Wide differential pressure range air riding carbon seal
AssigneeROLLS-ROYCE plc
InventorNathan A. Lewis
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An exemplary carbon seal assembly generally may include a stator fixable to a static component, such as a mechanical housing of a gas turbine engine, and a rotor fixable to a rotating component, such as a shaft of the gas turbine engine, where the rotating component is rotatable relative to the static component. The carbon seal assembly may also include a carbon ring and a spring attached thereto positioned between the stator and the rotor, where the spring may be configured to move the carbon ring fore and aft between the stator and the rotor. The carbon seal assembly may further include a diaphragm operatively attached to stator and to the carbon ring and spring combination.
Claims21
-20. (canceled)
A carbon seal assembly comprising:
- a stator fixable to a static component;
- a rotor fixable to a rotating component rotatable relative to the static component;
- a carbon ring disposed between the stator and the rotor;
- a spring configured to move the carbon ring fore and aft between the stator and the rotor;
- a diaphragm operatively attached to the stator and to a combination of the spring and the carbon ring;
- a casing in which at least one of the spring and the carbon ring is at least partially disposed, wherein the diaphragm is attached to the casing;
- and
- a limit stop extending from the stator toward the rotor, the limit stop being configured to engage with the casing to limit movement of the carbon ring in the fore and aft directions and to allow high pressure air between the diaphragm and the stator;
- wherein the limit stop is unidirectional and is positioned axially between the stator and the casing.
A gas turbine engine, comprising:
- a mechanical housing;
- a shaft rotatable relative to the mechanical housing;
- and
- a carbon seal assembly having:
- a stator fixed to the mechanical housing;
- a rotor fixed to the shaft;
- a carbon ring disposed between the stator and the rotor;
- a spring configured to move the carbon ring fore and aft between the stator and the rotor;
- a casing in which at least one of the spring and the carbon ring is at least partially disposed;
- a diaphragm attached to the casing;
- and
- a limit stop extending from the stator toward the rotor, the limit stop being configured to engage with the casing to limit movement of the carbon ring in the fore and aft directions and to allow high pressure air between the diaphragm and the stator;
- wherein the limit stop is unidirectional and is positioned axially between the stator and the casing.
A method comprising:
- attaching a diaphragm to a stator and a combination of a carbon ring and a spring to form a static assembly;
- fixing a rotor to a rotating component rotatable relative to the static component;
- fixing the static assembly to the static component;
- and
- positioning a unidirectional limit stop axially between the stator and a casing in which the carbon ring and the spring are at least partially disposed such that the limit stop is configured to engage with the casing to limit movement of the carbon ring in the fore and aft directions and to allow high pressure air between the diaphragm and the stator;
- wherein the combination of the carbon ring and the spring is positioned between the stator and the rotor such that the carbon ring is movable toward and away from the rotor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.