Leakage Through Seal Between Runner Or Shaft And Static Part Patents (Class 415/168.2)
  • Patent number: 11858335
    Abstract: An engine room heat exhausting structure configured to discharge heat from an engine room, is provided. The structure includes an engine room accommodating an engine with cylinders lined up in a front-and-rear direction of a vehicle, a wheelhouse provided outside the engine room in a vehicle width direction, an exhaust emission control device disposed between the engine and the wheelhouse, a splash shield configured to intercept water entering the engine room from the wheelhouse, and a discharging part provided to the splash shield at a location rearward of the exhaust emission control device and configured to discharge into the wheelhouse a portion of air that cooled the exhaust emission control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Shinji Yamauchi, Syouta Yamada, Michio Saito, Masayoshi Enomoto, Yuki Ikawa
  • Patent number: 11560885
    Abstract: A pump trailer including a frame, a pump and at least one locomotion member. The pump is suspended within the frame using an elevator. The at least one locomotion member is coupled to a base of the frame to facilitate motion of the frame over terrain. The elevator raises the pump to a fully raised position or lowers the pump to a pumping position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Inventor: John Sander Kirk
  • Patent number: 10968810
    Abstract: A thermal management module comprises a housing and a drive shaft located within the housing. The housing is provided with a first internal cavity, a partition and a second internal cavity which are arranged in series along the axial direction of the drive shaft. The first internal cavity and the second internal cavity are separated by the partition. The partition is proved with a through-hole through which the drive shaft passes. One end of the drive shaft extends into the first internal cavity. A second internal cavity is used for receiving a drivetrain for rotating the drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Huilan Zhou, Uli Großkopf
  • Patent number: 10605106
    Abstract: A turbine of a gas turbine engine comprising a stator sealing ring element arranged so as to form a labyrinth sealing joint in combination with at least one wiper, rotatable about the axis of the sealing ring. The element includes an abradable material layer with a surface portion engageable with said movable wiper. The abradable material layer on the surface portion axially includes a first area having a first wiper penetration resistance, said first area corresponding to the axial position of the wiper during nominal operation of the turbine, and a second area adjacent to the first area and having lower wiper penetration resistance than the first area. The second area is located downstream from the first area and corresponds to the axial position that the wiper takes when a flame goes out in the combustion chamber of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Aurélien René-Pierre Massot, Eric Schwartz, Wilfried Lionel Schweblen
  • Patent number: 10233931
    Abstract: Turbine pump assemblies and methods of making the same are provided. The assemblies include a body, a centrifugal pump having a shroud located within the body, a shroud cavity formed external to the shroud, and an ejector pump fluidly connected to the shroud cavity by a purge gas flow path, the ejector pump configured to reduce a pressure within the shroud cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventor: Richard A. Himmelmann
  • Patent number: 9611858
    Abstract: In a water pump, a reinforcement rib is integrally installed on either an outer surface or an inner surface of a flange wall of a pulley and radially extended toward an outer direction from a center side at which one end section of a drive shaft is coupled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventor: Yusuke Furusawa
  • Patent number: 9028203
    Abstract: An air diffuser device suitable for use in an air diffuser system for a centrifugal pump the pump including a pump casing with a pumping chamber therein, an impeller mounted within the pumping chamber for rotation about a rotation axis, the impeller including a front side and a rear side. The air diffuser system comprises one or more passages extending through the impeller from the front side to the rear side, the or each passage having a first opening at the rear side and a second opening at the front side of the impeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Weir Minerals Australia Ltd.
