Axial pump with integrated seal

A bearing and seal arrangement of a gas turbine engine comprising:

• a bearing disposed in a bearing housing, the bearing supportive of a rotating component of the gas turbine engine;
• a seal assembly disposed at the bearing housing to seal the bearing housing, the seal assembly including:
• a seal element operably connected to the rotating component and rotatable therewith;
• a rotationally stationary seal support positioned radially outboard of the seal element, the seal element and the seal support configured to define a seal interface therebetween;
• wherein the seal element includes an axial pump portion defined by one or more axially and circumferentially extending grooves, the axially and circumferentially extending grooves configured to urge an airflow circumferentially and axially therethrough to prevent migration of a lubricant inside the bearing housing into the seal interface;
• wherein the axial pump portion is located axially between the seal interface and the bearing;
• wherein the seal element includes a plurality of knife edge elements extending radially outwardly from an element base toward the seal support, the plurality of knife edge elements positioned axially spaced apart from the axial pump portion;
• further comprising one or more airflow openings extending through the seal element to supply the axial pump portion with the airflow.
• wherein the one or more airflow openings are disposed axially between two adjacent knife edge elements of the plurality of knife edge elements, such that at least one knife edge element of the plurality of knife edge elements is disposed axially between the one or more airflow openings and the axial pump portion.

A propulsion arrangement of an aircraft, comprising:

• a propeller;
• and
• a gas turbine engine operably connected to the propeller to drive rotation of the propeller, the gas turbine engine including:
• a rotating shaft;
• and
• a bearing and seal arrangement supportive of the shaft, the bearing and seal arrangement including:
• a bearing disposed in a bearing housing, the bearing supportive of the rotating shaft;
• a seal assembly disposed at the bearing housing to seal the bearing housing, the seal assembly including:
• a seal element operably connected to the shaft and rotatable therewith;
• a rotationally stationary seal support positioned radially outboard of the seal element, the seal element and the seal support configured to define a seal interface therebetween;
• wherein the seal element includes an axial pump portion defined by one or more axially and circumferentially extending grooves, the axially and circumferentially extending grooves configured to urge an airflow circumferentially and axially therethrough to prevent migration of a lubricant inside the bearing housing into the seal interface;
• wherein the axial pump portion is located axially between the seal interface and the bearing;
• wherein the seal element includes a plurality of knife edge elements extending radially outwardly from an element base toward the seal support, the plurality of knife edge elements positioned axially spaced apart from the axial pump portion;
• further comprising one or more airflow openings extending through the seal element to supply the axial pump portion with the airflow.
• wherein the one or more airflow openings are disposed axially between two adjacent knife edge elements of the plurality of knife edge elements, such that at least one knife edge element of the plurality of knife edge elements is disposed axially between the one or more airflow openings and the axial pump portion.