Resiliently Biased Patents (Class 415/231)
  • Patent number: 11549516
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a sealing system for a pump configured to pressurize a volatile liquid, such as liquid ammonia. The sealing system (2) includes a stuffing box (35) forming a barrier chamber (30) and a pump-side seal chamber (43), a mechanical seal (20) arranged in the barrier chamber (30), and a barrier-gas supply system (32) for supplying a barrier gas into the barrier chamber (30). The barrier gas has a pressure higher than a pressure of the volatile liquid in the pump-side seal chamber (43). The pump-side seal chamber (43) is located between an impeller (7) of the pump (1) and the mechanical seal (20). The barrier-gas supply system (32) includes a pressure control valve (50) configured to maintain a constant difference between pressure in the barrier chamber (30) and pressure in the pump-side seal chamber (43).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuji Kasatani, Shuichiro Honda
  • Patent number: 11396883
    Abstract: A dry gas mechanical seal system configured to inhibit the emission of process gas. The mechanical seal system having tandem first and second stage seals, and a single separation gas supply subsystem configured to direct a supply of separation gas from an inlet through interfacing portions of the first stage seal into a process cavity and from the inlet through the interfacing portions of the second stage seal and out through an outlet to the atmosphere, thereby inhibiting the emission of process gas between a compressor housing and a rotating compressor shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: JOHN CRANE UK LTD.
    Inventors: Ian Martyn Goldswain, Kanza Amanullah, Raphael Rouillon
  • Patent number: 11339675
    Abstract: A seal assembly for a gas turbine engine may include a seal body coupled to an engine static structure of the gas turbine engine and a seal seat insert coupled to a radially extending portion of a shaft of the gas turbine engine. The seal body may be generally configured to be biased into contact with the seal seat insert to provide a sealing pressure between the seal body and the seal seat insert. In various embodiments, the seal seat insert is made from a ceramic material or a ceramic matrix composite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Pantcho P. Stoyanov, Eli N. Ross
  • Patent number: 10260370
    Abstract: An article, for example a turbomachinery article is presented. The article includes a weldable first component having a base portion and a flange portion. The flange portion is outwardly projecting normal to a surface of the base portion; and is joined with the base portion by a solid state joint. The base portion comprises a nanostructured ferritic alloy; and the flange portion comprises a steel substantially free of oxide nanofeatures. The first component is joined to a second component through the flange portion of the first component by a weld joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Richard DiDomizio, Anne O'Dell Knight, Laura Cerully Dial, Shenyan Huang, Michael Francis Xavier Gigliotti, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9322287
    Abstract: A brush seal for a turbine including an annular layer of filaments having a generally L-shape including an axial portion of the filaments and a radial portion of filaments, wherein a first end of the filaments is at an end of the radial portion and faces a rotating component of the turbine and a second end region of the filaments is at an end of the axial portion of the filaments and is fastened to a stationary component of the turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Xiaoqing Zheng, Michael Dennis Mack, Debabrata Mukhopadhyay
  • Patent number: 9109515
    Abstract: A gas seal for aerospace engines has a stationary seal housing, a rotating seal plate mounted on the engine drive shaft and a carbon ring seal movably supported in the housing with a face which mates with the face of the seal plate to create a gas seal therebetween. A plurality of flexible pins have first ends supported on the housing and second ends slidably connected with the carbon ring seal to permit the latter to shift axially. A plurality of compression springs bias the two seal faces together. The housing has a first twist lock which selectively engages a second twist lock on the carbon ring seal to movably retain the latter in the housing. The second ends of the spring pins resiliently deflect during mutual rotation of the carbon ring seal and the housing to facilitate engagement and disengagement of the first and second twist locks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Kaydon Ring & Seal, Inc.
