Centrifugal Force Affects Change In Displacement, Shape, Or Contact Patents (Class 277/433)
  • Patent number: 10557362
    Abstract: A sealing system for sealing a gap between two adjacent components includes a first component including a sealing face, a second component, and a seal cap. The second component includes a seal ridge extending from a surface of the second component towards the sealing face, and a fluid conduit extending through the second component and the seal ridge, the fluid conduit configured to channel a seal activating fluid from a fluid source. The seal cap is configured to matingly engage the seal ridge, and includes an end wall positionable between the sealing face and the seal ridge, and a pair of seal legs extending from the end wall towards the surface of the second component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Victor Hugo Silva Correia
  • Patent number: 10370995
    Abstract: A turbomachinery component of a gas turbine engine is disclosed having a number of techniques of reducing the effects of a gap flow between an airfoil member of the gas turbine engine and a wall of the gas turbine engine. The airfoil member can be variable and in one form is a variable turbine vane. In one embodiment a brush seal is included between the vane and the wall. In another form a wear surface is disposed between the vane and the wall. In yet another form a moveable member capable of being actuated to change position can be disposed between the vane and the wall to alter the size of a gap between the two.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc., Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Linnea Taketa, John Munson, Ted J. Freeman
  • Patent number: 9810075
    Abstract: A damper seal received in a cavity of a turbine blade includes a central body with two ends and a two sides. A portion extends from each end, one side has a faceted edge, and a projection extends from the other side to receive a lug of the turbine blade to align the damper seal relative to the turbine blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Kyle C. Lana, John E. Paul
  • Patent number: 9587503
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to a seal between two components. The seal includes a first substantially frustoconical seal section including a first seal section radially outer end and a first seal section radially inner end. The seal also includes a second substantially frustoconical seal section including a second seal section radially outer end and a second seal section radially inner end, wherein the second seal section radially inner end is supported by the first seal section radially inner end to create a hinge joint allowing an angle defined between the first and second seal sections to change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Timothy M Davis
  • Patent number: 9447793
    Abstract: The invention relates to a centrifugal pump (1) that has a suction-side inlet (3) and at least one pressure-side outlet (4), wherein a rotatably mounted impeller (5) for pumping a pump medium from the inlet (3) to the outlet (4) and an impeller seat (10) are arranged in the pump housing (2). In order to achieve a high degree of sealing and a long service life, the impeller seat (10) is formed in a ring-shaped impeller protector (8) which is made from a corrosion-resistant material and is received in the pump housing (2), wherein an insertion region (7) of the impeller (5) is radially surrounded by the impeller protector (8). This impeller protector (8) protects the coating against damage to the impeller (5) in the impeller seat (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Herborner Pumpenfabrik J.H. Hoffmann GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Sascha Korupp, Lars Runte, Felix Hees
  • Patent number: 9366340
    Abstract: A labyrinth seal assembly is provided for forming a seal between a shaft and housing. The seal assembly includes a stationary element configured to be coupled to the housing and having an annular shape defining a space through which the shaft extends; a rotary element disposed within the space and coupled to the shaft so as to rotate therewith, the rotary element having an outer surface that extends in an axial direction and having a groove formed therein, the rotary element being disposed between the stationary element and the shaft; and a valve element mounted within the groove and disposed between the stationary element and the rotary element when assembled to form the seal. The valve element is formed from an elastomeric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: A.W. CHESTERTON COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael P. Grimanis, Thomas Richard
  • Patent number: 9249886
    Abstract: A seal assembly includes a stator attached to a housing and a rotor attached to a shaft. A static sealing member is attached to the stator presenting a contact with the rotor at stand-still. An electromagnetic is attached to the stator at a distance from an end of the static sealing member. The static sealing member is activated and moved away from the rotor by the magnetic force exerted by the electromagnet as the shaft rotates. The electromagnet is controlled by a control system for controlling the equipment in which the bearing isolator is used. To deactivate the static sealing member during shaft rotation, the bearing isolator may have its own control system with a sensor to indicate if the shaft is rotating. As the shaft rotates, contaminants are expelled through gaps between the stator and the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventors: Sven Anders Jönsson, Yefim Epshetsky, Bryan Uncapher
  • Patent number: 9249884
    Abstract: A shaft sealing assembly for static and dynamic sealing includes a stator member attached to a housing and a rotor member attached to a shaft rotatable about an axis. The rotor member includes first and second pocket sections extending from upper and lower radial flanges extending in a cantilevered fashion from a tubular member. At least one static sealing member is attached to and encapsulates each pocket section. Each static sealing member presents a core portion and a pair of radial lips extending from the core portion. The stator member presents an annular wall extending to inner walls inclined conically to a central radial rim or flange separating two pocket portions and the static sealing members presenting a contact and frictionally engaging with the central radial rim as the rotor member is at a stand-still or static position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventors: Sven Anders Jönsson, Yefim Epshetsky, Bryan Uncapher
