US 2025/0035212 A1 · SEAL ASSEMBLY

Abstract

A seal assembly is provided that transitions from an expanded configuration to a retracted configuration. In the expanded configuration, the seal assembly forms a non-permeable seal between a rotatable rigid body and a non-rotatable rigid body, the non-permeable seal preventing the entry of oxygen into a reactor drum having a low oxygen environment and/or leakage of gases produced in the low oxygen environment of the reactor drum to the surrounding environment. In the retracted configuration, the rotatable rigid body is secured relative to the non-rotatable rigid body such that relative rotation is prevented. The first rigid body may be translatable relative to the second rigid body to reduce a length of the seal assembly and facilitate rapid removal and/or replacement of the seal assembly from between adjacent components of a torrefaction, gasification, or pyrolysis system.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A seal assembly comprising:

a first rigid member including a first rigid body and a first hole extending through the first rigid body;
a second rigid member including a second rigid body and a second hole extending through the second rigid body;
a third rigid member including a third rigid body and a third hole extending through the third rigid body;
at least one compressible member positioned between and abutting both the second rigid member and the third rigid member such that an airtight seal is formed between the second rigid member and the third rigid member;
and
at least one biasing member positioned between the first rigid member and the second rigid member such that the at least one biasing member exerts a force that biases the third rigid member away from the first rigid member and toward the second rigid member,
wherein the seal assembly includes an expanded configuration in which the second rigid member is rotatable relative to both the first rigid member and the third rigid member, and the third rigid member is translatable relative to the first rigid member.

4 more elements

A method of performing maintenance on a system that includes a stationary component and a rotatable component, the method comprising:

attaching a tensioner to a first rigid body and a second rigid body, thereby preventing rotation of the second rigid body relative to the first rigid body;
removing fasteners that coupled the first rigid body to the stationary component of the system;
actuating the tensioner to translate the first rigid body toward the second rigid body, thereby compressing a biasing member that is positioned between the first rigid body and the second rigid body;
removing fasteners that coupled the second rigid body to the rotatable component of the system;
and
simultaneously moving both the first rigid body and the second rigid body relative to both the rotatable component of the system and the stationary component of the system.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Seal assembly

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Seal assembly

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims21