter device which may be displaced in the Y-direction during a separation process, with a first and second support surface together forming a support table for supporting the sheet-like material and with a jet trapping device, arranged between the first and second support surfaces and provided to be able to be displaced in the X-direction. The first and the second support surfaces are made from a flexible material forming part of at least one enclosed chamber, filled with a gas under pressure.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2008Date of Patent: October 4, 2011Assignee: TRUMPF Werkzeugmaschinen GmbH + Co. KGInventors: Martin Blaser, Daniel Graf, Eberhard Wahl
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Patent number: 8025296Abstract: In a shaft sealing mechanism which prevents fluid from flowing in an axial direction of a rotor through an annular gap between the rotor and a stator, there are provided a high pressure side plate positioned on a high pressure side region of a plurality of sheets, and a low pressure side plate positioned on a low pressure side region of the plurality of sheets, and construction is such that in a state in which the plurality of sheets is fixed on a stator side, and when under gas pressure, the sheets make contact with each other.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2006Date of Patent: September 27, 2011Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Hidekazu Uehara, Tanehiro Shinohara, Takashi Nakano, Shin Nishimoto, Hirokazu Shirai, Toshio Asada
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Publication number: 20110227289Abstract: The invention relates to a brush seal to seal a gap between two structural components, in particular between a rotor and a stator, having a bristle packet comprising bristles, with the bristles of the bristle packet being firmly attached to a bristle carrier via a fixation element. According to the invention, the bristle packet comprises several layers of bristles that are made of different materials.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 2, 2009Publication date: September 22, 2011Applicant: MTU AERO ENGINES GMBHInventor: Beichl Stefan
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Patent number: 8011666Abstract: A seal capable of providing a seal for an air gap between a rotor and a stator. The seal incorporates a container for the textile insulators fixed on the rotor or the stator. The textile insulators are subjected, on one side, to an upstream pressure and, on another side, to downstream pressure, the upstream pressure being greater than the downstream pressure. The textile insulators are supported on the stator or the rotor so as to be at an angle to the side of the seal where the pressure is lower, namely the downstream pressure.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2008Date of Patent: September 6, 2011Assignee: SnecmaInventor: Daniel Georges Plona
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Publication number: 20110210513Abstract: A rotary machine comprises a housing, a rotor that is rotatably disposed within the housing and having an axis about which the rotor may spin, and a seal disposed upon the housing. The seal comprises a support disposed on the housing and a plurality of flexible non-metallic bristles that extend from the housing and engage the rotor, such that the seal provides a barrier to fluid flow between a first region located in a first axial direction from the seal and a second region located in an opposite axial direction from the first region. The first region is filled with a bearing liquid and the second region is filled with a process fluid.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2010Publication date: September 1, 2011Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Biao Fang, Christopher Edward Wolfe, Roderick Mark Lusted, Vasanth Srinivasa Kothnur, Eric John Ruggiero, Michael Alan Vallance, Farshad Ghasripoor, Martin Soerensen
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Publication number: 20110204573Abstract: A brush seal, brush seal segment, and brush seal backplate for use in a rotary device are provided. In one embodiment, the invention provides a brush seal for a rotary device, the brush seal comprising: a plurality of brush seal segments, each segment including: an arcuate fence; an arcuate backplate circumferentially coextensive with the arcuate fence, the arcuate backplate including: a plurality of circumferentially-oriented cavities; a first dam along a first end of the arcuate backplate, the first dam substantially closing an end of at least one of the plurality of circumferentially-oriented cavities; and a second dam along a second end of the arcuate backplate, the second dam substantially closing an end of at least one of the plurality of circumferentially-oriented cavities; a plurality of brush bristles between the arcuate backplate and the arcuate fence; and a static member to which at least one of the plurality of brush seal segments is affixed.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 23, 2010Publication date: August 25, 2011Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Xiaoqing Zheng, William Edward Adis, Michael Dennis Mack
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Publication number: 20110200432Abstract: A reverse flow tolerant brush seal arrangement for restricting the transfer of a pressurized fluid between a first and a second chamber along a moving shaft. Opposing backing plates are provided to stiffen brush bristle alignment on the moving shaft. Differential pressure between the chambers is aided by spring biasing to seat axial movement of a sliding brush seal against one of the opposing backing plates for stiffening to maintain a design clearance with a shaft being sealed.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 16, 2010Publication date: August 18, 2011Inventors: Rakesh V. Alamsetty, William E. Adis, Mahendra S. Mehra, Nestor Hernandez Sanchez, Rajasekar Natarajan, Akshay A. Datye