    Inventor: George P. Haynes
  • Patent number: 9033657
    Abstract: Embodiments of a gas turbine engine including a lift-off finger seal are provided, as are embodiments of a lift-off finger seal and embodiments of a method for the manufacture thereof. In one embodiment, the gas turbine engine includes an engine housing having low and high pressure cavities, a shaft rotatably mounted in the engine housing, and a lift-off finger seal. The lift-off finger seal includes an finger seal backing spring and an aerodynamic foil. The aerodynamic foil extends around the outer circumference of the shaft and is configured to expand radially outward in response to aerodynamic forces generated during rotation of the shaft. The finger seal backing spring resiliently biases the aerodynamic foil toward the shaft, deflects to accommodate the outward radial expansion of the aerodynamic foil, and forms an annular seal around the aerodynamic foil to impede pressurized airflow from the high to low pressure zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventor: Nathan Gibson
  • Patent number: 8961102
    Abstract: A system and method for sealing a shaft disposed for rotation within a casing, where two axially-spaced seal rings of an oil film seal extend around the shaft and define a clearance therebetween. Oil is pumped into the clearance from an oil reservoir and a portion of the oil is received in an annular port defined in the casing between an outer labyrinth seal and one of the axially-spaced seal rings. The oil mixes with a process gas to for an oil and gas mixture. A blower is in fluid communication with the annular port and circulates the oil and gas mixture to a trap where the oil is separated from the process gas and a separated process gas is returned back to the annular port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Dresser-Rand Company
    Inventor: Philippe Auber
  • Patent number: 8932001
    Abstract: Certain embodiments of the invention may include systems, methods and apparatus for providing a labyrinth seal. In an example embodiment, a method is provided for sealing a flow path between a stationary element and a rotating element of a turbomachine. The method can include disposing at least one fixture on an inner surface of a stationary element associated with the turbomachine; disposing a packing ring linked via a spring element to the fixture wherein the packing ring comprises at least one bore; and disposing, according to a predetermined profile, a plurality of interdigitated packing ring teeth and rotor teeth intermediate to the packing ring and the rotating element; wherein the bore, packing ring teeth, and rotor teeth, cooperate to counter a moment associated with one or more axial forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Xiaoqing Zheng, Hrishikesh Deo, Binayak Roy
  • Publication number: 20140341733
    Abstract: A non-contacting seal is provided, including a first sealing face formed on an end of a primary ring and a second sealing face formed on an end of a mating ring. Grooves may be formed in at least one of the first and second sealing faces, such that the grooves extend from one edge of the respective sealing face to an intermediate radius of the respective sealing face. At least one groove may include an entrance edge along the one edge of the respective sealing face and a dam wall opposite the entrance edge. The at least one groove may also include two symmetric side walls extending from the entrance edge to the dam wall. The two symmetric side walls may include a first convex curve extending from the entrance edge to a transition point and a second concave curve extending from the transition point to the dam wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: DRESSER-RAND SA
    Inventor: Olivier Lebigre
  • Patent number: 8882446
    Abstract: A bearing system for a rotor in rotating machines, such as compressors, pumps, turbines, expanders, has points of bearing and sealing for the rotor each being in the form of a combined bearing and sealing formed by a stator situated within a rotating machine house and surrounding the rotor. The stator is formed with a bore, whereby an annular clearance is created between stator and rotor, and the bore is having sectional area gradually increasing in the direction of larger pressure within the rotating machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Statoil Petroleum AS
    Inventor: Harald Underbakke
  • Patent number: 8858155
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of aligning a wind turbine component with a wind turbine rotor hub, comprising providing the component with a support comprising at least one adjustable element and adjusting said at least one element to align the wind turbine component. The invention further relates to a system for aligning a wind turbine component with a wind turbine rotor hub comprising a support with at least one adjustable element supporting said wind turbine component, such that said wind turbine component can be aligned by adjusting said at least one element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Alstom Wind, S.L.U.
