Abstract: This invention relates to a hydraulic seal arrangement between two, more particularly co-rotating shafts of especially a gas turbine engine, where the radially outer shaft when viewed with reference to the shafts' axis of rotation has an annulus extending radially outward along its circumference into which the radially inner shaft when viewed with reference to the shafts' axis of rotation projects with a web that extends radially outward across its circumference, and which annulus can through an inlet area be filled siphon-fashion under centrifugal effect with a hydraulic medium at least in the area of the free end of the web when the shaft(s) is (are) rotating. In accordance with the present invention, means are provided for exhausting part of the hydraulic medium, said means branching off from an annulus area that is farthest away from the inlet area.

Abstract: A face seal assembly with internal weep drain is disclosed for use in a turbo-machine, such as a gas turbine engine, for deterring passage of fluids, such as oil and the like, across an interface dividing the turbo-machine into two distinct regions, the interface being defined between one surface of a seal element and a second surface mounted on a rotating shaft. The face seal assembly includes a housing having a first fixed member including a drain opening, a second member supported for axial motion relative to the first member, and a biasing element positioned between the first and second members for urging the second member toward the interface. The second member supports the seal element and defines with the first member a channel through which the fluids that migrate past the interface are directed into the housing and out through the drain opening.

Abstract: A stationary ferrofluidic seal for sealing a stationary shaft to a rotating hub. A formed magnetic is attached to the rotating hub, bounded by upper and lower members to form a shaped cavity. A stationary ring is attached to the shaft and extends into the cavity, which is filled with a conductive ferrofluid. The cavity has a uniform, concave cross section over at least part of its surface. The end of the stationary ring distal from the shaft is shaped so that in the region containing the fluid, the ring and cavity surface are equidistant from a set of points defining the seals “characteristic contour”.

Abstract: A rotor seal, especially for turbo engines, is described. The sealing elements are folded from a pleated band and are connected to each other even when the rotor seal is in the assembled state. The barrier effect of the inventive rotor seal is thus increased in relation to lamella seals that always require a gap between the individual lamella.

Abstract: Magnetic fluid seals containing housings, magnets, pole pieces, gaps, magnetic fluids, shafts and bearings of standard type are modified to permit operation at two levels of magnetic intensity in the gaps. During exposure to the operating pressure difference that a seal is designed to withhold, the magnetic field intensity in the gaps is maintained at a relatively low intensity. Subsequently, the magnetic field intensity in the gaps is increased to yield burst-free operation. Various embodiments for adjusting the magnetic field intensity are disclosed. These include: magnetic fluid seal with a variable magnet to pole-block spacing; seal with hollow-shaft flux intensifier; seal with surrounding flux diverter; and seal with an internal magnetic coil that furnishes opposing magnetomotive force.

Abstract: The shaft seal structure is based on a leaf seal 25 that includes springs, disposed between the stator blades 24a and the leaf seal ring 26, to force the leaf seal ring 26 away from the rotation shaft 23, and pressure guiding grooves 34 for guiding the fluid pressure, through a boundary of planar plates 28, to a space between the outer peripheral surface of the leaf seal ring 26 and the inner peripheral surface of the stator blade 24a. Also, a turbine may be provided with the leaf seal so as to reduce gas leakage from the high-pressure-region to the low-pressure-region as well as to control the frictional wear between the planar plates and the rotation shaft.

Abstract: The invention describes a process for producing a groove-like recess which is part of a strip seal between two components which enclose a gap, using a material-removing process technology to create the groove-like recess in the two components in such a manner that the groove-like recess in each of the two components, after orientation with respect to one another, lie substantially opposite one another in an end position in which they enclose the gap between them, and that a strip element can be introduced into the groove-like recesses in such a manner that the strip element at least partially projects into both groove-like recesses and, under the action of a force, forms a substantially gastight join with the groove-like recesses in the two components. Furthermore, the invention describes a groove-like recess of this type as part of a strip seal.

Abstract: A rotary machine has stationary upper and lower housings with circumferential grooves and a rotatable component, as well as annular sealing segments movable toward and away from the rotating components between large and small clearance positions. To prevent circumferential displacement of the lower side segments by gravity forces and to enable the lowermost segment in the lower housing to move vertically between inner and outer clearance positions, the side segments of the lower housing are supported by brackets resting on a support surface forming part of the horizontal midline at the juncture of the upper and lower housings. Consequently, the gaps between the lower ends of the side segments and the opposite ends of the lower segment in the open position of the segments remains, enabling the lower segment to move radially vertically inwardly upon closing the seals.

