Serviceable propeller shaft zero air gap seal
AssigneePratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
InventorsEric S. Durocher, Herve Turcotte
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A seal assembly of a shaft bearing system includes an inner seal element fixed to a shaft and rotatable therewith about a shaft axis, and an outer seal located radially outboard of the inner seal element and rotationally fixed relative to the shaft axis. The outer seal includes a first circumferential seal segment, and a second circumferential seal segment abutting the first circumferential seal segment at a seal joint. The first circumferential seal segment includes one or more circumferentially extending first segment fingers installed into one or more complimentary second segment pockets at least partially defining a tortuous pathway in an axial direction between the first seal segment and the second seal segment.
Claims14
A seal assembly of a shaft bearing system, comprising:
- an inner seal element fixed to a shaft and rotatable therewith about a shaft axis;
- an outer seal located radially outboard of the inner seal element and rotationally fixed relative to the shaft axis, the outer seal including:
- a first circumferential seal segment;
- and
- a second circumferential seal segment abutting the first circumferential seal segment at a seal joint;
- wherein the first circumferential seal segment includes one or more circumferentially extending first segment fingers installed into one or more complimentary second segment pockets at least partially defining a tortuous pathway in an axial direction between the first circumferential seal segment and the second circumferential seal segment;
- wherein the outer seal is urged radially inwardly toward the inner seal element via air pressure acting at a radially outer surface of the outer seal;
- and
- wherein the air pressure is provided via an airflow opening extending through one of the first circumferential seal segment and the second circumferential seal segment.
A bearing system for a shaft, comprising:
- a bearing housing at least partially surrounding a shaft;
- a bearing including a plurality of bearing elements disposed in the bearing housing and supportive of the shaft;
- and a seal assembly to seal the bearing housing including:
- an inner seal element fixed to the shaft and rotatable therewith about a shaft axis;
- an outer seal located radially outboard of the inner seal element and rotationally fixed relative to the shaft axis, the outer seal including:
- a first circumferential seal segment;
- and
- a second circumferential seal segment abutting the first circumferential seal segment at a seal joint;
- wherein the first circumferential seal segment includes one or more circumferentially extending first segment fingers installed into one or more complimentary second segment pockets at least partially defining a tortuous pathway in an axial direction between the first circumferential seal segment and the second circumferential seal segment;
- wherein the outer seal is urged radially inwardly toward the inner seal element via air pressure acting at a radially outer surface of the outer seal;
- and
- wherein the air pressure is provided via an airflow opening extending through one of the first circumferential seal segment and the second circumferential seal segment.
A propeller assembly, comprising:
- a propeller mounted on a propeller shaft and rotatable about a shaft axis;
- and
- a bearing system supportive of the propeller shaft, including:
- a bearing housing at least partially surrounding the propeller shaft;
- a bearing including a plurality of bearing elements disposed in the bearing housing and supportive of the propeller shaft;
- and
- a seal assembly to seal the bearing housing including:
- an inner seal element fixed to the propeller shaft and rotatable therewith about a shaft axis;
- an outer seal located radially outboard of the inner seal element and rotationally fixed relative to the shaft axis, the outer seal including:
- a first circumferential seal segment;
- and
- a second circumferential seal segment abutting the first circumferential seal segment at a seal joint;
- wherein the first circumferential seal segment includes one or more circumferentially extending first segment fingers installed into one or more complimentary second segment pockets at least partially defining a tortuous pathway in an axial direction between the first circumferential seal segment and the second circumferential seal segment;
- wherein the outer seal is urged radially inwardly toward the inner seal element via air pressure acting at a radially outer surface of the outer seal;
- and
- wherein the air pressure is provided via an airflow opening extending through one of the first circumferential seal segment and the second circumferential seal segment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.