    Inventors: Daniel Castell Martinez, Carlos Casanovas Bermejo
  • Patent number: 8834101
    Abstract: An improved mechanical seal assembly is provided for hydro transport applications and other similar applications, such as large high pressure slurry pumps. This mechanical seal is used in large scale pumps having an axially adjustable shaft to accommodate high wear applications by maintaining suitable pump performance. The improved seal is a cartridge seal that includes a stationary seal adapter which is mounted to a pump casing and has a static gasket sealingly contacting a movable gland which non-rotatably supports the stationary seal rings of a mechanical seal. Additional seal rings are rotatably supported on the shaft wherein these rotatable and non-rotatable seal components are movable axially with the shaft to improve pump performance in high-wear conditions. The gland and non-rotatable seal rings are supported on and move with a bearing housing, along with the shaft and its seal rings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Flowserve Management Company
    Inventor: James A Monnot
  • Publication number: 20140241877
    Abstract: A shaft sealing device is provided in an annular space between a rotor and a stator surrounding an outer periphery of the rotor, and divides the annular space in the direction of an axis of the rotor into a high-pressure region and a low-pressure region. The shaft sealing device includes a seal body obtained by stacking a plurality of thin plate sealing pieces in a circumferential direction of the rotor; and a high-pressure side plate that extends from the stator toward the radial inner side so as to run along the high-pressure side of the seal body, and is segmented into a plurality of portions in the circumferential direction, and includes a rigidity imparting member configured to impart rigidity in the direction of the axis to a portion of the surface of the high-pressure side plate that faces the high-pressure region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Inventors: Hidekazu Uehara, Tanehiro Shinohara, Yukihiro Hashimoto, Shin Nishimoto, Takashi Nakano, Masato Aaki, Keita Takamura
  • Patent number: 8794905
    Abstract: A turbocharger is disclosed. The turbocharger includes a seal plate facing a front portion outer periphery of an oil thrower arranged between a bearing portion and an impeller in front thereof, integral with a bearing housing. An oil-thrower facing part formed in the bearing housing faces a rear portion outer periphery of the oil thrower to provide an oil sump. The seal plate is in the form of press-fit plate, a diameter of the press-fit plate being smaller than an outer diameter of the impeller and being at least equal to a minimum working bore diameter for machining of an outer periphery or oil discharge openings of the oil-thrower facing part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: IHI Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshimitsu Matsuyama
  • Patent number: 8777563
    Abstract: A brush seal assembly for turbomachinery having a rotor can include a stationary seal component, a floating seal component coupled to the stationary seal component and circumferentially angled bristles arranged in a bristle pack, disposed in the floating seal component and extended axially with respect to the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Neelesh Nandkumar Sarawate, Norman Arnold Turnquist, William Edward Adis, Robert Gerard Baran, Rodrigo Rodriguez Erdmenger, Robbert Christiaan Pannekeet, Keith Michael Parker, Xiaoqing Zheng
  • Patent number: 8767400
    Abstract: A cooling system for an electronics chassis includes a plurality of centrifugal blowers arranged to motivate cooling air through the electronics chassis. The centrifugal blowers are arranged in one or more sets, each having blowers oriented with respective inlets in mutual facing relationship. The orientation, positioning, and alignment of the centrifugal blowers facilitates a compact arrangement of the plurality of blowers that achieves increased aerodynamic efficiencies to reduce noise output and energy consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: The Bergquist Torrington Company
    Inventors: Roger Dickinson, John O'Connor
  • Publication number: 20140140820
    Abstract: A bifurcation aerofoil having a leading edge portion and flanks where the leading edge portion is mounted to an inner wall of the bypass duct using a floating seal which permits circumferential movement of the leading edge. A cowl has a wall that provides the flanks of the aerofoil. On closing of the cowl into its flight position any contact between the flanks and the leading edge portion enables realignment of the leading edge portion to the inner wall of the bypass duct.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2013
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE DEUTSCHLAND LTD & CO KG
    Inventor: Predrag TODOROVIC
  • Patent number: 8727715
