Labyrinth Patents (Class 277/412)
  • Patent number: 6843482
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing a seal between first and second relatively rotatable parts of machines which operate in an environment comprising dust, grit or other finely divided solid material entrained in air, water or other fluid. The seal includes a rotor and a stator between which there is an annular passage with substantial clearance between the interfacing surfaces defining the passage. The solid material entrained in the fluid which enters the annular passage is deposited in layers on the interfacing surfaces when the mechanism is in use. The layers substantially reduced the cross sectional size of the annular passage and restrict flow of the fluid there through. The annular passage may be rendered tortuous by providing the rotor with annular fins which in use project into annular recesses in the stator, and vice versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Inventor: Christopher Frederick Bayne
  • Patent number: 6834859
    Abstract: The present invention provides a labyrinth sealing assembly for placement between a shaft and a bearing housing comprising an annular stator having a body portion, an axially inner engagement surface, an axially inner extending portion extending from a radially outer end of the stator, an axially inner extending member extending from a radially inner end of the stator, and a keeper lip extending radially outward from the axially inner extending surface of the radially inner end of the stator, and an annular rotor having an axially outer engagement surface having a plurality of wear ridges on a radially outer engagement surface, and a keeper notch arrangement on a radially inner surface comprising a recess. The keeper lip engages the keeper notch to provide a snap fit between the rotor and stator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: Garlock Sealing Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Christopher E. Tones
  • Patent number: 6821086
    Abstract: A seal assembly and method for a turbomachine having a rotary member and a stationary member circumscribing the rotary member. The seal assembly comprises an annular-shaped platform on the rotary member so as to be disposed at an outer circumferential region thereof. The platform is supported radially outward from the rotary member so as to project beyond axially-adjacent regions of the rotary member. The platform has a contact region radially separated from the rotary member by a cavity. A sealing member is disposed at a radially inward region of the stationary member, with a portion of the sealing member in rubbing contact with the contact region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bruce William Brisson, Mark Edward Burnett, David Alan Caruso, Robert Edward Deallenbach, James Harvey Vogan, Christopher Edward Wolfe
  • Patent number: 6786488
    Abstract: In order to decrease gas leakage and in order to restrict the friction between the brush and the rotating shaft, a seal structure for a rotating shaft comprises a stator section, a rotating shaft, a groove, a brush, a spring member, and a connecting hole induces fluid pressure which presses the ring in a direction in which the ring approaches to the rotating shaft so as to be against the spring force of the spring member and make the brush contact the inner surface of the stator, the sealing structure prevents the fluid from flowing between the rotating shaft and the stator having a clearance from the surface of the rotating shaft and flowing in an axial direction of the rotating shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Vincent Laurello, Masanori Yuri
  • Patent number: 6779600
    Abstract: A hydrostatically set packer is disclosed. The actuating piston is locked for run in by a lock sleeve and lock dog arrangement. When the desired depth is reached well pressure is built up to break a rupture disc to allow hydrostatic pressure to act on one side of a lock sleeve. The other side of the lock sleeve is exposed to a chamber under atmospheric or low pressure. Movement of the lock sleeve releases the lock dog allowing piston movement to set the packer. The lock sleeve has a labyrinth seal so that seal leakage below a predetermined level will not prematurely activate the piston lock and prematurely set the packer. A variety of designs for the labyrinth are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: BAker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: James King, Edward Wayne Welch, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6779799
    Abstract: A combined brush/labyrinth tooth seal is provided between a gas shield and the fan tips in the ventilation system of an electrical generator. At least a pair of brush seals straddle a labyrinth tooth providing a close or zero radial clearance with the tips of the fan blades. The brush seals are provided in two double-row bi-directional form. In one embodiment, the brush bristles are slanted toward the fan in a generally axially opposite direction. In a further embodiment, the slanted brush seals engage either the opposite sides of the fan blades or the fan blade tips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Wei Tong, Thomas Arthur Wagner, Zhangqing Zhuo
  • Publication number: 20040119238
