Seal shoe for a hydrostatic non-contact seal device
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorChristopher J. Peters
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A non-contact seal assembly is provided. This assembly includes a plurality of seal shoes, a seal base and a plurality of spring elements. The seal shoes are arranged about a centerline in an annular array. The seal shoes include a first seal shoe extending axially along the centerline between a first shoe end and a second shoe end. An aperture may extend partially axially into the first seal shoe from the first shoe end and laterally within the first seal shoe. The seal base circumscribes the annular array of the seal shoes. Each of the spring elements is radially between and connects a respective one of the seal shoes with the seal base.
Claims20
A non-contact seal assembly, comprising:
- a plurality of seal shoes arranged about a centerline in an annular array, the seal shoes including a first seal shoe extending axially along the centerline between a first shoe end and a second shoe end, wherein an aperture extends partially axially into the first seal shoe from the first shoe end and laterally within the first seal shoe;
- a seal base circumscribing the annular array of the seal shoes;
- and
- a plurality of spring elements, each of the spring elements radially between and connecting a respective one of the seal shoes with the seal base.
A non-contact seal assembly, comprising:
- a plurality of seal shoes arranged about a centerline in an annular array, the seal shoes includes a first seal shoe extending axially along the centerline between a first shoe end and a second shoe end, the first seal shoe comprising a major region and a minor region disposed within the major region at the first shoe end, wherein the minor region has a mass/volume ratio that is less than a mass/volume ratio of the major region;
- a seal base circumscribing the annular array of the seal shoes;
- and
- a plurality of spring elements, each of the spring elements radially between and connecting a respective one of the seal shoes with the seal base.
A non-contact seal assembly, comprising:
- a plurality of seal shoes arranged about a centerline in an annular array, the seal shoes including a first seal shoe extending axially along the centerline between a first shoe end and a second shoe end, wherein an aperture extends partially axially into the first seal shoe from the first shoe end and laterally through the first seal shoe along an entire lateral length of the first seal shoe;
- a seal base circumscribing the annular array of the seal shoes;
- and
- a plurality of spring elements, each of the spring elements radially between and connecting a respective one of the seal shoes with the seal base.
An assembly for rotational equipment with an axial centerline, the assembly comprising:
- a stator structure;
- a rotor structure;
- and
- a seal assembly configured to substantially seal an annular gap between the stator structure and the rotor structure, the seal assembly comprising a hydrostatic non-contact seal device including a plurality of seal shoes, a seal base and a plurality of spring elements;
- the seal shoes arranged about a centerline in an annular array, the seal shoes sealingly engaging the rotor structure and including a first seal shoe extending axially along the centerline between a first shoe end and a second shoe end, wherein an aperture extends partially axially into the first seal shoe from the first shoe end and laterally within the first seal shoe, wherein the seal shoes circumscribe and sealingly engage the rotor structure;
- the seal base circumscribing the annular array of the seal shoes, the seal base mounted with the stator structure;
- and
- each of the spring elements radially between and connecting a respective one of the seal shoes with the seal base.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.