    Abstract: A turbomachine comprising a housing defining a bearing cavity and a turbine chamber separated by a first wall, a heat shield disposed between the first wall and the turbine wheel, a heat shield cavity defined between the first wall and the heat shield. The shaft extends through a passage defined in part by a first aperture in the wall and a second aperture in the heat shield. A first seal is provided between the shaft and the first aperture. The housing defines a first gas channel communicating with the heat shield cavity for connection to a pressure source for raising pressure within the heat shield cavity. A second channel is provided between the heat shield cavity and the passage, the second channel opening to the passage on the opposite side of the first seal to the bearing assembly. A second seal is provided between the shaft and the second aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Cummins Turbo Technologies Limited
    Inventors: David Gee, Chris Enright, Robert Holroyd
  • Patent number: 8721274
    Abstract: A blower having a divergence guide portion to reduce flow loss and discharge noise and an air conditioner having the same are provided. The blower includes a scroll casing, suction holes provided at opposite positions of the scroll casing, a discharge hole provided at a top position of the scroll casing, a centrifugal fan received in the scroll casing, and a divergence guide portion gently diverging air to the discharge hole after passing through the centrifugal fan to diffuse the air to both sides of the discharge hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jae Oh Han
  • Patent number: 8696312
    Abstract: A damping system for a gas turbine engine comprises a bearing mounted to a rotor shaft and a support connected to an outer race of the bearing. The support has a wall secured to a casing of the gas turbine engine at a connection portion. The wall has a first surface positioned against a surface of the casing with the first surface being in a non-parallel relation with the rotational axis of the rotor shaft. A cavity is defined in the first surface by a narrowing of a thickness of the wall. The cavity contains a damping fluid to dampen elastic deformation of the wall at the cavity resulting from axial oscillations of the rotor shaft. An abutment is provided to limit an amplitude of the elastic deformation of the wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Jean Thomassin, Charles Faubert, André D. Leblanc
  • Patent number: 8690534
    Abstract: Arrangements for promoting the restriction of fluid flow along a shaft via providing a deformable ring member in an annulus between the shaft and housing. In an initial general condition, the deformable ring member permits free fluid flow in a general direction along the shaft while in a second, constricted condition, the deformable ring closes or blocks a gap or clearance normally conducive to free fluid flow to thereby restrict fluid flow. An actuation medium, which can take any of a very wide variety of forms, preferably promotes constriction of the deformable ring member directly or indirectly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Curtiss-Wright Electro-Mechanical Corporation
    Inventors: David Jeffrey Janocko, Charles David Bice
  • Patent number: 8657573
    Abstract: A circumferential sealing arrangement is disclosed herein. The circumferential sealing arrangement includes a seal runner operable to be fixed to a structure for concurrent rotation with the structure about an axis. The circumferential sealing arrangement also includes a housing that encircles the seal runner or is encircled by the seal runner. The circumferential sealing arrangement also includes a primary seal element at least partially disposed in the housing. The primary seal element includes a first surface cooperating with a second surface of the seal runner to form a circumferential seal between the primary seal element and the seal runner. The circumferential sealing arrangement also includes a secondary seal element positioned between the housing and the primary seal element on a first side of the primary seal element along the axis of rotation. A second side of the primary seal element along the axis of rotation opposite the first side seals against the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventor: John Munson
  • Patent number: 8616840
    Abstract: A sealing arrangement is provided, including a sealing ring for sealing two machine elements from one another, the sealing ring being conFIGUREd in an installation space for the second machine element that is open toward the first machine element to be sealed, and sealingly contacting the surface to be sealed of the first machine element, by way of at least one dynamically loaded first sealing lip. The sealing ring is arranged under elastic axial and radial preloading within the installation space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Carl Freudenberg KG
    Inventors: Ivan Ristic, Dieter Von Borstel
  • Patent number: 8596973
    Abstract: A seal assembly which, among other applications, may be used for sealing fluid leakage between low temperature multistage compressors and pumps, steam turbine rotors and turbine stator bodies. In one embodiment, a seal assembly is provided that includes a leaf seal including a plurality of staggered leaf seal members; and a polymer member disposed on a high pressure side of the leaf seal, wherein the polymer member is in compliant contact with the leaf seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: CMG Tech, LLC
    Inventor: Clayton M. Grondahl