    Abstract: In order to reduce or prevent axial leakage flow during operation of a labyrinth seal by means of a sealing ring gap 12, said sealing ring gap 12 is designed so as to be conical, with the diameter increasing towards the direction of the leakage flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2003
    Publication date: June 24, 2004
    Inventors: Erwin Skumawitz, Dieter Hallmann
  • Publication number: 20040113367
    Abstract: An inner seal ring is disclosed for use in an oil film bearing for a roll in a rolling mill. The roll has a neck with an intermediate section tapering from an end face to a reduced diameter end section contained within a sleeve. The sleeve is fixed in relation to the roll neck and is journalled for rotation in a bushing contained within a chock. A flexible neck seal is mounted on the intermediate section of the roll neck for rotation with the roll within a seal end plate fixed to the chock. The inner seal ring comprises a circular midsection with an annular face on one side and with inner and outer flanges projecting from an opposite side. The inner flange is configured to engage the neck seal, the outer flange is configured to coact in spaced relationship with the seal end plate to define a first labyrinth, and the annular face is contoured to coact in an abutting relationship with the roll end face in defining a second labyrinth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2002
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Inventors: Armando S. Martins, Dennis Shriner, Peter N. Osgood
  • Patent number: 6742783
    Abstract: A seal segment (66) as described for a seal segment ring (64) of a turbine (16) in a gas turbine engine (10). The seal segment (66) has an inner surface (70) adapted to face the turbine blades (36) in use. Path means (72) is defined in the seal segment (66). The path means (72) is adapted to extend, in use, generally parallel to the principal axis of the turbine and has downstream inlet means (74) through which a cooling fluid to cool the seal segment can enter the path means (72) and upstream outlet means (76) from which the cooling fluid can be exhausted from the path means (72). The cooling fluid can flow along the path means (72) in a generally upstream direction opposite to the flow of gas through the turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: Steven D Lawer, Mark A Halliwell
  • Publication number: 20040100034
    Abstract: A system (10) for sealing and pressurisation for the support cushion (24) of a gas turbine (20), wherein the gas turbine (20) is provided with a compressor (21), with which there is associated an inner barrel (23), and the support cushion (24) is in turn provided with seals (38, 39) relative to the axis of the compressor (21), and has at least one pipe (33) for the venting discharge. The air is fed into the inner barrel (23), using the venting piping (33) of the support cushion (24), such as to create a flow of air, which starts from an intermediate stage of the compressor (21), and goes towards the inner barrel (23).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2003
    Publication date: May 27, 2004
    Applicant: Nuovo Pignone Holding S.p.A.
    Inventor: Alessandro Coppola
  • Publication number: 20040100035
    Abstract: A seal assembly includes an annular hanger having a supporting ledge. An arcuate seal segment includes an outer rail mounted on the ledge and supporting an inner seal. An arcuate carrier is mounted between the hanger and the rail, and includes a piston mounted in a bore. The bore is selectively pressurized to deploy the piston between the hanger and rail for temporarily retracting the seal segment from an adjacent rotor component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2003
    Publication date: May 27, 2004
    Inventors: Norman Arnold Turnquist, Biao Fang, Osman Saim Dinc, Hamid Reza Sarshar, Mehmet Demiroglu, Mark Edward Burnett, Frederick George Baily, Mahmut Faruk Aksit, Ahmad Safi, Richard Robert Larsen
  • Publication number: 20040090013
    Abstract: A seal segment (66) as described for a seal segment ring (64) of a turbine (16) in a gas turbine engine (10). The seal segment (66) has an inner surface (70) adapted to face the turbine blades (36) in use. Path means (72) is defined in the seal segment (66). The path means (72) is adapted to extend, in use, generally parallel to the principal axis of the turbine and has downstream inlet means (74) through which a cooling fluid to cool the seal segment can enter the path means (72) and upstream outlet means (76) from which the cooling fluid can be exhausted from the path means (72). The cooling fluid can flow along the path means (72) in a generally upstream direction opposite to the flow of gas through the turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2001
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Inventors: Steven D. Lawer, Mark A. Halliwell
  • Publication number: 20040080113