Abstract: An improved sealing mechanism for a turbomachine such as a compressor for a gas turbine engine employs an abradable coating with a solid lubricant and metal alloy having a quasicrystalline phase.

Abstract: A seal assembly for installation between rotating and stationary components of a machine includes a first plurality of leaf spring segments secured to the stationary component in a circumferential array surrounding the rotating component, the leaf spring segments each having a radial mounting portion and a substantially axial sealing portion, the plurality of leaf spring segments shingled in a circumferential direction.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a conical bearing is provided having a seal shield having an angle supported from the hub or sleeve which surrounds the shaft, and extending at an angle toward the outer surface of the shaft and spaced slightly away from the upper angular surface of the cone. As the cone and seal shield rotate relative to one another, fluid is drawn toward the lower inner region of the reservoir. However, due to shock or the like, some fluid may reach the radial gap between the end of the shield and the outer surface of the shaft, therefore, a ring is either incorporated into the upper end of the cone or pressed against the axial outer end of the cone, defining an axial gap which is smaller than the radial gap. In a preferred form of the invention, the ratio is about 1:3.

Abstract: A non-contact type shaft sealing device comprising a stationary sealing ring (9) disposed to axially oppose a rotational sealing ring (2) provided on a rotational shaft (1) of a device that will be shaft-sealed, wherein a number n of air inlets (9b) provided in the stationary sealing ring (9) is in a range of 3 to 24; a bore diameter d of a throttling mechanism provided in each of the air inlets (9b) is in a range of 0.05 to 3 mm; and concurrently, a dimensionless quantity &agr; defined as &agr;=8 hD/nd2 where h=inter-sealing-surface gap, and D=shaft diameter, is 1≦&agr;≦200. Thereby, ensuring stable sealing characteristics in the non-contact type shaft sealing device, and furthermore, minimizing consumption of a barrier gas to be fed through the air inlets (9b).

Abstract: A compliant foil seal comprising at least one smooth resilient foil for facing a rotor and at least one bump foil for providing film riding stiffness and controlled deformation of the smooth resilient foil for providing an effective seal which is capable of operating reliably in the presence of large rotor excursions.

Abstract: Self-supporting wear rings (1a, 1b) for fluid flow machines are arranged at a radial sealing gap (18) to a rotor (9), and have an outer jacket surface (3) provided with a wear surface (2). The wear rings (1a, 1b), which are fixed in the axial direction, consist of a material with lower thermal expansion coefficients than their support and lie hollowly on their inner jacket surface, with a first conical holder surface (8) encountering with the apex of its cone a second holder surface (8″), which is designed as a straight shoulder, in the plane of the latter (19) on the axis of rotation or encountering a second holder surface, which is designed as a conical holder surface (8′), at its cone apex on the axis of rotation (20).

Abstract: A transition piece seal assembly includes a transition piece seal support having a first flange for supporting a transition piece seal, and a second flange adapted for mounting in an adjacent nozzle; and at least one spring seal element having a mounting flange adapted to engage the second flange of the transition piece seal support, and a flex portion having a free edge adapted to engage a forward face of the nozzle.

Abstract: Metallic cloth seals backed by stiff high temperature-resistant shims depend from a bracket for engagement in a slot of a transition piece for sealing between the transition piece and a first-stage nozzle. The high pressure acting on the shim forces the metallic cloth into engagement with the sealing surface in the slot. The lower edge of the shim is bent about, and overlies, the edge of the metallic cloth in a direction toward the sealing surface of the slot to choke any flow from the high pressure region past the seal. Elongated spline seals are also inserted into opposed registering slots of adjacent transition pieces. The spline seals comprise metallic cloth folded onto itself backed by elongated stiff high temperature-resistant shims having lateral edges overlying the lateral edges of the cloth material. The overlying edges prevent leakage flow about the spline seals from the high pressure to the low pressure regions.

Abstract: A brush seal for sealing a circumferential gap between two relatively rotating machine components, e.g. the rotor or shaft and stator of a fluid flow machine, such as a gas turbine engine. One end of a plurality of seal bristles is fixed in an annular shape and are mounted to the stator, and their opposite ends are attached to a number of individual shoes located at the rotor. The shoes function very similarly to that of a tilting pad bearing shoe. Prior to shaft rotation, the shoes are in contact with the rotor surface with preferably the leading edge of each shoe set to have less contact than the trailing edge of the shoe. As such, when the rotor begins to rotate, a hydrodynamic wedge is created which lifts the shoe slightly off the surface of the shaft allowing the shoe to effectively “float” over the shaft at a design gap.