  • Publication number: 20130251523
    Abstract: A segmented intershaft seal assembly for use between inner and outer shafts within a turbine engine is presented. The intershaft seal assembly includes annular end rings, an annular seal element with an inverted “T”-shaped cross section, at least one resilient element, an annular spacer ring, carriers, counterweights, and hydrodynamic grooves. The intershaft seal assembly is secured to the inner shaft. The resilient element(s) biases seal segments away from the inner shaft toward the outer shaft. The counterweights are disposed about the seal segments and substantially negate forces imposed by the seal segments outward toward the outer shaft. The hydrodynamic grooves are disposed along an inner annular surface of the outer shaft and direct fluid onto an outer surface along the seal segments when the outer shaft rotates. The hydrodynamic grooves form a thin-film layer and non-contact seal that separates the seal segments from the outer shaft which otherwise provide a contact-type seal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Inventors: Glenn M. Garrison, Thurai Manik Vasagar
  • Patent number: 8540479
    Abstract: An active retractable seal assembly for use between rotating and non-rotating turbo machinery components including: a plurality of seal rings mounted to the non-rotating component, the seal rings movable toward and away from the rotating component between respective closed and open positions as a function of pressure drop across the seal rings, wherein the seal rings are normally in the open position; and a fluid bypass circuit for directing fluid around one or more of the plurality of seal rings to reduce the pressure drop across the one or more of the seal rings, thereby causing the one or more seal rings to move towards the open position under the action of spring(s) or actuator(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Shorya Awtar, Timothy R. Kemp, Kurt N. Laurer, Frederick G. Baily
  • Patent number: 8517673
    Abstract: A lamellar seal for sealing a shaft which rotates around an axis, especially in a gas turbine, includes a multiplicity of lamella (13) which are spaced one beneath the other, arranged in a concentric circle around the axis, and fixed in their position, wherein the lamellae (13) by their surfaces are oriented essentially parallel to the axis. The lamellar seal is improved by the fact that the lamellae (13) have formed-on structures (19, 20, 21) in each case for positioning and retaining the lamellae (13) in the lamellar seal (12), which include one or more laterally projecting support arms (19, 20, 21) which engage in complementarily formed recesses (25, 26) of the end plates (15, 16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Günter Ambrosy, Matthias Höbel, Ernst Vogt, Josef Hafner
  • Patent number: 8506246
    Abstract: The static seal (30) includes a rotary seal body (32) comprising an annular base portion (34) which is drivingly mountable on a rotary component such as a shaft and an annular cantilever portion (40) connected at one end to the base portion (34). The seal (30) 5 further includes a rotary seal face (48) and circumferential weights (44) connected to the cantilever portion (40). The seal is configured to dilate under centrifugal force to provide a running clearance between the rotary seal face and a complementary static seal face with which the rotary seal face is in contact when the rotary seal body (28) is stationary. The rotary seal body is further configured so as to facilitate the breaking up of slurry which may set around the seal when the pump (10) of which the seal forms part is inoperative.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Weir Minerals Africa (Proprietary) Limited
    Inventor: Siegfried Geldenhuys
  • Publication number: 20130170594
    Abstract: A pump leakage mitigation device includes one or more clamp arms on an outer surface of a pump that can be driven by a biasing element to seat against a shaft of the pump to seal or reduce fluid flow through a breakdown of the pump. The biasing element engages only at threshold temperatures, such as those associated with breakdown orifice failure when additional sealing may be necessary. Clamp arms of any number and shape can be used to achieve the desired seal and based on the pump geometry. A sealant surface and/or keeping mechanism are useable with the leakage mitigation device to enhance fluid flow blockage throughout a pump failure transient scenario. Pump leakage mitigation devices are installed on an outside of a variety of different pump types and can thus be installed, actuated, manipulated, disengaged, and/or removed without having to destroy or disassemble the pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Inventors: John R. BASS, Robert A. Ayer, Robert J. Ginsberg, Curt J. Robert
  • Patent number: 8449245