    Abstract: The present invention refers to a seal arrangement for sealing off a slot between first and second mutually movable bodies, such as the rings of a bearing. The seal comprises a first and a second member, the first member being arranged on the first body and the second member being arranged on the second body, whereby a labyrinth-shaped slit is formed between the first and the second members. The slit being filled with a semi-solid material having lubricating properties so that, upon rotation of one of the members, the material will slide along one of the members thereby forming a very thin labyrinth between the member and the material, which labyrinth substantially prevents passage of air, moisture and dirt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2003
    Publication date: April 29, 2004
    Applicant: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventors: Hans Linden, Folke Ostling
  • Patent number: 6719296
    Abstract: A face seal assembly is provided having an annular seal body mounted in an axially moveable relationship to a seal support structure. A piston ring is disposed between the annular seal body and the seal support structure forming a secondary seal. A first locator spring, which is an annular wave spring, is disposed between said seal support structure and the piston ring to urge the piston ring in an axial direction. Optionally, a second locator spring, also a wave spring, may be disposed between the piston ring and the seal support structure for urging the piston ring in a radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Christopher Brauer, Christopher Charles Glynn, Wu-Yang Tseng, Jerry Lynn Cabe
  • Patent number: 6715766
    Abstract: A packing segment for an annular seal ring assembly for use in a hot gas path of a turbomachine, includes a sealing face mounting a plurality of axially spaced sealing teeth; a necked-in center portion radially outward of the sealing face; and a mounting portion radially outward of the center portion. At least one steam feed hole extends angularly from a radially outermost face of the segment to a location along a side of the center portion such that, in use, at least a portion of the feed hole is exposed to hot gas in the hot gas path for flow through the feed hole to a cavity behind the segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: George H. Kirby, III, Richard Chevrette, Matthew Patrick Boespflug
  • Publication number: 20040046327
    Abstract: A labyrinth/brush seal combination and method wherein a brush seal includes a retainer and a plurality of bristles extending therefrom, a labyrinth seal includes a plurality of teeth, and a slot is formed between adjacent teeth. The retainer of the brush seal is disposed in the slot formed in the labyrinth seal, a first tooth of the labyrinth seal forms the front plate of the brush seal, and a second, adjacent tooth of the labyrinth seal forms the back plate of the brush seal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Inventors: Robert P. Menendez, Howard King
  • Publication number: 20040046326
    Abstract: A sealing air bypass flow path is provided in a gas turbine for supplying sealing air to a sealing air supply flow path by bypassing the flow path between each tangential on board injection (TOBI) nozzles and disk holes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2002
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES LTD.
    Inventors: Masanori Yuri, Vincent Laurello, Satoshi Hada
  • Patent number: 6682077
    Abstract: A disc turbine has a rotor assembly of spaced apart discs with at least one disc equipped with an annular labyrinth seal whose grooves interdigitate with a corresponding labyrinth seal mounted in the sidewall of the rotor housing. A pattern of aligned through holes in the rotor housing and the rotor housing seal assist in the axial and concentric alignment of the rotary assembly with respect to the stationary assembly, and the inspection of same, and provide access through at least one sensing port to working fluid proximal to the seal entrance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Inventor: Guy Louis Letourneau
  • Patent number: 6669203
    Abstract: A plurality of arcuate brush seal segments are disposed in radially inwardly opening grooves of a stationary component, enabling tips of the brush bristles to engage the surface of a rotating component. A leaf spring is welded at one end to each brush seal segment and has first and second circumferentially extending curved portions. The first curved portion extends lengthwise of the spring from the welded end to engage the base of the groove at a location intermediate the length of the spring. The second curved portion engages the radial outer face of the segment adjacent the tip of the spring. All of the segments are thus biased for movement radially inwardly toward the rotating component, enabling pressure forces during operation to maintain the brush seal segments properly located to ensure the seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Jason Paul Mortzheim
  • Patent number: 6648332
    Abstract: Spline seals are formed at the joints between packing casing shells in a steam turbine having high pressure and intermediate pressure turbine sections sealing between the high pressure and intermediate pressure regions on opposite axial sides of the packing casing. The spline seals extend in registering grooves from adjacent the seal segments of the rotor radially outwardly to adjacent axial load surfaces cooperable between the outer shell and the packing casing. The spline seals minimize or eliminate steam leakage paths through the horizontal joint of the packing casing shells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Steven Sebastian Burdgick