Abstract: An improved shaft seal assembly is disclosed having a stator including a main body and axial and radial projections therefrom. The rotor is radially extended and encompasses the axial and radial projections from said stator. The passageway formed between the radial projection of the stator and the rotor results in an axial passageway having its opening facing rearwardly from the rotor and away from the source of impinging coolant and/or contaminant. The dimension of interface gap between the rotor and the radial projection from the stator, which the access to the shaft of any impinging material, is fixed at a predetermined value and does not vary with the relative movement between the rotor and the stator. The novel seal assembly of this invention thus provides improved rejection or warding off of contaminates from ingress into the labyrinths and ultimately restrained from attacking the bearing environment.

Abstract: A seal (40) provides sealing between two pressure zones (60, 62) and a rotating and non-rotating member (42, 52) by providing a first sealing member (46) between two seal lands (48, 50). A second seal (64) is mounted between the non-rotating member (52, 58) and one of the seal lands (50, 66) so as to control pressure around the seal lands (48, 50).

Abstract: A bearing isolator seal having a shaft seal assembly that includes a stator housing comprising two components, an interior and an exterior component, the two stator housing components being selectively connectable, and axially positionable (relative to the radial faces of the rotor), disconnectable via screw threads on similar structures formed thereon to enable a perishable rotor component to be readily replaced with the stator components being reusable with a new rotor, the assembled stator housing, having an inner radially extending face with a pair of spaced concentric annular flanges of substantially frusto-conical shape extending from a larger diameter end that is fixed to the inner radially extending face to a smaller diameter free end, and a rotor having a peripherally extending radial flange that is fixed to a hub of the rotor and has a contact sealing surface that contacts the free end of the annular flanges of the stator housing.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for sealing and electrically coupling an outer surface 170 of a shaft 175 to an inner surface 165 of a hub 160 disposed about the shaft. The invention is particularly useful for spindle motors 155 used in disc drives 100. In one embodiment, a seal 185 having a pair of annular pole pieces 270a, 270b, coupled to opposite poles of a magnet 265 is positioned between the shaft 175 and the hub 160. A nonmagnetic, electrically conductive ring 275 electrically couples the pole pieces 270a, 270b to one another and to the hub 160. In one version, the electrically conductive ring 275 includes an annular disk 300 with tabs 305 projecting from the exterior radius. The disk 300 abuts one pole piece 270b and the tabs 305 are folded over to electrically couple to the other 270a.

Abstract: A footstep bearing for an impeller shaft of a container stirring mechanism is described. The footstep bearing has at least one shaft butt end (1) that is mounted, in particular, on the wall (2) of the container (16), and an impeller shaft (9) with a gap (13) in the region of the engagement between shaft butt end (1) and impeller shaft (9). In the region of the gap (13), the shaft butt end (1) and/or the impeller shaft (9) are/is provided on their surface with sliding elements on which the opposite surface of the impeller shaft (9) and/or the shaft butt end (1) slide and the shaft butt end (1) has means (11) for the passage of a flushing fluid (3) through the gap (13) between impeller shaft (9) and shaft butt end (1).

Abstract: A sealed, rotatable shaft assembly includes a housing that defines a bore that extends from an area exterior to the housing to an area interior to the housing. A shaft is rotatably disposed in the housing about an axis of the bore. The shaft extends through the bore between the interior area and the exterior area. An annular lip seal is disposed in the bore and is attached to one of the shaft and the housing. The lip seal extends from the one of the shaft and the housing to the other of the shaft and the housing in a contact seal so that rotation of the shaft with respect to the housing wears the lip seal to form a zero-clearance non-contacting seal. A labyrinth seal stage extends between the shaft and the housing. The labyrinth seal stage is disposed outward of the lip seal, with respect to the interior area and in communication with the lip seal.

Abstract: The arrangements according to the invention and the methods according to the invention serve to seal a gap 20 against a primary fluid 10 by means of a secondary fluid 11 in a fluid-dynamic and non-contact manner, which primary fluid 10 flows over the gap 20. The secondary fluid 11 forms a preferably rotating vortex flow 13 in the gap in at least one or more sections along the gap. The flow of the secondary fluid 11 is preferably guided in a chamber 26, which is arranged in the gap 20. The chamber 26 is designed as a rotary chamber along the entire gap 20 or also as a local chamber 226 extending only locally along the gap. The secondary fluid 11 may be supplied via supply conduits 40, in which the gap 120 itself may be utilized for supplying secondary fluid 115 to the chamber 126. As further elements for the guidance of the vortex flow, guiding lips 50, undercuts of the chamber contour 351, and guiding elements 160 may be arranged in the gap.