    Inventors: Kevin Edward Burgess, Michael Christopher Foreman
  • Patent number: 8858165
    Abstract: A variable vane assembly for a gas turbine engine is disclosed herein. The variable vane assembly includes a vane operable to pivot about a pivot axis. The vane includes a flap portion positionable in a fluid stream for controlling a flow of fluid. The vane also includes a stem portion for mounting the flap portion. The vane also includes a button portion positioned between the flap portion and the stem portion along the pivot axis. The button portion is wider than the stem portion in at least one plane containing the pivot axis. The variable vane assembly also includes a bushing encircling the stem portion and abutting the button portion. The variable vane assembly also includes a labyrinth seal positioned between the bushing and the button portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Peck, Burke Snyder
  • Patent number: 8858166
    Abstract: Systems and devices for substantially fluidly isolating portions of a rotary machine are disclosed. In one embodiment, a seal assembly for a rotary machine includes: a complementary set of seal segments configured relative one another so as to form a substantially continuous body with butt gaps between the seal segments, the segments including: a head flange; and an axial neck connected to the head flange, wherein the axial neck extends radially inboard and includes an axial slot formed substantially there through; and at least one butt gap seal element, wherein the at least one butt gap seal element includes an axial flange and a radial flange, the axial flange disposed within the axial slots of adjacent seal segments; and the radial flange extending radially inboard from the axial slots to a proximity of the rotary machine substantially forming a barrier to axial flow through the butt gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Xiaoqing Zheng, Bernard Arthur Couture, Jr., Mehmet Demiroglu, Gregory Leonard Diantonio, Daniel Edward Jordy
  • Patent number: 8851833
    Abstract: A rotor blade 40 for a gas turbine engine has an aerofoil portion 42 from a root 48 to a tip 54. In use, combustion gas may leak over the tip 54 from the pressure face 52 to the suction face 50. A gutter 62 extends across the tip 54 to entrain any over tip leakage gap. The floor of the gutter defines an increased depth portion 72 at the exit end of the gutter 62.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventors: Stephen C. Diamond, Caner H. Helvaci, Roderick M. Townes, Ian Tibbott, Dougal R. Jackson
  • Patent number: 8845274
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon presence sensor used to detect for the presence of a fuel in a buffer cavity of an inter-propellant seal. A sensor is formed on a rotor shaft in the buffer cavity and an optical imaging device is used to view a change in appearance of the sensor when a hydrocarbon forms on the surface. The sensor is formed from either an oil/fuel leak detection powder or an oil colorimetric developer. A white light source or a laser is reflected off of the sensor and an optical imaging device reads the reflected light to detect for a change in color or intensity of the light to indicate if a hydrocarbon is present on the sensor surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Florida Turbine Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Elizabeth D. Garvin, Elizabeth V. Stein, Alex Pinera
  • Patent number: 8845280
    Abstract: A turbine blade for a gas turbine engine has an aerofoil portion extending from a root to a tip. The tip carries winglets. A gutter extends across the tip to entrain gas leaking around the tip (over tip leakage). The aerofoil portion has a mean camber line and the gutter has a center line. In the examples described, the conditions that (a) the mean camber line and the centre line coincide at the exit when viewed from the tip towards the root, and (b) the mean camber line and the center line are parallel at the exit when viewed as aforesaid, are not both fulfilled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventors: Stephen C. Diamond, Caner H. Helvaci, Roderick M. Townes, Ian Tibbott, Dougal R. Jackson
  • Patent number: 8839811
    Abstract: A drain system of a water pump for a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include: a drain hole formed at a water pump housing, wherein coolant having leaked from the water pump passes the drain hole; a drain chamber formed in the water pump housing and providing a space communicated with the drain hole; a drain plug disposed in the drain chamber and collecting the coolant passing the drain hole; and a plug penetration hole penetrating the drain plug so as to communicate an inside of the drain plug to an outside of the water pump housing, wherein a part of the coolant collected in the drain plug may be vaporized and be exhausted to the outside of the water pump housing through the plug penetration hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Bongseong Kang
  • Patent number: 8753070
    Abstract: A device for redirecting a leakage current flowing between a stator and a rotor is disclosed. The device includes a sealing element for interrupting the leakage current, an outlet opening disposed on the rotor, and a guide which is configured to direct the leakage current past the sealing element to the outlet opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: MTU Aero Engines GmbH