    Abstract: A vertically mountable shaft and bearing assembly includes a thermally insulated housing that protects the shaft, bearing(s), and lubricant from overheating due to a surrounding process fluid that is above 65° C. This allows a bearing to be located near the shaft's distal end, thereby reducing shaft and bearing size requirements. The housing also serves as a reservoir for bearing lubricant that can be cooled by a lubricant cooling system normally used for processes at much lower temperatures. The lubricant can be circulated by an impeller that is actuated by the shaft or driven separately. The thermal insulation, can include vacuum, air, and/or a thermally insulating material. Additional rolling element and/or journal bearings can be included. Lubricant within the shaft housing can be pressurized, for example by pressurized gas or by filling the lubricant above the surrounding process fluid level. The shaft can operate a process fluid pump impeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Flowserve Management Company
    Inventor: Paul E Griggs
  • Patent number: 8430628
    Abstract: A pressure balance seal includes a sealing surface facing an inward radial direction, and a stator interface comprising at least one surface interfacing with a stator. The pressure balance seal further includes a friction reducing feature. The friction reducing feature includes a cavity on the sealing surface. The cavity is configured to receive a fluid such that a normal force acting on the pressure balance seal is counterbalanced by a force generated by a pressure of the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Norman Arnold Turnquist, Keith Michael Parker, Xiaoqing Zheng, Rodrigo Rodriguez Erdmenger, Robbert Christiaan Pannekeet, Alexander Kimberley Simpson, Biao Fang
  • Patent number: 8430630
    Abstract: A rotary coupling having a first element and a coaxial second element, the first and second elements being rotatable relative to each other and defining an annular passage between radially facing walls thereof. The coupling has a sealing ring at an end of the annular passage, the sealing ring being mounted to the wall of the first element and rotating relative to the second element, and having an active configuration in which the sealing ring is urged against the wall of the second element to seal the end of the annular passage, and a return configuration in which the sealing ring does not seal the end of the annular passage. A control system is used to apply a variable load to the sealing ring, wherein the sealing ring moves between the active and return configurations in response to variation in the applied load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventor: Antony Morgan
  • Patent number: 8419351
    Abstract: A selective rotation arrangement for a shaft, the arrangement including a housing mountable spaced from the shaft and an engagement member with distal and proximal ends which is selectively movable relative to the housing towards or away from the shaft between an operating position towards the shaft and a rest position clear of the shaft, the engagement member having a gear member at the distal end thereof which is engageable with the shaft in the operating position to permit turning of the shaft by the engagement member, but is disengaged from the shaft in the rest position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventor: Martyn Richards
  • Patent number: 8366388
    Abstract: An axial face seal (13), which seals a pump housing in the region of the pump shaft (12), is constructed in an axially compact manner. Spring holders (24, 25), which transmit the required pressing force of a compression spring (23), are connected to one another with a positive fit in a rotation direction, and hold a rotating axial face seal ring (19) in a rotationally fixed manner to the pump shaft (12). The spring holders (24, 25) are compact and enclose an abutment ring (33) for pump impellers as well as the compression spring (23). A motor-side spring (24) engages over the rotating axial face seal ring (19), by which an axially extremely short constructional length is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Grundfos Management a/s
    Inventors: Aage Bruhn, Lars Ostergaard
  • Publication number: 20120328416
    Abstract: A turbocharger includes a drive shaft to transmit a driving force of an actuator to a mechanism in the turbo housing, and a bush to rotatably support the drive shaft, wherein a seal is provided at an end portion on the open-air side of the bush. The seal includes a seal body made of resin and a metallic spring fitted into a recessed portion of the seal body, wherein an internal lip portion of the seal body is pressed by the elastic force of the spring to the outer circumferential surface of the drive shaft. Further, an end surface that is contactable with a member (drive link) disposed on the open-air side of the drive shaft is formed in the seal body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Osamu Igarashi, Kazutomo Yamada, Kazunori Kawabata, Takeyuki Kato, Norihiko Sumi
  • Patent number: 8337152
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a centrifugal pump, a shaft sleeve and a stationary seal member for a static seal used in connection with a dynamic sealing of a centrifugal pump. The invention relates to a static seal the clearance of which may be adjusted while the pump is running. Especially the invention discusses the novel structure of such a static seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Sulzer Pumpen AG
    Inventors: Jorma Tapani Lehtonen, Heikki Manninen
  • Patent number: 8333544