Abstract: A sealing device for explosion-proof motors, the particularity of which is the fact that it comprises a first element which is coupled to the motor casing and a second element which is coupled to the driving shaft through rolling means; the first and second elements are mutually coupled through elastic elements to allow their relative movement.

Abstract: A gas seal construction for use on a pump to create a seal between a relatively rotatable pump shaft and housing. A flow barrier arrangement is disposed in close surrounding relationship to the shaft and cooperates with the surrounding housing axially between the seal and the pump chamber for minimizing ingress of pump liquid into the seal chamber during both static and dynamic conditions. The barrier arrangement includes an annular barrier member nonrotatably secured to the shaft and cooperating with an annular shroud which is secured to the housing. The barrier member and shroud have opposed truncated conical surfaces which define a narrow annular passage therebetween which slopes outwardly away from the seal chamber toward the pumping chamber and, at the large diameter end thereof, communicates with an annular sealing zone or dam which is defined between the relatively rotatable barrier member and housing for further restricting ingress of pumping fluid into the seal chamber.

Abstract: A sealing device in a gas turbine that uses steam for cooling high temperature portions of the gas turbine and then recovers the steam. The sealing device prevents the steam from leaking at a spindle bolt portion of the turbine disc (8). The spindle bolt (1) passes through a seal hole (4) formed in the turbine disc (8). The sealing device is disposed in the seal hole and includes a seal piece (3), having a smaller coefficient of linear expansion relative to the spindle bolt (1), and a seal piece cover (5) for covering the seal piece (3). A pressure hole is bored through the seal piece cover (5) such that high pressure side steam pressure is introduced through the pressure hole (6) and into an inner side of the seal piece cover (5) so that the seal piece (3) is urged into contact with a sheet surface (7) of the seal hole (4).

Abstract: A high pressure boundary seal adjacent at least one of the bearings of the spindle motor. The motor itself includes a shaft, typically a fixed shaft and a rotor supported by bearings and rotating outside the shaft. The high-pressure boundary seal comprises a ring which surrounds the shaft across a small gap and is supported from and rotates with the rotor or hub. In a first embodiment, a herringbone pattern is defined on the inner surface of the ring or the outer surface of the shaft. The upper and lower sections of the herringbone pattern are substantially equal so that a zone of high pressure is established at about the center of the pattern. This high pressure boundary zone prevents the flow of any contaminants from the interior of the motor or the bearing between the shaft and the sealing ring out into the interior section of the disc drive housing where they could potentially contaminate the disc.

Abstract: An arrangement is provided for sealing the opening of a rotor housing under a low pressure, through which opening a shaft for a spinning rotor extends, which shaft is supported outside of the rotor housing. This arrangement comprises a sealing disk, which is supported floating relative to the opening and which is pressed against a bearing surface by means of a spring element. The floating sealing disk comprises a through bore hole having a narrow tolerance relative to the shaft. The spring element presses against the effect of the low pressure.

Abstract: A configuration seals a leadthrough gap between a wall and a shaft which is passed through the wall and can be set in rotation relative to the wall. The configuration has a sealing ring through which the shaft can be passed as well as a holder that can be firmly connected to the wall and has a cylindrical recess and a groove opening into the recess. The groove has a first groove surface and a second groove surface, between which the sealing ring is held while leaving respective radial gaps as well as a chamber that surrounds the sealing ring and can be filled with oil. The radial gap at the first groove surface is blocked to prevent a throughflow of oil from the chamber. The configuration can be used in a sealing system for an electrical machine filled with hydrogen, in particular for a turbogenerator.

Abstract: A speed reducer apparatus includes an auxiliary seal assembly to inhibit ingress of particulate matter. Preferably, the seal assembly is located axially outboard of a primary seal, such as a land riding seal. The seal assembly includes a plate defining a hole through which a rotatable member extends. The hole is sized to provide a predetermined gap between the inside surface of the plate and the outside surface of the rotatable member. An annular bead member is set in place from a viscous state about the rotatable member. In particular, the annular bead member extends across the gap between the plate and the rotatable member, functioning as a dam. Methods of forming the auxiliary seal assembly are also disclosed.