    Inventor: Sergio Elorza Gomez
  • Patent number: 8753077
    Abstract: A slinger shield structure is provided and includes a first annular disc, having a body, opposing faces defining an aperture extending through the body and through-holes extending through the body, which are arrayed around the aperture, a second annular disc having a body and opposing faces defining an aperture extending through the body, a hub for connection with the first and second annular discs at the respective apertures and radial vanes suspended between the first and second annular discs at a distance from the hub to define radial channels between adjacent radial vanes and drainage channels between the radial vanes and the hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sanjay Gupta, Subbiah Natarajan, Bansidhar Jagannath Phansalkar
  • Publication number: 20140037434
    Abstract: A submersible pump housing with seal bleed ports is provided. In an implementation, a pump housing for electric submersible pumps (ESPs), such as a centrifugal ESP, has end seals that are located inside or further inboard toward the high thrust pressure generated by the pump, than the threaded ends of the pump housing. The inboard seals contain and seal off the pump pressure and spare the threaded regions that are more pressure-vulnerable from the pump's high pressure interior, thereby increasing the pressure rating of the entire housing. Leak ports or bleed ports are provided further outboard of the end seals to relieve fluid seeping from inside the submersible pump housing past each end seal. A plate may be added to direct small amounts of fluid escaping from the end seals away from the wellbore casing in which an ESP is situated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Inventor: David Milton Eslinger
  • Patent number: 8579579
    Abstract: An exemplary assembly includes a component of a turbocharger that includes a bore that extends between an inner, exhaust gas side of the component and an outer, ambient side of the component; a shaft that includes a pin portion and a head portion; a sleeve positioned on the pin portion of the shaft; and a bushing positioned over at least part of the sleeve and over at least part of the head portion of the shaft where the bushing seats the shaft and the sleeve in the bore. During operation of a turbocharger that includes such an assembly, the shaft, the sleeve and the bushing restrict flow of exhaust gas from the inner, exhaust gas side of the component to the outer, ambient side of the component. Various other exemplary devices, assemblies, methods, etc., are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Joel Castan, Gerard Dieudonne, Arnaud Gerard, Lionel Toussaint
  • Patent number: 8545166
    Abstract: A turbine system is provided wherein during self-sealing operating conditions, excess leakoff steam is restricted from being dumped to a steam seal header and is diverted into the working steam flow path, hence increasing net output and efficiency for the turbine system. A related method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jegadeesan Maruthamuthu, Sudhahar Rajan, Kasiraman Sundar
  • Patent number: 8529200
    Abstract: Apparatus for sealing and purging a bearing region includes a bearing housing having at least one hole that allows a flow of air to flow through the at least one hole, and at least one bearing seal that allows the flow of air to flow through the at least one bearing seal, thereby creating a pressure difference across the bearing seal. The apparatus also includes an air directional device having at least a portion of the flow of air to flow adjacent to the air directional device, and a pair of components having a gap between the pair of components that allows the at least a portion of the flow of air to flow through the gap, thereby purging the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Srinivas Pakkala, Nagendra Karthik Depuru Mohan, Sendilkumaran Soundiramourty
  • Patent number: 8474433
    Abstract: During engine braking of a turbocharged internal combustion engine, the exhaust gas pressure increases and this is used to pressurize the seals between the turbocharger shaft and the bearing housing so as to prevent oil leakage into the compressor housing. Immediately after engine braking, stored exhaust gas pressure is used to pressurize the seals at the turbine end so as to prevent oil leakage into the turbine housing. In an alternative arrangement the exhaust gas is used to generate a reduced pressure in the bearing housing to increase the pressure gradient across the seals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Cummins Turbo Technologies Limited
    Inventor: Pierre French
  • Patent number: 8454305
    Abstract: An air diffuser device suitable for use in an air diffuser system for a centrifugal pump the pump including a pump casing with a pumping chamber therein, an impeller mounted within the pumping chamber for rotation about a rotation axis, the impeller including a front side and a rear side. The air diffuser system comprises one or more passages extending through the impeller from the front side to the rear side, the or each passage having a first opening at the rear side and a second opening at the front side of the impeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Weir Minerals Australia Ltd.