  • Patent number: 6634650
    Abstract: A rotary vacuum-chuck mounts a substrate such as a silicon wafer for rotation. The vacuum-chuck includes a hollow rotary shaft and a chuck mounted on the hollow rotary shaft and having a surface adapted to support a substrate, the surface having one or more openings in fluid communication with the hollow rotary shaft. A vacuum generator evacuates the hollow rotary shaft and the one or more openings so as to vacuum chuck a substrate to the chuck surface. A labyrinthine gap is defined between a first member that rotates with the hollow rotary shaft and a second member that is stationary. A fluid in the labyrinthine gap provides a gas-tight seal between the first and second members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventor: Alexander Lerner
  • Publication number: 20030184022
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine aspirating face seal includes rotatable and non-rotatable engine members and a leakage path therebetween. Annular generally planar rotatable and non-rotatable gas bearing face surfaces are operably associated with the rotatable and non-rotatable engine members respectively and are circumscribed about and generally perpendicular to a centerline axis. A substantially fully annular pull off biasing means s operably disposed for urging the non-rotatable gas bearing face surface axially away from the rotatable gas bearing face surface and circumscribed about the centerline axis. The pull off biasing means may be at least one wave spring or one bellville washer. The non-rotatable gas bearing face surface may be on a face seal ring mounted on a translatable cylindrical piston which is axially movable and supported by the non-rotatable engine member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2002
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Inventors: John C. Brauer, Robert J. Albers
  • Patent number: 6592127
    Abstract: An air purged shaft seal assembly has a seal housing fixedly securable to a stationary support and having a circular aperture through which a shaft can pass. The seal housing has an internal annular surface defining the circular aperture, the internal annular surface having a first annular portion for engaging an outer surface of an annular sealing member and a second annular portion shaped to partially form an air receiving chamber. The seal housing has a passage for supplying air under pressure from an external source thereof to the air receiving chamber. A sleeve mountable on the shaft for sliding movement therealong, the sleeve having an external peripheral surface with a first peripheral portion co-operable with the first annular portion of the internal annular surface of the seal housing to receive the annular sealing member therebetween and a second peripheral portion co-operable with the second annular portion of the internal annular surface of the seal housing to form the air receiving chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Phlaver Inc.
    Inventors: Arnold B. Flower, Bernard Teichroeb
  • Patent number: 6578849
    Abstract: A sealing configuration is provided for sealing off a first region from a second region through which a fluid can flow and which can be kept at different pressures. The sealing configuration has a deformation region and a sealing surface connected thereto. The sealing surface is spaced apart from an opposing surface by a sealing gap. The width of the sealing gap depends on a deformation of the deformation region as a result of a differential pressure. The sealing configuration preferably serves to seal off a turbine shaft from a turbine casing or a moving blade from a turbine casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Detlef Haje
  • Patent number: 6572113
    Abstract: A seal assembly for co-operation with a shaft comprising a seal member which, in use, in a first position, forms a seal against the shaft, a seal housing for retaining the seal member, means for applying a radially inward force to the seal member and means for applying a radially outward force to the seal member so that, when the means for applying a radially outwards force is operated, the seal member is dilated to a second position thereby enabling the seal assembly and the shaft to be fitted and disassembled in conventional manner, when the means for applying a radially outward force is removed the means for applying a radially inward force to the seal member returns the seal member to the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventor: Ian C D Care
  • Patent number: 6572115
    Abstract: A seal assembly is provided for a rotary machine wherein the rotary machine comprises a rotor and a casing. The rotor comprises a generally longitudinally-extending axis. The casing is generally coaxially aligned with the axis. The casing circumferentially surrounds, is radially spaced apart from the rotor, and comprises an inner circumferential channel generally coaxially aligned with the rotor. The seal assembly comprises a plurality of seal carrier segments fixedly disposed in a circumferential array in the inner circumferential channel. Each of the seal carrier segments comprises a seal carrier channel. At least one of the seal carrier segments comprises at least one fluid inlet disposed therein. In addition, the seal assembly comprises a (meaning at least one) seal disposed in the seal carrier channel and is movable between radially inward and radially outward positions upon introduction of fluid medium in the fluid inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Hamid Reza Sarshar, Norman Arnold Turnquist, Biao Fang
