# US 2024/0200524 A1 · Gpp seal system maintenance, replacement and seismic isolation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2024/0200524 A1 - Document ID: US20240200524A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/557,362 - Filed: 2022-05-04 - Published: 2024-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2021-05-04 - Assignees: Gravity Power LLC - Applicants: Gravity Power, LLC - Inventors: James Orlo Fiske - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20240200524A1 ## CPC - F03B 11/006: {Sealing arrangements (F03B3/14, F03B3/183, F03B13/083 takes precedence; sealings in general F16J)} - F03B 13/06: Stations or aggregates of water-storage type, {e.g. comprising a turbine and a pump}(turbines characterised by having means for functioning alternatively as pumps F03B3/10) - F03G 3/094: {specially adapted for potential energy power storage stations; combinations of gravity or weight motors with electric motors or generators} - F05B 2240/57: Seals - F05B 2260/422: in the form of potential energy, e.g. pressurized or pumped fluid - F03B: MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS (positive-displacement engines for liquid F03C; machines for liquids and gases F01; positive-displacement machines for liquids F04, rotary fluid gearing of the hydrokinetic type F16H41/00) - F03G: SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS; MECHANICAL-POWER PRODUCING DEVICES OR MECHANISMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR OR USING ENERGY SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (arrangements in connection with power supply in vehicles from force of nature B60K16/00; electric propulsion with power supply in vehicles from force of nature B60L8/00) - F05B: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G ## Abstract A sealing system for a Gravity Power Plant having a shaft (104) with a shaft wall (105) and a piston (102) incorporates a seal assembly support base (202) anchored into the shaft wall and surrounding the piston. A seal mount has a radial flange (210) to anchor the seal mount to the support base (202) and a vertical flange (212) extending from an inner circumference of the radial flange. A seal assembly (206) circumferentially contacting the piston, has a plurality of circumferentially spaced clamp assemblies (227) to engage the seal assembly to the vertical flange, the clamp assemblies having an open position releasing the seal assembly from the vertical flange and a closed position constraining the seal assembly on the vertical flange. For seismic isolation of the seal assembly the radial flange is supported on a lower bearing (406) supported on a top surface of the seal assembly support base proximate an inner surface. The radial flange (410) extends inward from the inner surface with the vertical flange spaced from the inner surface by a radial relief (428) within a gap between the seal assembly support base and the piston. An upper bearing is supported in engagement with a top surface (411) of the radial flange (410) of the seal mount (404). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sealing system for a Gravity Power Plant having a shaft (104) with a shaft wall (105) and a piston (102), the sealing system comprising: a seal assembly support base (202) anchored into the shaft wall and surrounding the piston; a seal mount having a radial flange (210) adapted to anchor the seal mount to the support base (202) and a vertical flange (212) extending from an inner circumference of the radial flange; and, a seal assembly (206) having at least one seal group (226) circumferentially contacting the piston, the seal assembly incorporating a plurality of circumferentially spaced clamp assemblies (227) configured to engage the seal assembly to the vertical flange, the clamp assemblies having an open position releasing the seal assembly from the vertical flange and a closed position constraining the seal assembly on the vertical flange. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The sealing system as defined in claim 1 wherein the seal assembly further comprises: a seal carrier (220) terminating at a top end with a plurality of circumferentially spaced bosses (222) wherein the plurality of clamp assemblies are circumferentially aligned with a respective one of the bosses and each clamp assembly incorporates a clamp (228) configured to engage a rim (214) of the vertical flange. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The sealing system as defined in claim 2 wherein each clamp is bolted to the seal carrier with a shoulder bolt (230) having a threaded barrel (234) passing through a threaded bore 236 in the respective one of the bosses, an end flange attached to an inner end of the bolt preventing removal from the boss. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The sealing system as defined in claim 2 wherein the at least one seal group comprises a plurality of seal groups and further comprising a plurality of guide rings (224) mounted concentrically in the seal carrier (220) with one of the plurality of seal groups (226) supported between vertically adjacent guide rings on a support ring (248). ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The sealing system as defined in claim 4 wherein each of the plurality of seal groups comprises: a seal (240) attached to the support ring; and contact pads (246) attached to the support ring. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The sealing system as defined in claim 1 wherein, with the plurality of clamp assemblies in the open position, the seal assembly is movable vertically along an axis of the piston and removed from the seal mount. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The sealing system as defined in claim 6 further comprising a hoist and carriage system (300) configured to grip the unlocked seal assembly and hoist the seal assembly from the seal mount to a water surface in the shaft. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The sealing system as defined in claim 7 wherein the hoist and carriage system comprises: a plurality of hoist assemblies (302) circumferentially spaced about an upper rim (304) of the shaft; a plurality of carriages (310) configured for longitudinal translation in the shaft, each carriage associated with one of the plurality of hoist assemblies and including grippers (312) that are adjustable on a lower frame element 314 for radial alignment with the seal assembly (206) for grabbing the seal assembly. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The sealing system as defined in claim 8 wherein each hoist assembly (302) includes a cable drum (306) with one or more cables (308) that attach to the associated one of the carriages. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The sealing system as defined in claim 9 wherein the one or more cables run over a sheave or pulley block (309) and then downwardly to attach to the associated one of the carriages. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The sealing system as defined in claim 1 wherein the seal assembly support base has an inner surface (424) with an inner radius (420), providing a gap (422) between the inner surface and a surface (103) of the piston (102), and wherein the radial flange (410) is supported with low friction engagement with respect to the support base and extends inward from the inner surface of the seal assembly support base with the vertical flange spaced from the inner surface by a radial relief (428) within the gap. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The sealing system as defined in claim 11 wherein the radial flange is supported on a lower bearing 406 supported on a top surface (407) of the seal assembly support base proximate the inner surface, with an upper bearing supported in engagement with a top surface (411) of the radial flange (410) of the seal mount (404). ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The sealing system as defined in claim 12 wherein the lower bearing comprises a bearing plate (406) with a very low coefficient of friction and extends in a ring all the way around the assembly support base upper surface (408) encircling the piston (102). ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The sealing system as defined in claim 13 wherein the upper bearing comprises a plurality of upper bearing plates (408) mounted on a plurality of heavy braces (414) strongly anchored to the shaft wall (105), each of the upper bearing plates (408) substantially the same width as the heavy brace normal to the piston circumference. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The sealing system as defined in claim 14 wherein the bearing plate and plurality of upper bearing plates are polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The sealing system as defined in claim 13 further comprising a seal (426) installed below the lower bearing plate (406) at a top inner edge (427) of the seal assembly support base to prevent water intrusion. ### Claim 17 A removal and replacement system for seal assemblies in a Gravity Power Plant, the system comprising: a hoist and carriage system (300) configured to grip an unlocked seal assembly and hoist the seal assembly from a seal mount to a water surface in a shaft (104). ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The removal and replacement system as defined in claim 17 wherein the hoist and carriage system comprises: a plurality of hoist assemblies (302) circumferentially spaced about an upper rim (304) of the shaft; a plurality of carriages (310) configured for longitudinal translation in the shaft, each carriage associated with one of the plurality of hoist assemblies and including grippers (312) that are adjustable on a lower frame element (314) for radial alignment with the seal assembly (206) for grabbing the seal assembly. ### Claim 19 (depends on 8) A method for removal of a seal assembly in a sealing system as defined in claim 8, the method comprising: placing the clamp assemblies in an open position; lowering the plurality of carriages to place the grippers in contact with the seal assembly; gripping the seal assembly with the grippers; raising the plurality of carriages. ### Claim 20 A Gravity Power Plant energy storage system having a shaft (104) with a shaft wall (105) and a piston (102), with a sealing system providing seismic isolation comprising: a seal assembly support base (402) anchored into the shaft wall and surrounding the piston, the seal assembly support base having an inner surface (424) with an inner radius (420), providing a gap (422) between an inner surface (424) of the support base (402) and a surface (103) the piston (102); a seal mount (404) circumferentially surrounding the piston (102) supported in low friction engagement with respect to the seal assembly support base; a seal assembly (206) supported on the seal mount circumferentially contacting the piston, spaced from the inner surface by a radial relief (428) within the gap wherein the seal mount will slide with respect to the seal assembly support base within the radial relief preventing the seal assembly support base from impacting the seal assembly or piston. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The Gravity Power Plant energy storage system as defined in claim 20 wherein the seal mount has a radial flange (410) engaged to the support base (402) and a vertical flange (412) extending from an inner circumference of the radial flange, the radial flange supported on a lower bearing (406) supported on a top surface of the seal assembly support base proximate the inner surface, an upper bearing supported in engagement with a top surface (411) of the radial flange (410) of the seal mount (404). ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The Gravity Power Plant energy storage system as defined in claim 21 wherein the lower bearing comprises a bearing plate (406) with a very low coefficient of friction and extends in a ring all the way around the assembly support base upper surface (408) encircling the piston (102). ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The Gravity Power Plant energy storage system as defined in claim 22 wherein the upper bearing comprises a plurality of upper bearing plates (408) mounted on a plurality of heavy braces (414) strongly anchored to the shaft wall (105), each of the upper bearing plates (408) substantially the same width as the heavy brace normal to the piston circumference. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The Gravity Power Plant energy storage system as defined in claim 23 wherein the bearing plate and plurality of upper bearing plates are polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), ### Claim 25 (depends on 22) The Gravity Power Plant energy storage system as defined in claim 22 further comprising a seal (426) installed below the lower bearing plate (406) at a top inner edge (428) of the seal assembly support base to prevent water intrusion.