    Inventors: Kevin Edward Burgess, Michael Christopher Foreman
  • Patent number: 8419353
    Abstract: A water pump includes an impeller provided at a first end of a rotational shaft supported by a body via a bearing, a mechanical seal provided between the impeller and the bearing, a draining hole introducing a water drop leaked from an impeller side via the mechanical seal to a reservoir provided at a bottom of the body and having a side opening, a plugging member provided at the side opening of the reservoir for liquid-tightly sealing the reservoir, and an opening portion provided at the plugging member for communicating the reservoir and an atmosphere side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takayuki Hotta, Shuhei Yamazaki
  • Publication number: 20130084165
    Abstract: An installation includes a high pressure steam turbine module, a medium pressure steam turbine module, and at least one low pressure steam turbine module, sealing devices being positioned between a rotating turbine shaft and corresponding casings of the various turbine modules, each of the modules include a main chamber in which the turbine is housed. The installation also includes a first collection chamber positioned in the casing of the high pressure module to collect the steam leaks leaving the high pressure module through its sealing device at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure, and an injection chamber positioned in the casing of the low pressure module and connected by a first circuit to the first collection chamber such that the steam is transferred from the first collection chamber toward the injection chamber, and then toward the main chamber of the low pressure module through its sealing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2012
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD
    Inventors: Philippe Choquart, Eric Ollivau, Arnaud Buguin
  • Patent number: 8403644
    Abstract: A power generating apparatus of renewable energy type in which a hydraulic pipe between a hydraulic pump installed inside a nacelle and a hydraulic motor installed near a bottom part of a tower can handle the turning motion of the nacelle. In the power generating apparatus of renewable energy type, a hydraulic pump inside the nacelle and a hydraulic motor near a base end part of a tower are connected by a first double pipe and a second double pipe. The first double pipe is rotatably connected to the second double pipe. The first double pipe includes a first inner pipe and a first outer pipe. The second double pipe includes a second inner pipe and a second outer pipe. The first and second inner pipes communicate with each other to form an inner passage. The first and second outer pipes communicate with each other to form an outer passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhisa Tsutsumi, Takuro Kameda, Taku Ichiryuu
  • Publication number: 20130064648
    Abstract: A water pump includes a mechanical seal provided between a housing and a rotary shaft for preventing cooling water from leaking from a whirl chamber. The housing forms a space into which cooling water leaked from between the mechanical seal and the rotary shaft is flown and a water vent for discharging cooling water flown into the space. The housing is joined with a thermostat cover to form a reservoir communicating with the water vent. The reservoir has a drain for releasing evaporated cooling water to the air and a control wall for preventing cooling water remaining as liquid from flowing out through the drain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Atsushi Chiba, Itsuro Hashiguchi, Megumi Onozuka
  • Patent number: 8313281
    Abstract: A process fluid communication system includes a fluid source in communication with a process seal and a gearbox seal to communicate a pumping medium into a turbomachinery housing and a gearbox housing through the process seal and the gearbox seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Sundyne Corporation
    Inventor: Ronald P. Rickert
  • Patent number: 8308426
    Abstract: A shaft assembly for a gas turbine engine includes a shaft, an annular fluid collection cavity, and a bearing. The shaft is rotatable around an axially extending shaft centerline. The annular fluid collection cavity is formed by an axial panel extending between a forward radial panel and an aft radial panel. The aft radial panel includes a plurality of fluid apertures, each fluid aperture having a center disposed at a first radius from the shaft centerline. The bearing includes an inner race having a shaft mounting surface and a plurality of axially extending race fluid passages. The shaft mounting surface is engaged with an exterior surface of the shaft, and is disposed at a second radius from the shaft centerline, wherein the second radius is less than the first radius. At least some of the axially extending race fluid passages are fluidly connected with at least some of the fluid apertures in the aft radial panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Brian P. Cigal, Mark A. Metzger
  • Patent number: 8221056
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are presented for mixing a high temperature steam, perhaps leaked from an upstream turbine, with the cooler steam from a lower temperature, downstream turbine and introducing the mixture into the downstream turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Douglas Carl Hofer
  • Patent number: 8210808
    Abstract: A pump insert (128) has an inner surface which in use defines a portion of a volute (124) of a pump (110) wherein said pump insert (128) is adapted to be coupled with a pump casing (116) by an inter-engaging profiled coupling arrangement (166). In one disclosed embodiment the pump insert (128) is adapted to engage a pump casing closure plate (148) which is locatable about a pump shaft (112) and between the pump inert (148) and the pump casing (110).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Weir Minerals Europe Limited
    Inventors: Nigel P. Clarence, Richard J. Collings, Ian H. Wells
  • Patent number: 8167534
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a turbine engine. The engine may include a main housing defining a compressor compartment and an air intake housing mounted to the main housing. The engine may also include a rotor including a compressor portion disposed within the compressor compartment, and a hub portion extending from the compressor compartment through an opening in the air intake housing into a bearing compartment defined by the air intake housing. The engine may further include a seal mounted in the opening in the air intake housing in an annular gap between the hub portion of the rotor and the air intake housing and configured to form a seal between the bearing compartment and the compressor compartment. The seal may be configured to be removed from the opening in the air intake housing while the air intake housing is mounted to the main housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Inc.