  • Patent number: 9200527
    Abstract: Certain embodiments of the invention may include systems, methods, and apparatus for providing a turbine interstage rim seal. According to an example embodiment of the invention, a method is provided for sealing a turbine rotor-bucket interface. The method can include linking a first portion of one or more rim seal segments with one or more flow path seal segments. The method includes rotating the one or more rim seal segments, upon application of centrifugal force, to displace a second portion of the one or more rim seal segments; and sealing at least a portion of a gap between a rotor and a bucket associated with a turbine with at least one or more rotated rim seal segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Matthew Troy Hafner
  • Patent number: 8960680
    Abstract: A seal assembly is for sealing a clearance space about a shaft, the shaft being rotatable about a central axis, and includes a generally annular sealing member disposed about the shaft. The sealing member is radially deflectable between an inner position and an outer position, the sealing member sealing the clearance space when located at the inner position. A generally annular rotor is disposed about and rotatably coupled with the shaft, the rotor having a generally annular cavity sized to receive the sealing member and at least one and preferably a plurality of lift passages extending at least partially radially through the rotor. Each lift passage has an inner port fluidly coupled with the cavity and an outer port fluidly coupled with an exterior atmosphere such that suction generated within the lift passages when the rotor angularly displaces about the axis generally retains the sealing member at the outer position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventors: Yefim A. Epshetsky, Mathew Peter Rosauer
  • Publication number: 20140001707
    Abstract: A seal assembly is for sealing a clearance space about a shaft, the shaft being rotatable about a central axis, and includes a generally annular sealing member disposed about the shaft. The sealing member is radially deflectable between an inner position and an outer position, the sealing member sealing the clearance space when located at the inner position. A generally annular rotor is disposed about and rotatably coupled with the shaft, the rotor having a generally annular cavity sized to receive the sealing member and at least one and preferably a plurality of lift passages extending at least partially radially through the rotor. Each lift passage has an inner port fluidly coupled with the cavity and an outer port fluidly coupled with an exterior atmosphere such that suction generated within the lift passages when the rotor angularly displaces about the axis generally retains the sealing member at the outer position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventors: Yefim A. Epshetsky, Mathew Peter Rosauer
  • Patent number: 8523733
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a vehicle driveline differential with improved efficiency during vehicle cold starts, the differential includes: a pinion; and a pinion bearing journaled onto a shaft of the pinion. The pinion bearing includes a thermal-insulation sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Robert Scott Lippert
  • Patent number: 8403333
    Abstract: A low friction seal for sealing between a shaft and a bore and includes an inner case adapted to be mounted on the shaft. An outer case is adapted to be mounted within the bore. A seal element is mounted to the inner case and includes a base portion attached to the inner case. A membrane extends from the base portion and an axially extending leg extends from the membrane. A seal lip extends from the axially extending leg and sealingly engages a radially extending portion of the outer case. As the shaft rotates, the centrifugal forces tend to cause the membrane to flex and the torque loads applied by the dynamic seal are reduced to the point that the seal lip can lift off and apply zero torque load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Freudenberg-NOK General Partnership
    Inventors: Alexander Berdichevsky, David Sakata, Jianbin Jiang
  • Patent number: 8191900
    Abstract: An oil seal (1A) has an outer member (2) fitted to a crankcase (100), an inner member (3) integrally rotatably fitted to a crankshaft (101), and a first movable lip (4) disposed in the gap (G1) formed by the outer member (2) and the inner member (3). The first movable lip (4) is disposed such that it is not in contact with the outer member (2) when rotation of the crankshaft (101) is stopped and that it is displaced in the direction to approach the outer member (2), coming into contact with the outer member (2) to close the gap (G1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Arai Seisakusho Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takao Suzuki, Sinichi Tamura, Masaki Sohda, Tetsuya Ishikawa, Takashi Umeki
  • Patent number: 8075251
    Abstract: A hydraulic seal is defined between a rotating member such as a turbocharger shaft and a stationary member such as part of a bearing housing of a turbocharger. The members define a projecting annular disc that is received in an annular channel that is filled with hydraulic sealing fluid such as oil. Rotation of the rotary member applies a centrifugal force to the fluid thereby ensuring that it is retained in the channel between walls thereof and the disc. This annulus of fluid provides a hydraulic seal around the shaft between the bearing housing and the compressor or turbine housing. The oil is delivered into the channel from a supply in the rotary member. One of the walls of the channel serves as a weir whereby when the channel has an excess supply of oil is overflows the wall and passes the drain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Cummins Turbo Technologies Limited
    Inventor: Matthew J Purdey
  • Patent number: 8056902
    Abstract: An isolator seal includes a stator member for placement into the stator of rotating equipment and a rotor member for placement onto a rotary shaft of the rotating equipment. The stator member and the rotor member provide respective adjacent surfaces, while a static shut-off device engages both adjacent surfaces when the rotor member is static and disengages one or more of the surfaces when the rotor member is dynamic. In one embodiment of the invention at least one of the surfaces is inclined to the longitudinal axis at an angle greater or less than 90°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: AES Engineering Ltd.