  • Patent number: 6572114
    Abstract: A seal ring provided between a rotating portion and a fixed portion in a rotating machine of steam turbine and the like is improved to accurately carry out predetermined movement so as to not cause deterioration of sealing performance. The seal ring is split into upper, lower, right side and left side seal ring pieces slidably contacting with each other via split planes with spaces being formed in the respective split planes. Springs are interposed in the spaces for activation in upward and downward directions. The upper and lower seal ring pieces are engaged with seal ring guides and the right side and left side seal ring pieces are engaged with seal ring guides so that all of the seal ring pieces are slidable in the upward and downward directions. Further, on the respective tips of the seal ring guides spaces of the upper seal ring piece and spaces of the lower seal ring piece are formed and springs are provided in the spaces for activation in the upward and downward directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryotaro Magoshi, Tetsu Konishi, Zenichi Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20030067119
    Abstract: A baffle seal at the opening (31) for the load-transmitting member (20) in a balance housing (30) has at least one sleeve-shaped ring element (11, 110), fastener means (23) attached to the housing (30) and serving to hold the sleeve-shaped ring element in a stationary working position surrounding the opening, and a cover cap (1) with at least one sleeve-shaped ring (10, 10′, 12) that is axially movable relative to the sleeve-shaped ring element. The ring element is releasable so that it can be separated from the balance without dismantling other parts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2002
    Publication date: April 10, 2003
    Applicant: Mettler-Toledo GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Rudolf Burkhard, Luzi Hess, Willi Graf
  • Patent number: 6533285
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: Yrene L. Nava, Zaher Z. Mutasim
  • Patent number: 6530573
    Abstract: A system for providing a seal between a housing and a shaft is formed of at least two ring members connected to each other by relative diametrical expansion with reduced or eliminated axial resilient deformation. The ring members may be held together by an annular protrusion located within a recess. To eliminate play between the protrusion and the recess, the device may be assembled by heating the recess and inserting the protrusion into the recess while the recess is expanded. The improved system can be accurately assembled, with the ring members located very close to each other. The system has improved oil retention and water exclusion properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: J. M. Clipper Corporation
    Inventors: Robert A. Merkin, George Fedorovich, Kenneth J. Sharrer
  • Publication number: 20030042684
    Abstract: The invention herein is a seal to seal a rotating shaft to housing. The seal has a stator and a rotor, magnetically and mechanically coupled. The mechanical couple is provided through an interlocking annular groove provided on one component and a flange face on the other component. The mechanical couple allows the two components to become interconnected once a predetermined range of free movement of the rotor is exceeded. The stator and rotor are also mechanically coupled through a plurality of magnets positioned on either the stator or rotor. After the predetermined range is exceeded, the rotor slips along the shaft while the stator remains fixed, maintaining a seal in during axial movement of the rotating shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2001
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Inventors: Stephen M. Dawson, Gary D. Anderson, Michael L. Deweese
  • Publication number: 20030030223
    Abstract: A non-contacting seal which includes a stationary tooth that radially overlaps a tooth on a rotatable shaft, with the sealing action resulting from controlled clearance both radially between stationary tooth and the shaft, and axially between the stationary tooth and the shaft. The seal may also be in the form of a stationary tooth that is approximately in the same radial plane as a tooth on a rotatable shaft, with the sealing action resulting from both a controlled clearance gap between the two teeth and from the momentum of liquid traveling outward from the rotating tooth making it difficult for the liquid to turn to go axially through the gap between the rotating tooth and the stationary tooth. The seal may also comprise the combination of the two seals described above or a pair of the same seals, i.e., two radially overlapping or two in the same radial plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2002
    Publication date: February 13, 2003
    Applicant: Atlas Copco Comptec Inc.