    Abstract: A card seal with an annular arrangement of plates that form the card seal, where the plates are rotated at an angle around a longitudinal axis of the plates so that the gaps between adjacent plates are not parallel to the rotational axis of the rotor shaft, and where an annular disk is rotatably secured to the rotor shaft and located adjacent to card seal on the low pressure side, or on the high pressure side or even on both sides such that rotation of the annular disk pumps fluid into or draws fluid out from the plate gaps to decrease or eliminate any differential pressure across the card seal. Thus, card seal leakage is reduced or eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Florida Turbine Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Philip C Pelfrey
  • Publication number: 20120315138
    Abstract: A seal assembly for a turbo machine is provided. The turbo machine includes a rotary component and a stationary component. The seal assembly is disposed between the rotary component and the stationary component. The seal assembly is configured to provide a sealing between a high pressure area and a low pressure area of the turbo machine. The seal assembly includes a plurality of compliant plates coupled circumferentially along the stationary component. Each of the compliant plate includes a tip disposed facing the rotary component. A tip slot is provided on the tip of the compliant plates, wherein the tip slots is provided at the portion of the tip proximate the high pressure area. The compliant plates further include a plate slot extending from the stationary component towards the tip. An annular resistance member coupled to the stationary component is disposed in the plate slot in the compliant plates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Ajay Keshava Rao, Hrishikesh Vishvas Deo
  • Patent number: 8328509
    Abstract: A turbomachine comprises a housing (71) defining a bearing cavity (71) and a turbine chamber (77a) separated by a first wall. A heat shield (72) is disposed between the first wall and the turbine wheel (77), a heat shield cavity (78) being defined between the first wall and the heat shield (72). The shaft (81) extends through a passage (85) defined at least in part by a first aperture (86) in said wall and a second aperture (87) in the heat shield (72). A first seal (88) is provided between the shaft (81) and said first aperture (86). The housing defines a first gas channel (79) communicating with the heat shield cavity (78) for connection to a pressure source for raising pressure within the heat shield cavity (78). A second channel (92) is provided between the heat shield cavity (78) and said passage (85), the second channel opening to said passage (85) on the opposite side of said first seal (88) to said bearing assembly (82).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Cummins Turbo Technologies Limited
    Inventors: David Gee, Chris Enright, Robert Holroyd
  • Patent number: 8317464
    Abstract: A reverse flow tolerant brush seal arrangement for restricting the transfer of a pressurized fluid between a first and a second chamber along a moving shaft. Opposing backing plates are provided to stiffen brush bristle alignment on the moving shaft. Differential pressure between the chambers is aided by spring biasing to seat axial movement of a sliding brush seal against one of the opposing backing plates for stiffening to maintain a design clearance with a shaft being sealed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Rakesh V. Alamsetty, William E. Adis, Mahendra S. Mehra, Nestor Hernandez Sanchez, Rajasekar Natarajan, Akshay A. Datye
  • Patent number: 8292508
    Abstract: A bearing arrangement includes a bearing outer element that defines a first plurality of races opening radially inwardly, a bearing inner element that defines a second plurality of races opening radially outwardly, and a bearing middle element defining a third plurality of races at its radially outer surface thereof and a fourth plurality of races at its radially inner surface thereof. Rolling elements are receivable in the races. The bearing middle element includes an axial protrusion at least at one end thereof that can be received in a housing with respect to which the bearing outer and inner elements are rotatable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: NSK Corporation
    Inventors: David Earl Spieth, Kevin Lueschen, Michael Gregory Mshar, Mark A. Thorpe
  • Patent number: 8215894
    Abstract: A seal assembly for a rotational assembly includes a first seal, a second seal and a crossover support. The crossover support includes a first geometry that interacts with the first seal and a second, different geometry that interacts with the second seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan Logan Miller, Brian P. Cigal
  • Patent number: 8210804
    Abstract: A closure device for a casing having at least one access opening wherein the closure device includes a cover member movably disposed within an interior chamber of the casing so as to be slidably displaceable along or in the direction of a casing central axis between an open and a closed position, the cover member being spaced at least partially axially from the access opening in the open position so as to permit access to the interior chamber and generally extending across and substantially obstructing the at least one access opening in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Dresser-Rand Company