    Inventors: Alan James Roddis, Andrew Colverson
  • Patent number: 7905496
    Abstract: A seal device, which accommodates axial displacement between a housing and shaft of an item of rotating equipment, includes a stator which locates into the housing of a piece of rotating equipment. A first rotor locates on the shaft of the rotating equipment and a second rotor is rotationally coupled to the first rotor with the first rotor being permitted to axially float with respect to the second rotor. The device provides sealing integrity when the shaft is both idle and operational. The sealing device may be used, for instance, in a double ended centrifugal pump where shaft displacement occurs from thermal expansion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: AES Engineering Ltd.
    Inventor: Alan James Roddis
  • Publication number: 20100219585
    Abstract: An isolator seal includes a stator member for placement into the stator of rotating equipment and a rotor member for placement onto a rotary shaft of the rotating equipment. The stator member and the rotor member provide respective adjacent surfaces, while a static shut-off device engages both adjacent surfaces when the rotor member is static and disengages one or more of the surfaces when the rotor member is dynamic. In one embodiment of the invention at least one of the surfaces is inclined to the longitudinal axis at an angle greater or less than 90°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2010
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Inventors: Alan James Roddis, Andrew Colverson
  • Patent number: 7484734
    Abstract: A shaft sealing assembly for static and dynamic axial sealing of a centrally located rotating and movable shaft is provided. The assembly includes at least one first sealing member for sealing said shaft, at least one rotor member-attached to said shaft, and a stator member attached to a housing. A first sealing member is arranged in a recess in said rotor member effectively sealing one side of the assembly from its other side when a pressure difference exists between the media on the two sides of the assembly. Upon rotation of the shaft, the static sealing member is centrifugally moved axially and radially away from its static sealing position and friction between the sealing member and the stator is eliminated. Dynamic sealing is affected by a pressure difference caused by a turbine effect of the rotor member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Huhnseal AB
    Inventor: Göran Anderberg
  • Patent number: 7180227
    Abstract: An o-ring sealing device, molded with an imbedded piezoelectric element, for use in vacuum systems. The imbedded element, of a circumferential length, has an oblong cross-sectional shape, the oblong shape having a pair of ends for externally connecting to a signal processor. The piezoelectric element is concentrically disposed and centrally placed within a mold cavity of a predetermined diameter. The cavity is filled with an elastic material fully encapsulating and insulating the piezoelectric element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ming-Hung Tseng, Chin-Chih Chen, Tzu-Chan Wang, Wei-Shin Tien
  • Patent number: 7059829
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention relate to a compressor system for a turbine engine that not only provides large compressor seal clearances as the engine passes through non-standard operating conditions, but also minimizes the clearances during normal engine operation, thereby increasing the efficiency of the compressor. In one embodiment, a substantially annular seal land is secured at one end to an annular extension arm on a compressor disk. When the engine reaches steady state operation, the non-attached end of the seal land can extend radially outward to reduce the clearance between the seal land and a shroud extending over the ends of the adjacent stationary airfoils. The seal land can be designed to resist the rotational forces imparted by the turning rotor until a certain desired operating condition is reached. In one embodiment, the seal land reaches full extension when the engine is operating at about 3600 rpm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Siemens Power Generation, Inc.
