US 12,595,851 B2Granted

Labyrinth seal arrangement

AssigneeMartin GmbH fur Umwelt- und Energietechnik

InventorsJohannes Ulrich Martin, Christian Frei

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

An exemplary seal arrangement includes a labyrinth seal (1). The seal is in operative engagement with a shaft (2) that extends in an opening (3) in a wall (4) bounding a riddlings hopper (13). The exemplary shaft moves along at least one radial direction on an orbital or eccentric path within the wall opening so as to suitably cause movement of at least one grate step of a firing grate. First seal discs (5) extend radially relative to the shaft axis and are in fixed operative connection with the shaft. Second seal discs (6) also extend radially and are in fixed operative connection with a seal housing (8) that is attached to the wall. Throughout shaft movement within the opening, first seal discs continuously extend intermediate and in radially overlapping relation with second seal discs, and second seal discs continuously extend intermediate and in radially overlapping relation with first seal discs. At least one of the seal discs is comprised of a plurality of assembled angularly extending disc parts (15, 16) to facilitate removal and replacement.

Claims21

Dependent claims

Apparatus comprising:

a seal configured to close a wall opening in a wall bounding a riddlings hopper, through which wall opening a movable shaft extends,
wherein the shaft
extends along a shaft axis within the wall opening,
wherein the shaft axis is radially movable and axially stationary within the wall opening,
wherein the seal includes:
a plurality of first seal discs, wherein each of the first seal discs extends radially relative to the shaft axis, and
is in fixed non-sliding connection with the shaft,
a plurality of second seal discs, wherein each of the second seal discs extends radially relative to the shaft axis, and
is in fixed operative connection with the wall,
wherein at least one of
a respective first seal disc extends radially intermediate and in radially overlapping relation with each second seal disc of an immediately axially adjacent pair of the second seal discs, and
a respective second seal disc extends radially intermediate and in radially overlapping relation with each first seal disc of an immediately axially adjacent pair of first seal discs,
wherein in combination the first and second seal discs that comprise the at least one of
the respective first seal disc that extends radially intermediate of each of the axially adjacent pair of second seal discs, and
the respective second seal disc that extends radially intermediate of each of the adjacent pair of first seal discs,
continuously extend in radially overlapping relation to operatively close the wall opening as the first seal discs and the second seal discs move relative to one another responsive to shaft movement in the wall opening,
wherein at least one of the first seal discs and the second seal discs is respectively comprised of a plurality of assembled angularly extending disc parts.

14 more elements

Apparatus comprising:

a seal, wherein seal is configured to extend in operative sealing relation between a wall opening in a wall that bounds a riddlings hopper and a shaft that extends through the wall opening, wherein within the wall opening the shaft extends along a shaft axis and is movable along at least one radial direction within the wall opening,
wherein the seal includes:
a plurality of planar first seal members, wherein each of the first seal members extends radially relative to the shaft axis,
is in fixed non-sliding connection with the shaft, and
is axially disposed from each of the other first seal members,
a plurality of planar second seal members, wherein each of the second seal members
extends radially relative to the shaft axis,
is in fixed operative connection with the wall, and
is axially disposed from each of the other second seal members,
wherein at least one first seal member continuously extends radially intermediate and in radially overlapping relation of each of an immediately axially adjacent pair of second seal members throughout shaft movement in the wall opening, and
wherein at least one second seal member continuously extends radially intermediate and in radially overlapping relation with each of an immediately axially adjacent pair of first seal members throughout shaft movement in the wall opening,
wherein at least one of the first seal members and second seal members is respectively comprised of a plurality of assembled angularly extending seal member parts.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.