    Inventor: John M. Rinaldo
  • Patent number: 6471211
    Abstract: An improved unitized bearing seal assembly employs a resilient primary seal lip, a secondary seal lip and an excluder lip carried by a first seal case. The seal lips contact surfaces of a second seal case. One of the seal cases rotates relative to the other. The bearing seal assembly also includes a labyrinth seal positioned radially inboard of the resilient seal lips. The labyrinth seal has two axially-extending gaps. One of the axially extending gaps is defined by a resilient axial lip. The two axial gaps are joined by a radial gap. One of the surfaces defining the radial gap comprises chaplets with recessed surfaces between the chaplets. The chaplets include radially directed surfaces and inclined surfaces joining the radially directed surfaces with the recessed surfaces. These surfaces are shaped to provide hydrodynamic pumping action. A lubricant cavity is located between the labyrinth seal and the primary seal lip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Brenco, Incorporated
    Inventors: Mark W. Garnett, Danny R. Sink
  • Patent number: 6471215
    Abstract: A grease purgeable dynamic labyrinth sealing device is disclosed which includes a stator having an annular engagement flange on a radially inner portion thereof and a rotor having an annular engagement flange on a radially outer portion thereof. The stator annular engagement flange and the rotor annular engagement flange have coacting means for mechanically interlocking the stator and the rotor. In one embodiment, means, such as, for example, a plurality of apertures, are operatively formed in the stator for allowing excess grease applied to the bearing housing to move through the stator and out of the stator such that the grease purgeable dynamic labyrinth sealing device maintains proper position relative to the bearing housing and is rotatable with the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Garlock Sealing Technologies LLC
    Inventors: James Drago, Joel R. Shaw, Jeffrey M. Grudzien
  • Patent number: 6467773
    Abstract: A non-contacting seal which includes a stationary tooth that radially overlaps a tooth on a rotatable shaft, with the sealing action resulting from controlled clearance both radially between stationary tooth and the shaft, and axially between the stationary tooth and the shaft. The seal may also be in the form of a stationary tooth that is approximately in the same radial plane as a tooth on a rotatable shaft, with the sealing action resulting from both a controlled clearance gap between the two teeth and from the momentum of liquid traveling outward from the rotating tooth making it difficult for the liquid to turn to go axially through the gap between the rotating tooth and the stationary tooth. The seal may also comprise the combination of the two seals described above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Atlas Copco Comptec Inc.
    Inventor: John M. Rinaldo
  • Publication number: 20020117807
    Abstract: A shaft seal for a rotating machine having a rotating shaft includes a support ring, surrounding the shaft, supported by a casing. The support ring includes a plurality of movable ring segments and fixed ring segments adjoining each other in a circumferential direction of the support ring. The movable ring segments are biased away from the shaft by biasing members provided at circumferential ends of the fixed ring segments. Sealing fins and sealing sheets are disposed along the inner periphery of the support ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2002
    Publication date: August 29, 2002
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES LTD.
    Inventors: Zenichi Yoshida, Tanehiro Shinohara, Toshihiro Miyawaki, Tetsu Konishi, Takashi Nakano, Kenji Enomoto, Yutaka Toda
  • 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: 6419233
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Isotech of Illinois, Inc.
    Inventor: David C. Orlowski
  • Patent number: 6394459
    Abstract: A packing ring seal assembly for use in a steam turbine for minimizing leakage flow between stationary and rotating steam path parts includes a stationary annular seal ring having a plurality of axially spaced, annular sealing teeth extending in a radial inward direction and adapted to cooperate with sealing surfaces on a rotating component of the steam turbine, wherein radial clearance between the sealing teeth and the sealing surfaces varies by predetermined amounts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Mark Arne Florin
  • Patent number: 6390477
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Garlock Inc
    Inventors: James Drago, Joel R. Shaw, Larry E. Strohm
  • Patent number: 6367807
    Abstract: A labyrinth seal for use in a centrifugal pump. The seal may eliminate rotating surfaces from rubbing directly against groove surfaces during installation thereby eliminating or reducing the scraping of material from rotating surfaces. Therefore, generation of fine powder from such scraping is reduced or substantially eliminated. A stationary covering is provided over the outer surface or periphery of a rotating member in order to make maintenance personnel less susceptible to injury. No heat process is required for assembly (although some may be used in certain embodiments). A radial trap system is provided for enhancing performance of the seal, including a recess or cutout in the face of a stationary member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Environamics Corporation
    Inventor: Robert E. Rockwood
  • Patent number: 6341948
    Abstract: A refrigeration unit having a compressor that includes a cast member, a cavity formed in the cast member, and an oil filter element dividing the cavity into an inlet cavity and an outlet cavity. An inlet port for directing the unfiltered oil into the inlet cavity and an outlet port for directing filtered oil out of the outlet cavity are also included. The filter element is secured in the cavity between an integral plate on one end and ears on the opposite end. A seal between the cast member and the removable cover is included. Also included is another seal positioned between the inlet and outlet cavities. The filter element may be cylindrical. At least one isolation valve that prevents or allows flow into and out of the filter cavity may be included. The inlet port may be formed in the cast member and the outlet port may be formed in the removable cover, or vice versa. At least one lubrication point and an oil conduit communicating between the lubrication port and the outlet port are included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2002
    Assignee: American Standard International Inc.