    Inventor: Chad Marcus Garner
  • Patent number: 6834861
    Abstract: A two piece oil control ring is provided which comprises a ring body (1) formed into a generally M- or I-shaped section with an annular groove (4) on an inside surface (3) of the ring body (1); and a coiled expander (2) attached in the annular groove (4) of the ring body (1) for resiliently urging the ring body (1) toward an inner wall of a cylinder. The ring body (1) is made of stainless steel that contains chromium of 3.0 to 13.0 weight % with the outer and inner circumferential surfaces (11, 12) covered with nitrided layers (14, 15). Circular ratio (&tgr;) of an outer edge length (Yo) to an inner edge length (Yi) in the cross section of the ring body (1) is in a range between 1.08 and 1.32 to keep precise peripheral circularity of the ring body so that the nitrided layers survive lapping of the ring body (14, 15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: Riken Corporation
    Inventors: Akiyoshi Takizawa, Nobuo Katayama
  • Patent number: 6739594
    Abstract: A sealing arrangement between two radially adjoining components of an assembly that rotates during operation, in particular between the rotor and the rotating blade of a gas turbine component includes a sealing element in a depression of an inner one of the two components at the boundary surface to the outer one of the two components. The sealing element is designed in such a way that it does not or does only slightly project beyond the depression during assembly and that, during rotation of the assembly, the centrifugal force acting on it produces a sealing joint between the components. The present sealing arrangement permits an easy installation of rotating blades to the rotor of a gas turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Alstom Technology LTD
    Inventors: Alexander Beeck, Ulrich Rathmann
  • Patent number: 6659468
    Abstract: A seal includes an annular seal body and an annular lip attached to the seal body and extending radially outwards from the seal body. The annular lip has a stem and a tip and is attached to the seal body in a manner allowing deflection of the lip relative to the seal body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Inventor: Rodric J. Phillips
  • Patent number: 6474653
    Abstract: A seal arrangement for a shaft having a broad rpm range, supported in a housing, in particular for axle drives. A radial shaft seal, arranged in the housing bore hole, seals the shaft bearing space from loss of lubricant. A baffle plate, joined to the shaft, and having a lip seal, is aligned radially to the inside, which under the effect of centrifugal force lifts off from its sealing surface at higher rotational speeds of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Firma Carl Freudenberg
    Inventors: Günter Hintenlang, Uwe Henrich
  • Patent number: 6332617
    Abstract: A leaktight seal includes plaquettes that are housed between platforms of “hammer legged” vanes and a periphery of a rotor disc. The plaquettes lie above a throat that receives legs between a collar. The plaquettes are completed with heels that also lie between the legs. Centrifugal forces distort the seal and produce excellent leaktightness between the disc and the platforms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Societe Nationale D'Etude et de Construction de Moteurs D'Aviation “Snecma”
    Inventors: Jacques Leveaux, Jacky Serge Naudet
  • Patent number: 6315298
    Abstract: A seal for the aft end of a turbine blade and disk assembly of a gas turbine engine to prevent leakage of the cooling air whose main body and cross section are U-shaped that freely fits into a groove formed in the disk lug adjacent the rim of the disk on the aft side thereof. When rotating the center of the base of the U bears against the buttress of the platform of the blade and centrifugal force forces the sides of the U to deform to bear against the walls of the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Robert J. Kildea, Herbert R. Voigt
  • Patent number: 6224322
    Abstract: In a centrifugal pump, a barrier ring in the form of a dynamic seal member is interposed between relatively rotating, generally circular wall portions which undergo relative axial movement to vary the width of a gap between the wall portions, the seal member having an outer jacket of flexible material and an annular spring member of frustoconical configuration inserted into offset grooves in the jacket, and when the seal member is mounted under compression between the confronting surfaces will follow the relative axial movement between the wall portions to maintain liquid-tight sealing engagement with the wall portions. In a modified form of invention, the seal member includes a pair of helical spring members inserted into grooves in an outer flexible jacket and, when the seal is mounted under compression between confronting surfaces of the wall portions as described will maintain liquid-tight sealing engagement notwithstanding variations in the width of the gap between members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: A. R. Wilfley & Sons, Inc.
    Inventor: Gabriela E. Calboreanu
  • Patent number: 6113106
    Abstract: A mechanical face seal for use in a pump. The mechanical face seal including a seal head assembly, a seal seat assembly opposite and in contact with the seal head assembly. The seal head assembly including a gimbal ring engaging a first and second pair of gimbal pads. The first pair of gimbal pads is integral with an impeller insert and the second pair of gimbal pads is integral with a seal washer. The gimbal ring will continually adjust to misalignments of the pump and the seal components when hydraulic forces overcome the spring load of the seal head assembly and clamps the gimbal ring between the two pair of gimbal pads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: Freudenberg-NOK General Partnership
    Inventor: John C. Dahlheimer
  • Patent number: 6010409
    Abstract: A vent regulator device adapted for use in a constant velocity joint including a housing having an inner surface defining an inner cavity. The inner surface includes an annular portion, and a domed portion which has a relatively small vent hole centrally located therein. The vent regulator device further includes a member having a first end and a second end where the first end is mounted to the inner surface of the housing and the second end is disposed proximate the vent hole. When the constant velocity joint is in one of either a static state and an active state rotating at speeds below a predetermined threshold, the vent hole is overlappingly covered by the first end of the member, thereby preventing grease from penetrating the hole. Moreover, when the constant velocity joint is in an active state rotating at speeds above the predetermined threshold, centrifugal forces cause the second end of the member to move away radially from the vent hole to allow venting of air therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: GKN Automotive, Inc.
    Inventor: Rory Matthew Johnson