Abstract: A seal assembly for providing a seal between a cylindrical member and a bore formed in a housing, the housing and cylindrical member being rotatable relative to one another, the seal assembly being located within an annular groove formed in the cylindrical member and having an annular seal body of a plastics material having an outer axially extending circumferential face for sealing abutment with the bore and at least one radially extending end face for sealing abutment with a side face of the groove and a resilient ring member located in abutment with the inner axially extending circumferential face of the seal body for urging said outer circumferential face radially outward to maintain sealing abutment between said outer circumferential face and the bore during cooling of the seal and housing, the resilient ring member having an axial end face contiguous with or located in-board of said end face of the seal body, the resilient ring and seal body being interconnected so as to be axially movable in unison wit

Abstract: A rotor and stator assembly having a rotor and a stator with opposing surfaces defining an air bearing and an air dam of an aspirating face seal. In a first embodiment, the air bearing and the air dam are axially offset. In a second embodiment, the rotor has an axially extending protuberance located radially between the air bearing and the air dam. The axial offset and the protuberance each act to divert the air flow (e.g., compressed gas or combustion gases in a gas turbine or steam in a steam turbine) in a direction transverse to the air flow direction through the air bearing and the air dam, thus isolating the air flows from the air bearing and the air dam which improves seal performance.

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.

Abstract: A method for designing bearings, of improved performance, the load-bearing surfaces of which feature micropores about 2 to 10 microns deep and, preferably, aspect ratios on the order of 7 to 20. The hydrodynamic pressure distribution of a suite of bearing surfaces with different micropore geometries and densities is modeled numerically. The load-bearing surfaces of the bearings are fabricated with micropores having the optimal density and geometry determined by the numerical modeling. Conical micropores may be created by single laser pulses, with the pore size and shape controlled by controlling the laser beam profile, the laser beam power, and the optical parameters of the focusing system.

Abstract: In order to accommodate a labyrinth seal whose diameter is too large to form a gas passage using conventional techniques, the labyrinth seal is made in two parts. A first part is an inner ring whose outer diameter is sufficiently small so as to permit the forming of a passage therein with conventional techniques. The second part is an outer ring which can then be fastened to the inner ring so as to then extend, in combination, to the radial extent necessary to complete the sealing engagement with an adjacent element. The outer and inner rings are preferably interconnected by way of an interference fit.

Abstract: A seal for a turbine blade in a gas turbine engine has a sealing portion with two subportions, where the subportions are longitudinally offset from one another, so that the seal may provide sealing for adjacent turbine blades having longitudinally offset inner platform surfaces. The offset between the sealing subportions should correspond generally to the offset between the platform surfaces.

Abstract: A bearing assembly includes an inner ring and outer ring defining opposed raceways having a plurality of bearing elements disposed therebetween. The bearing assembly includes an improved sealing arrangement having multiple primary seals for providing sealing with the rotating inner ring. In preferred embodiments, the multiple seals include a rolled riding seal and an oblique contact seal having a center lip therebetween. Unlike the other two primary sealing lips, the center lip preferably provides no more than light engagement with the bearing inner ring.

Abstract: A method for designing bearings, of improved performance, the load-bearing surfaces of which feature micropores about 2 to 10 microns deep and, preferably, aspect ratios on the order of 7 to 20. The hydrodynamic pressure distribution of a suite of bearing surfaces with different micropore geometries and densities is modeled numerically. The load-bearing surfaces of the bearings are fabricated with micropores having the optimal density and geometry determined by the numerical modeling. Conical micropores may be created by single laser pulses, with the pore size and shape controlled by controlling the laser beam profile, the laser beam power, and the optical parameters of the focusing system.

Abstract: A damper seal and method of sealing and damping a rotating shaft are disclosed. The damper seal includes a stator housing, a plurality of cavities, a first modulator for modulating the fluid flow into the cavities, and a second modulator for modulating the fluid flow exiting the cavities less than the fluid flow entering the cavities to provide improved damping and sealing.

Abstract: There is provided a bearing sealing device capable of substantially completely preventing a leak of grease. A taper end portion of an axial extension of the bearing sealing device has an opposite surface and a rake face that forms a specified rake angle with the opposite surface. The opposite surface forms a narrow passage between the opposite surface and an outer peripheral surface of an inner ring. The narrow passage allows air to pass easily, but it allows grease to hardly pass therethrough. Further, the axial extension includes part of a core metal that extends axially and has its foremost end located axially inside an axial outermost end of the outer peripheral surface of the inner ring. Grease moving axially outwardly on the outer peripheral surface is moved along the rake face of the taper end portion and then guided along a cover portion of the bearing sealing device to an outer ring. The part of the core metal prevents the axial extension from being bent radially outwardly by a centrifugal force.