# US 10,502,094 B2 · Bearing compartment sealing system with passive cooling > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,502,094 B2 - Document ID: US10502094B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/803,452 - Filed: 2015-07-20 - Published: 2016-02-04 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2014-07-22 - Assignees: United Technologies Corporation - Applicants: United Technologies Corporation - Inventors: Nasr A. Shuaib; Jonathan L. Miller; M. Rifat Ullah - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10502094B2 ## CPC - F01D 25/125: {of bearings} - F01D 11/003: {by packing rings; Mechanical seals} - F01D 11/02: by non-contact sealings, e.g. of labyrinth type (for sealing space between rotor blade tips and stator F01D11/08) - F01D 25/183: {Sealing means} - F16C 33/6637: {with liquid lubricant} - F16C 33/7896: {with two or more discrete sealings arranged in series} - F16C 33/805: {in addition to other sealings, e.g. dirt guards to protect sealings with sealing lips} - F16J 15/164: {the sealing action depending on movements; pressure difference, temperature or presence of leaking fluid} - F16J 15/442: {segmented} - F05D 2220/32: in gas turbines - F05D 2240/55: Seals - F05D 2260/20: Heat transfer, e.g. cooling - F05D 2260/98: Lubrication - F05D 2300/175: Superalloys - F05D 2300/5021: Expansivity - F16C 19/06: with a single row or balls - F16C 2360/23: Gas turbine engines - F01D: NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES (machines or engines for liquids F03; non-positive displacement pumps F04D) - F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS - F16J: PISTONS {(specially adapted for dampers F16F9/32)}; CYLINDERS; SEALINGS - F05D: INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS ## Abstract The present disclosure relates to sealing systems for bearing compartments. In one embodiment, a sealing system includes a runner configured to extend circumferentially around a rotating component, the runner is formed of a material with low radial thermal growth and is configured to fit to the rotating component to remove heat away from the runner. The runner can include an outer surface configured to provide passive cooling for the runner in the bearing compartment. The sealing system can also include a seal configured to operate with the runner, wherein the seal includes a clearance seal on an air side of the runner. The runner can be configured to operate without direct oil cooling. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sealing system for a bearing compartment comprising: a runner configured to extend circumferentially around a rotating component, wherein the runner is formed of a material with low radial thermal growth, wherein the runner is configured to fit to the rotating component to remove heat away from the runner and wherein the runner includes an outer surface configured to provide passive cooling for the runner in the bearing compartment; a static structure located radially outboard of the runner defining a sealing compartment, the static structure including: a retainer assembly; a first carbon seal element disposed in the retainer assembly on an oil side of the sealing compartment and radially outboard of the seal runner, the first carbon seal element configured for contact with the seal runner to prevent oil leakage from the bearing compartment; a second carbon seal element disposed in the retainer assembly on an air side of the sealing compartment and radially outboard of the seal runner, the second carbon seal element configured for non-contact with the seal runner along an entire axial extent of the second carbon seal element; and one or more openings in the retainer assembly to admit a flow of buffer air to pressurize the sealing compartment, the one or more openings configured to admit the flow of buffer air into the sealing compartment at a location radially outboard of a radial extent of the first carbon seal element and the second carbon seal element. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The sealing system of claim 1, wherein the runner is substantially cylindrical with a hollow core configured for the rotating component. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The sealing system of claim 1, wherein the material of the runner includes a nickel alloy. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The sealing system of claim 1, wherein the runner is configured to be fit to the rotating shaft by an interference fit. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The sealing system of claim 1, wherein the outer surface of the runner extends into the bearing compartment a distance in order to receive passive oil to cool the runner. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The sealing system of claim 1, wherein the runner is configured to operate without direct oil cooling. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The sealing system of claim 1, wherein the runner includes a substantially rectangular cut-out along an inner surface of the runner, wherein the width of the cut-out is dimensioned to maximize heat conduction away from the seal and the runner. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The sealing system of claim 1, wherein the second carbon seal element is a stationary arch bound seal. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The sealing system of claim 1, wherein the seal includes the one or more seal segments that form a segmented carbon seal for a bearing compartment of a gas turbine engine. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The sealing system of claim 1, wherein the runner is configured to operate with a stator assembly including a contacting seal for an oil side and a clearance arch bound seal for an air side. ### Claim 11 A sealing system for a bearing compartment of a gas turbine engine, the sealing system comprising: a runner configured to extend circumferentially around a rotating component, wherein the runner is formed of a material with low radial thermal growth, wherein the runner is configured to fit to the rotating component to remove heat away from the runner and wherein the runner includes an outer surface configured to provide passive cooling for the runner in the bearing compartment; a static structure located radially outboard of the runner defining a sealing compartment, the static structure including: a retainer assembly; a first carbon seal element disposed in the retainer assembly on an oil side of the sealing compartment and radially outboard of the seal runner, the first carbon seal element configured for contact with the seal runner to prevent oil leakage from the bearing compartment; a second carbon seal element disposed in the retainer assembly on an air side of the sealing compartment and radially outboard of the seal runner, the second carbon seal element configured for non-contact with the seal runner along an entire axial extent of the second carbon seal element; and one or more openings in the retainer assembly to admit a flow of buffer air to pressurize the sealing compartment, the one or more openings configured to admit the flow of buffer air into the sealing compartment at a location radially outboard of a radial extent of the first carbon seal element and the second carbon seal element; wherein the runner is configured to operate without direct oil cooling. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The sealing system of claim 11, wherein the runner is substantially cylindrical with a hollow core configured for the rotating component. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The sealing system of claim 11, wherein the material of the runner includes a nickel alloy. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The sealing system of claim 11, wherein the runner is configured to be fit to the rotating shaft by an interference fit. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The sealing system of claim 11, wherein the outer surface of the runner extends into the bearing compartment a distance in order to receive passive oil to cool the runner. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The sealing system of claim 11, wherein the runner includes a substantially rectangular cut-out along an inner surface of the runner, wherein the width of the cut-out is dimensioned to maximize heat conduction away from the seal. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The sealing system of claim 11, wherein the second carbon seal element is an arch bound seal. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The sealing system of claim 11, wherein the seal includes the one or more seal segments that form a segmented carbon seal for a bearing compartment of a gas turbine engine. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The sealing system of claim 11, wherein the runner is configured to operate with a stator assembly including a contacting seal for an oil side and a clearance arch bound seal for an air side.