    Inventors: William C. Maier, Daniel J. Griffin
  • Publication number: 20120134799
    Abstract: A mechanical seal is disclosed that has first and second sealing faces that are urged into contact to form a seal therebetween. One sealing face is mounted on a rotatable portion of the seal and the second sealing face is mounted on a support assembly. The joint further comprises a joint permitting rotary movement between the support assembly and a stationary portion of the seal to allow adjustment of the potion of the rotatable portion relative to the stationary portion without affecting the alignment of the first and second sealing faces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: ZTE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ricardo Abarca Melo, Rodrigo Guzman Castro, Osvaldo Quiroz Venegas
  • Publication number: 20120099986
    Abstract: A liquid seal has an annular lip portion and an annular fixing portion to be fixed to an inner peripheral surface of a shaft hole, in which the lip portion is connected to the fixing portion and is provided so that a tip thereof is extended in an axial direction, a spring pressing a seal lip against an outer periphery of the rotation shaft is fitted onto the lip portion. The seal lip forms a mountain shape in which an edge of the apex in the cross section, which is cut along a plane passing through a center axis of the seal, protrudes to the inner diameter side, and the pressure center of the seal lip due to the spring is disposed between the tip side of the lip portion further than the edge of the apex of the mountain of the seal lip in the axial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: ADVICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshitake HISADA, Takeshi Fuchida
  • Patent number: 8152462
    Abstract: A card seal with an annular arrangement of cards that are positioned within an annular groove of a casing, and a conical flexible seal is secured to the casing on the low pressure side of the cards. The cards and the flexible seal both includes slanted surfaces that interact during operation such that the flexible seal gap decreases with the rotor shaft and the cards are secured within the annular groove during assembly and installation of the card seal. The flexible seal blocks leakage through the cards and includes an axial extending inner end that can include an abradable material to allow for rub with the shaft while decreasing the gap to prevent leakage across the cards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Florida Turbine Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory C Williams
  • Patent number: 8096774
    Abstract: The invention relates to a turbocharger (15) comprising a bearing housing (7) which mounts a rotor shaft (12) and has a bearing-housing oil space (13); comprising a compressor housing which is connected to the bearing housing (7) and has a compressor space (14); and comprising a sealing device (20) which is provided for sealing the bearing-housing oil space (13) relative to the compressor space (14) and which has a sealing ring (1) which is arranged in a fixed position in the bearing housing (7) and has two end faces (17, 17?) which interact with associated end faces (10) and (11) of a disc (9) and a sealing bush (16) which are fastened to the rotor shaft (12), wherein the sealing ring (1) is arranged with axial play on the rotor shaft (12) between the disc (9) and the sealing bush (16); and air-delivery devices (2, 3) oriented in opposition are arranged in the end faces (17, 17?) of the sealing ring (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignees: BorgWarner Inc., KACO GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Dirk Frankenstein, Markus Schwerdtieger, Bruno Ferling
  • Patent number: 8087872
    Abstract: The present application provides a variable steam seal system for use with a steam turbine. The variable steam seal system may include a seal steam header, a first pressure section, a first pressure seal positioned about the first pressure section, and a flow path through the first pressure seal and extending to the seal steam header. The first pressure seal may include a moveable seal packing ring for varying the flow path through the first pressure seal to the seal steam header.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mahendra Singh Mehra, Nestor Hernandez Sanchez
  • Publication number: 20110318164
    Abstract: The means of sealing the compressor wheel with respect to the bearing housing includes an annular sealing element which forms a sealing boundary face with a shaft edge and to which a spring force is applied in the direction of the shaft edge. The external spring force neither compensates or amplifies the pressure forces acting on the sealing element, irrespective of the direction of the difference in pressure. As a result, the sealing of the oil space in the bearing housing of the exhaust gas turbocharger with respect to the shaft is not influenced, or is influenced only to a small degree, by the pressure fluctuations in the wheel back space of the compressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: ABB Turbo Systems AG
    Inventors: Adrian Kopp, Christoph Häge, Martin Thiele