    Inventors: Charles C. Cornelius, Gabriel J. Glynn
  • Patent number: 8113764
    Abstract: A steam turbine includes a shaft operatively connecting a first turbine section and a second turbine section. A packing assembly is positioned about the shaft. A first conduit is fluidly connected to the packing assembly. The first conduit is configured to introduce a flow of low temperature, low pressure steam to the packing assembly. A second conduit is also fluidly connected to the packing assembly downstream from the first turbine section and upstream from the first conduit. The second conduit receives a portion of the high temperature, high pressure steam passing into the packing assembly from the first turbine section. A valve is fluidly connected to the second conduit. The valve is configured to be selectively operated so as to allow the high temperature, high pressure steam to mix with the low pressure, low temperature steam in the second conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Nestor Hernandez, Dhaval Ramesh Bhalodia
  • Patent number: 8109716
    Abstract: Gas turbine engine systems involving hydrostatic face seals with anti-fouling provisioning are provided. In this regard, a representative turbine assembly for a gas turbine engine comprises: a turbine having a hydrostatic seal; the hydrostatic seal having a seal face, a seal runner, a carrier, and a biasing member; the seal face and the seal runner defining a high-pressure side and a lower-pressure side of the seal; the carrier being operative to position the seal face relative to the seal runner; and the biasing member being located on the lower-pressure side of the seal and being operative to bias the carrier such that interaction of the biasing member and gas pressure across the seal causes the carrier to position the seal face relative to the seal runner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: United Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Jorn A. Glahn, Peter M. Munsell
  • Patent number: 8105021
    Abstract: Gas turbine engine systems involving hydrostatic face seals with integrated back-up seals are provided. In this regard, a representative seal assembly for a gas turbine engine includes: a stator assembly and a rotor assembly configured to operatively engage each other to form a first seal and a second seal; the first seal being provided by a hydrostatic seal having a seal face and a seal runner; and the second seal being provided by a back-up seal such that responsive to a failure of the first seal, the back-up seal maintains at least a portion of a pressure differential established by the first seal prior to the failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: United Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Jorn A. Glahn, Peter M. Munsell
  • Patent number: 8082939
    Abstract: A dry gas seal leakage recovery system is provided which collects seal leakage gas from one or more mechanical seal assemblies, pressurizing and controlling the outlet distribution pressure of the collected seal leakage, and re-injecting the gas back into the compressor or seal supply system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Flowserve Management Company
    Inventors: John Sears, Shawn Patterson
  • Patent number: 8057165
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon presence sensor used to detect for the presence of a fuel in a buffer cavity of an inter-propellant seal. A sensor is formed on a rotor shaft in the buffer cavity and an optical imaging device is used to view a change in appearance of the sensor when a hydrocarbon forms on the surface. In one embodiment, the sensor is a coating of porous silicon. In other embodiments, the sensor can be a mirrored or frosted surface on the shaft. A white light source or a laser is reflected off of the sensor and an optical imaging device reads the reflected light to detect for a change in color or intensity of the light to indicate if a hydrocarbon is present on the sensor surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Florida Turbine Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Elizabeth D Garvin, William S Walsh, Elizabeth V Stein, Alex Pinera
  • Publication number: 20110097198
    Abstract: A system for a turbo machine is provided, including one or more channels that redirect steam that leaks through the root and/or the tip regions of a stage of the turbine to mix with the high efficiency main steam flow at the pitch region of the turbine where efficiency is the highest. This redirection of the steam results in a significant performance improvement that evens out the efficiency profile resulting in higher average efficiencies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Nestor Hernandez Sanchez
  • Publication number: 20110058933
    Abstract: A device for redirecting a leakage current flowing between a stator and a rotor is disclosed. The device includes a sealing element for interrupting the leakage current, an outlet opening disposed on the rotor, and a guide which is configured to direct the leakage current past the sealing element to the outlet opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Inventor: Sergio Elorza Gomez
  • Patent number: 7854587
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a centrifugal compressor using a dry gas seal system for protecting seal means. A multistage centrifugal compressor has primary dry gas seal means for preventing leakage of working gas from a machine inner side, and secondary dry gas seal means for backing up the first dry gas seal means. A seal gas line for introducing the gas leaked from the first and second dry gas seal means to the outside of the machine is installed between the primary dry gas seal means and the secondary dry gas seal means. The gas seal line has an orifice and a check valve, and buffer means is installed between the orifice and the check valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi Plant Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshio Ito, Hiroshi Yamada
