Actuator sealing system and method
AssigneeNuovo Pignone S.p.A.
InventorsFranco Sarri, Giuseppe Iurisci, Marco Pelella
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Abstract
Actuator devices useable to change orientation of one or more vanes, including an actuator rod and an actuator device body configured to allow the actuator rod to move along the axis inside the actuator device body, and having an inlet flange configured to allow a third fluid to enter a space between the actuator device body and the actuator rod, and an outlet flange configured to allow the third fluid to exit the actuator device body. Besides providing a fluid seal between the first fluid and the second fluid, the third fluid may also heat the actuator rod thereby preventing ice formation.
Claims17
An actuator device useable to change an orientation of one or more vanes, the actuator device comprising:
- an actuator rod configured to transfer a force along an axis thereof, and comprising a first end exposed to a first fluid, and a second end exposed to a second fluid, the second end being opposite to the first end along the axis;
- and
- an actuator device body configured to allow the actuator rod to move along the axis inside the actuator device body, and comprising a first inlet flange configured to allow a third fluid to enter a space between the actuator device body and the actuator rod, and a first outlet flange configured to allow the third fluid to exit the actuator device body,
- wherein the third fluid has a pressure larger than a pressure of the first fluid, and the first outlet flange is closer to the first end of the actuator rod than the first inlet flange.
A compressor, comprising:
- one or more vanes configured to determine at least one of a direction and an amount of a first fluid passing through the compressor;
- and
- an actuator device configured to apply a force to the one or more vanes, the actuating device comprising:
- an actuator rod configured to transfer a force along an axis thereof, and comprising a first end configured to be exposed the first fluid, and a second end configured to be exposed to a second fluid, the second end being opposite to the first end along the axis;
- and
- an actuator device body configured to allow the actuator rod to move along the axis inside the actuator device body, and comprising a first inlet flange configured to allow a third fluid to enter a space in-between the actuator device body and the actuator rod, and a first outlet flange configured to allow the third fluid to exit the actuator device body,
- wherein the third fluid has a pressure larger than a pressure of the first fluid, and the first outlet flange is closer to the first end of the actuator rod than the first inlet flange.
A method of sealing a compressor fluid at a first end of an actuation bar and an environment at a second end of the actuation bar, the second end being opposite to the first end, and the actuation bar being configured to move along an axis, inside an actuator device body, the method comprising:
- providing a first flow of compressor fluid routed from an output of the compressor in a space between the actuator device body and the actuator rod, via a first inlet flange of the actuator body and a first outlet flange of the actuator body, wherein the compressor fluid in the first flow has a pressure larger than a pressure of the compressor fluid at the first end of the actuation bar, and the first outlet flange is closer to the first end of the actuator rod than the first inlet flange;
- and
- providing a second flow of neutral fluid in the space between the actuator device body and the actuator rod, via a second inlet flange of the actuator body and a second outlet flange of the actuator body, wherein the first inlet flange and the first outlet flange are closer to the first end than the second inlet flange and the second outlet flange, and the second inlet flange is closer to the second end of the actuation bar than the second outlet flange.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.