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Publication number: 20110175296Abstract: A brush seal having bristles of a diameter of between 0.005 mm to 0.02 mm manufactured from an oxidation resistant metal alloy including between 10 and 60% cobalt as a base alloy having no more than 1% creep after a 1000 hours at 650° C. at a pressure of at least 345 Pa.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 18, 2008Publication date: July 21, 2011Applicant: Cross Manufacturing Company (1938) LtdInventor: Aaron Bowsher
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Patent number: 7980562Abstract: Seal arrangements utilizing leaf seal elements are susceptible to excessive wear at their tips due to blow-down pressures. When the seal element is forced against a rear surface across the pressure differential between the sides A, B of an arrangement. These tips may be forced into engagement with the rotating shaft and therefore wear on the shaft as well as at the tip occurs. By providing channels which extend laterally across more than one seal element pressure relief is maintained and therefore a limit to blow-down force maintained. The channels also extend radially and normally on a low pressure side of the seal arrangement.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2007Date of Patent: July 19, 2011Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLCInventor: David S Williams
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Patent number: 7976026Abstract: A method and seal assembly for a rotary machine including a rotary component and a stationary component is provided. The method includes providing a seal housing including a front plate and a back plate that is spaced from the front plate such that a cavity is defined between the front plate and the back plate. The method also includes coupling a plurality of flexible compliant plates to at least one of the seal housing and the stationary component such that the compliant plates are spaced from the front plate and the back plate within the cavity, and coupling at least one projection to at least one of the seal housing and the compliant plates such that the at least one projection facilitates reducing flow through at least one of a first axial gap and a second axial gap that are defined between the seal housing and the compliant plates.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2007Date of Patent: July 12, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Nikhil Kumar Verma, Imdad Imam, Vineet Ghate, Sean Douglas Feeny, William Edward Adis, Shorya Awtar, Jason Paul Mortzheim
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Patent number: 7967297Abstract: A brush seal for use with a housing and sealing a high pressure area from a low pressure area is provided. In an embodiment, the brush seal includes a retainer and a plurality of bristles. The retainer is comprised of a thermally-sensitive material having a thermal expansion rate. The bristles are connected to and extend from the retainer. In an embodiment, the retainer is not fixedly connected to the housing, and the thermal expansion rate of the retainer is greater than the thermal expansion rate of a portion of the housing adjacent the retainer. In another embodiment, a joint associated with a plurality of bristles is permitted to move into a headspace provided above the joint. A method for making a control-gap brush seal assembly for use in connection with a shaft is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2007Date of Patent: June 28, 2011Assignee: Eaton CorporationInventors: Xiaoqing Zheng, Charles A. Trabert, Anthony G. O'Meara, Joshua J. Duquette
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Publication number: 20110135453Abstract: A leaf seal 10 in a rotary machine is located between a higher pressure region 14 and a lower pressure region 16 of the machine. Blow-down forces are greater on the lower pressure side 16 of the leaf seal 10 than on its higher pressure side 14, resulting in greater inward deflection of the leaves 20 on the lower pressure side of the seal than on its higher pressure side, leading in turn to greater wear of the leaves and the contacting rotor surface 44 on the lower pressure side 16 of the seal. To counteract this, the free ends 36 of the leaves 20 can be given a tapered profile 42 to gradually reduce the length of each leaf 20 over its width ‘w’ from its higher pressure side 14 to its lower pressure side 16, so that the leaves 20 are free to deflect under the blow-down forces by the amount of their reduction in length (a maximum of ‘x’), before they contact the rotor surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 21, 2011Publication date: June 9, 2011Inventor: Neil Howes
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Patent number: 7950671Abstract: A brush seal assembly including a pair of annular plates (11,12) defining an annular slot (14) between them and a radially outer chamber (15) opening into the slot (14); and an annular brush seal (13) having bristles (16) and an enlarged portion (17) at its outer periphery formed by welding the bristles (16) together, the brush seal (13) extending through the slot (14) with its enlarged portion (17) retained in the chamber (15) wherein at least a portion of one of the plates (11, 12) has an extension thereof which is deformed over the other plate (11, 12) to hold the plates (11, 12) together to form the assembly characterised in that one of the plates (12) has a flat face in the region of the slot (14).Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2007Date of Patent: May 31, 2011Assignee: Cross Manufacturing Company (1938) LimitedInventor: Peter Francis Crudgington