  • Publication number: 20100284782
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate generally to steam turbines, steam turbine systems, and methods for their operation and, more particularly, to high-pressure-intermediate-pressure (HPIP) steam turbine configurations having pressure drop-limited seals and exhibiting reduced mid-packing and/or end-packing leakage. One embodiment of the invention provides a combined high-pressure-intermediate-pressure (HPIP) steam turbine comprising: a high-pressure section; an intermediate-pressure section sharing a common rotor with the high-pressure section; at least one packing ring disposed along a length of the rotor and between the high-pressure section and the intermediate-pressure section; and at least one conduit having a first end disposed adjacent a packing ring and a second end disposed adjacent a steampath stage of the high-pressure section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2009
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Nestor Hernandez Sanchez
  • Patent number: 7828509
    Abstract: A fuel pump includes a bearing element disposed in proximity to an impeller. The bearing element is configured to form a fuel seal with the impeller and to drain fuel leaked from the pump chamber back into the pump chamber. The bearing element minimizes leakage of fuel from the pump chamber into an engine coupled to the impeller. The fuel pump also includes redundant lip seals configured to provide redundant sealing relative to a shaft of the impeller within the fuel pump in order to minimize engine oil from entering the pump chamber and to minimize fuel from entering the engine. Integration of both the bearing element and the redundant lip seals as part of the fuel pump results in the fuel pump having a relatively compact size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Lycoming Engines, a division of Avco Corp.
    Inventors: James Paul Morris, Forrest Ross Lysinger, Scott Matas, William Gundrum
  • Patent number: 7789200
    Abstract: A sump housing for scavenging lubricant is disclosed herein. The sump housing includes an outer wall defining a chamber. A lubricated structure operable to rotate can be disposed within the sump housing. The sump housing also includes an out-take for lubricant scavenging. The out-take extends across a chordal arc of the chamber. The out-take includes an upstream first portion of the outer wall diverging away from the chordal arc at a first rate. The out-take also includes a downstream second portion of the outer wall opposite the first portion. The second portion diverges away from the chordal arc toward the first portion at a second rate greater than said first rate to define a blunt wall facing the first portion for reducing the likelihood that windage will limit lubricant scavenging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventor: John Munson
  • Patent number: 7775765
    Abstract: A pump pulley is supported on a pump body via a bearing interposed between the outer peripheral surface of the pump body and the pump pulley so that the pump pulley can freely rotate relative to the pump body. A pump shaft extends along the rotation axis of the pump pulley into a pump chamber formed by a pump base and the pump body, and one end of the pump shaft is fitted to the pump pulley and the other end is fitted to an impeller located within the pump chamber. A body side seal member and a shaft side seal member that form a mechanical seal to maintain the leak tightness of the pump chamber are in opposite to and contact each other in the direction of extension of the pump shaft to form a seal surface, and the plane that includes the load support center of the bearing and the plane that includes the seal surface of the mechanical seal are substantially coincidental.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: TBK Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takeshi Hoji
  • Patent number: 7635250
    Abstract: An apparatus for routing fluid in a steam turbine is provided. The steam turbine includes a stage comprising a plurality of buckets secured to a rotor. The rotor is configured to rotate in response to a first volume of fluid flowing from an inlet passageway past the plurality of buckets. The apparatus includes a member having a fluid passageway extending therethrough. The fluid passageway includes a first end in fluid communication with a discharge side of the stage of the steam turbine. A second volume of fluid comprising a portion of the first volume of fluid is received into the fluid passageway at the discharge side of the stage and is discharged out of an outlet of the fluid passageway. The outlet is in fluid communication with a region between an upstream side of the stage and a sealing member disposed against the rotor. The region receives a third volume of leakage fluid from the upstream side of the stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michael Earl Montgomery, Robert Walter Hausler, Patrick Anthony Razzano, Jr., James Michael Stagnitti, Michael Thomas Hamlin
  • Publication number: 20080310950
    Abstract: It is known with regard to particularly cavities below high pressure turbine discs that mixing of hot gas leakage flows through an inner seal with cooling flows can diminish the effectiveness of that cooling flow when presented to other parts for cooling. By providing a path within a wall which is particularly shaped in portions it is possible to provide entrainment of a hot leakage gas flow away from entry into the cavity. Thus, the cooling flow retains a higher cooling effect and maintains its swirling nature in comparison with prior arrangements where mixing with the hot leakage flow occurred.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Colin Young, Guy D. Snowsill
  • Publication number: 20080181762
    Abstract: A method and apparatus to reduce the axial thrust in rotary machines such as compressors, centrifugal pumps, turbines, etc. includes providing additional peripheral restrictive means (7) attached at the peripheral portion of the disk forming the subdividing means (4) on the side facing the rotating rotor (2). An additional ring element at the periphery of the subdividing means forms additional radial (11) and axial restrictive means (15). Such peripheral restrictive means (7, 11 and 15) function as sealing dams, which combined with the outward flow induced by the rotating impeller, form self-pressurizing hydrodynamic bearings in the axial and radial planes, improving rotordynamic stability. Additionally, a stationary ring element in the center of the cavity forms a seal with the rotor, reducing leakage to suction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2007
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Applicant: TECHNOLOGY COMMERCIALIZATION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Boris Y. Ganelin, Michael W. Kenworthy
  • Patent number: 7396215
    Abstract: A water pump comprises a pump body, a cylindrical supporting portion, a pulley, a shaft portion, an impeller, a seal member, a pulley cylinder portion, a wall portion, a through-hole formed, a cover covering the wall portion and the pulley cylinder portion of the pulley from one side of the pulley, and the cover formed in a cylindrical shape with a bottom portion and including a reservoir for receiving fluid that has leaked through the seal member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuo Ozawa, Yojiro Koga, Atsushi Chiba, Itsuro Hashiguchi
  • Patent number: 7252474
    Abstract: A sealing arrangement for a compressor that compresses a gaseous mixture of air and fuel includes a pressurized air supply duct for supplying pressurized air into a leakage pathway defined between a compressor wheel and a housing of the compressor, which leakage pathway leads from the main gas flow path into a bearing area of the compressor, the pressurized air being supplied at a pressure sufficient to ensure that air and gaseous fuel cannot flow from the main gas flow path through the leakage pathway into the bearing area. A portion of the pressurized air flows into the bearing area, while the remainder of the air flows outwardly and is either fed back into the main gas flow path or is combined with air and gaseous fuel that leaks past an outer seal and is recirculated back to the compressor inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: MES International, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Belokon, Valentina Osobova, legal representative, George L. Touchton, Victor Osobov, deceased
  • Patent number: 7238001
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a seal arrangement in which a substantially labyrinth type seal is utilised between a rotating component and a stationary component such as a housing. An edged fin of the seal arrangement incorporates a slot nozzle or a slot nozzle is associated with a fin in order that fluid flow through those slot nozzles either impinges upon opposed surfaces or at least narrows the available leakage gap width for greater sealing efficiency. Typically, several seal arrangements in accordance with the present invention and possibly in association with simple barrier fins are combined in an assembly to provide an appropriate acceptable combined operational sealing efficiency in a turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventor: Guy J Rushton
  • Patent number: 7147431
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine (10) is provided with a stage of turbine blades (22) surrounded by hollow shroud segments (28). Cooling of the shroud segments (28) is achieved by providing a flow of engine leakage air from space volume (48) centrally of the engine (10) via an annular compartment (46) wherein it is diverted away from the blade cooling system and passed via piping (44) within each guide vane (20) to shroud segments (28). The flow impingement cools the shroud segments (28) and then passes into the gas annulus via slots (60).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: Alan R Maguire, Paul W Ferra
  • Patent number: 7112033
    Abstract: A sanitary centrifugal pump with a hygienic mechanical seal flushing system. The pump has a housing with a pumping chamber defined therein. An impeller is at least partially contained in the housing and is connected to a shaft for rotation. The rotation of the impeller creates a first liquid flow path through the pumping chamber between the inlet port and the outlet port, and the first liquid flow path creates a high pressure area in the pumping chamber. The pump includes additional seal flushing passages by which liquid is delivered to the seal cavity from the pumping chamber and returned back to the pumping chamber, to cool and flush at least a portion of the mechanical seal in the seal cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Wright Pumps, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas M. Holdorf