    Inventors: Randy E. Dewhirst, James W. Noben
  • Patent number: 6325382
    Abstract: A static pressure non-contact type mechanical seal that exhibits and maintains a high sealing function or performance for a prolonged period even when sealing gases containing foreign matter such as oil. A labyrinth seal (7) comprising a plurality of annular grooves (71) and annular plates (72) extending into the grooves is provided, the labyrinth seal partitioning a region C on the outside diameter side of the seal faces (31, 41) in the seal case (2) from the inside region A of a gas treatment machine (1). The seal case is provided with a return passage (8) communicating with the bottom portions of the annular grooves 71 and opening into the inside region A of the machine. The seal case also includes a purge gas feed passage for supplying purge gas to the region C on the outside diameter side of the seal faces, the purge gas pressure being higher than that in the inside region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignees: Nippon Pillar Packing Co., Ltd., Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd., Mayekawa Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasutaka Iwamoto, Masaaki Furuya, Masahito Ikehara, Yoshimitsu Sekiya
  • Patent number: 6311984
    Abstract: The improved bearing isolator permits the use of vapor or a combination of a vaporized substance with a carrier to lubricate bearings while containing the vaporized substance in the housing and permitting the carrier, having been stripped of its substance, to escape to the atmosphere. This novel coalescing unit also has a positive coalescence both during operation and at static condition. This invention will retain the vaporized substance in the housing after coalescence so that it may be reclaimed or reused as desired. The novel coalescing unit of this invention may be utilized with any seal assembly which will prevent or minimize the escape of the lubricant in liquid form from the housing, the coalescing member separate the mist from the carrier and coalesces the substance of the vapor to be retained within the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Inpro Companies, Inc.
    Inventor: David C. Orlowski
  • Patent number: 6308734
    Abstract: A rotary union for delivery of a coolant fluid to a spindle of a metal working machine comprises a housing having a cylindrical bore containing bearings for journaling a tubular shaft therein wherein the improvement resides in the provision of a floating bushing seal as the high-pressure seal. The floating bushing seal assembly includes a seal housing containing a plurality of longitudinally disposed bushing rings that have a low clearance fit with respect to the tubular shaft of the rotary union.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: Talco, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian E. Smith, Ross A. Wenk
  • Patent number: 6290234
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Reliance Electric Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Frederick Eberle, William P. Pizzichil, Dennis Thompson
  • Patent number: 6279915
    Abstract: A tubular refractory channel (2) that can be inserted as a flowthrough for liquid metal into a thermally insulating outer lining (10) and can be connected with the outer lining (10) by a refractory mortar layer (9). In order to prevent liquid metal from penetrating into the mortar layer (9), even if the mortar layer contracts, the outer lining (10) overlaps the metal inflow-side of a front face (4) of the channel (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Didier-Werke AG
    Inventors: Daniel Grimm, Raimund Brückner, Jivan Kapoor, Robert Hellermann
  • Patent number: 6276692
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Asea Brown Boveri AG
    Inventors: Alexander Beeck, Wilhelm Endres, Konrad Vogeler, Bernhard Weigand
  • Publication number: 20010006278
    Abstract: A sealing configuration is provided for sealing off a first region from a second region through which a fluid can flow and which can be kept at different pressures. The sealing configuration has a deformation region and a sealing surface connected thereto. The sealing surface is spaced apart from an opposing surface by a sealing gap. The width of the sealing gap depends on a deformation of the deformation region as a result of a differential pressure. The sealing configuration preferably serves to seal off a turbine shaft from a turbine casing or a moving blade from a turbine casing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2001
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Inventor: Detlef Haje
  • Patent number: 6241252
    Abstract: A seal assembly is adapted for mounting between a rotatable shaft and an outer stationary housing, the seal assembly being made up of a metal sleeve in surrounding relation to the shaft, a non-metallic resilient seat in surrounding relation to the sleeve, the seat being heat-expandable to permit placement over the sleeve and, upon cooling, will contract or shrink into snug-fitting engagement with the sleeve along selected areas with labyrinth grooves formed along the inner surface of the seat between the selected areas of sealed engagement; and an excluder ring is mounted on one end of the seat along with an annular drive lock which is wedged into one end of the sleeve so as to impart rotation of the shaft into the sleeve and excluder ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Jemco Seal Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Jump, Gary A. Mansdorfer