Rotary seal
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorWilliam Ackermann
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus for impeding the leakage of a gaseous medium between the rotating and stationary components of a machine is disclosed. Various construction details which are specifically adapted for use in gas turbine engines are developed. Wide channel type sealing techniques are discussed in combination with honeycomb facing materials.
Claims16
In combination with the rotor and stator assemblies of a rotary machine, a seal structure for impeding the leakage of a gaseous medium between said assemblies wherein said structure comprises a cylindrical seal land extending from the rotor assembly and a cylindrical honeycomb faced land extending from the stator assembly into close proximity with the seal land of the rotor assembly forming, therewith, an annular channel separating the rotor and stator assemblies of the machine, said honeycomb material having a multiplicity of cells which are canted in the upstream direction with respect to the anticipated direction of flow through the channel during operation of the machine to encourage the generation of local vortices within the channel for impeding said leakage of gaseous medium between the rotor and stator assemblies.
A seal structure for impeding the leakage of a gaseous medium within a turbine engine from a region of higher pressure to a region of lower pressure, comprising:
- a first cylindrical seal land;
- and
- a second cylindrical seal land which radially opposes said first land forming an annular channel therebetween which axially separates the region of higher pressure from the region of lower pressure, and wherein the second land has affixed thereto a honeycomb material so oriented as to cant the cells of the honeycomb material in the direction of the higher pressure region.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.