US 5,284,347 A · Gas bearing sealing means

Abstract

A gas bearing face seal assembly for a gas turbine engine having improved sealing characteristics. The assembly can include support means which concentrically position a face seal member with respect to a seal radius, while permitting translation of the face seal with respect to a rotating sealing surface and radial growth of the seal member with respect to the housing. A clearance control ring means can be included to reduce and maintain radial clearance between the face seal member and a housing surface. The face seal member may be pressurized radially outwardly, and can include improved vent channel and vent passage means.

Claims30

Dependent claims

A gas bearing face seal assembly for use in a gas turbine engine to restrict fluid flow from a relatively higher pressure region to a relatively lower pressure region at a juncture of an engine stationary member and an engine rotating member mounted for rotation about an axis, the assembly comprising:

(a) a face seal ring member including a gas bearing face surface, a primary flow restrictor means, passage means disposed in the face seal ring member for providing fluid communication between the higher pressure region and the gas bearing face surface, gas bearing vent means disposed in the face seal ring member, the vent means in flow communication with the relatively lower pressure region, and a first secondary sealing surface;
(b) seal housing means including a second secondary sealing surface and a housing structure fixedly attached to the engine stationary member;
(c) face seal ring support means including at least three pin and radially extending groove combinations, the pins positioned on one of the face seal ring member and the housing structure, and the grooves disposed on the other of the face seal ring member and the housing structure, the pin and groove combinations concentrically supporting the face seal ring member on the seal housing means for movement from a retracted position to establish a primary restrictor clearance between the primary flow restrictor means and a primary sealing surface on the engine rotating member, the face seal ring support means maintaining a circumferentially uniform radial clearance between the face seal ring and the seal housing means;
and
(d) secondary seal means biased into sealing engagement with the first and second secondary seal surfaces;
and
(e) wherein said primary flow restrictor means comprises a primary restrictor dam having a radially and circumferentially extending seal dam surface which is radially spaced apart from said gas bearing face surface, said primary restrictor dam being more effective in restricting fluid flow from the relatively higher pressure region to the relatively lower pressure region than a circumferentially extending labyrinth tooth.

4 more elements

(a) a face seal ring member including a gas bearing face surface, a primary flow restrictor means, passage means disposed in the face seal ring member for providing fluid communication between the higher pressure region and the gas bearing face surface, gas bearing vent means disposed in the face seal ring member, the vent means in flow communication with the relatively lower pressure region, and a first secondary sealing surface;
(b) seal housing means including a second secondary sealing surface and a housing structure fixedly attached to the engine stationary member;
(c) face seal ring support means including at least three pin and radially extending groove combinations, the pins positioned on one of the face seal ring member and the housing structure, and the grooves disposed on the other of the face seal ring member and the housing structure, the pin and groove combinations concentrically supporting the face seal ring member on the seal housing means for movement from a retracted position to establish a primary restrictor clearance between the primary flow restrictor means and a primary sealing surface on the engine rotating member, the face seal ring support means maintaining a circumferentially uniform radial clearance between the face seal ring and the seal housing means;
and
(d) secondary seal means biased into sealing engagement with the first and second secondary seal surfaces;
and
(e) wherein the face seal ring member is pressurized radially outwardly by a pressure differential between the higher pressure region and the lower pressure region.

4 more elements

(a) a face seal ring member including a gas bearing face surface, a primary flow restrictor means, passage means disposed in the face seal ring member for providing fluid communication between the higher pressure region and the gas bearing face surface, gas bearing vent means disposed in the face seal ring member, the vent means in flow communication with the relatively lower pressure region, and a first secondary sealing surface;
(b) seal housing means including a second secondary sealing surface and a housing structure fixedly attached to the engine stationary member;
(c) face seal ring support means including at least three pin and radially extending groove combinations, the pins positioned on one of the face seal ring member and the housing structure, and the grooves disposed on the other of the face seal ring member and the housing structure, the pin and groove combinations concentrically supporting the face seal ring member on the seal housing means for movement from a retracted position to establish a primary restrictor clearance between the primary flow restrictor means and a primary sealing surface on the engine rotating member, the face seal ring support means maintaining a circumferentially uniform radial clearance between the face seal ring and the seal housing means;
and
(d) secondary seal means biased into sealing engagement with the first and second secondary seal surfaces;
and
(e) wherein the seal housing means includes a clearance control ring, the control ring including the second secondary sealing surface and a surface defining a housing secondary seal radius.

4 more elements

A gas bearing face seal assembly for use in a gas turbine engine to restrict flow from a relatively higher pressure region to a relatively lower pressure region at a juncture of an engine stationary member and an engine rotating member mounted for rotation about an axis, the assembly comprising:

(a) a face seal ring member including a gas bearing face surface, a primary flow restrictor means, passage means disposed in the face seal ring member for providing fluid communication between the higher pressure region and the gas bearing face surface, gas bearing vent means disposed in the face seal ring member, the vent means in flow communication with the relatively lower pressure region, and a first secondary sealing surface;
(b) seal housing means including a second secondary sealing surface and a housing structure fixedly attached to the engine stationary member;
(c) face seal ring support means including at least three pin and radially extending groove combinations, the pins positioned on one of the face seal ring member and the housing structure, and the grooves disposed on the other of the face seal ring member and the housing structure, the pin and groove combinations concentrically supporting the face seal ring member on the seal housing means for movement from a retracted position to establish a primary restrictor clearance between the primary flow restrictor means and a primary sealing surface on the engine rotating member, the face seal ring support means maintaining a circumferentially uniform radial clearance between the face seal ring and the seal housing means;
(d) secondary seal means biased into sealing engagement with the first and second secondary seal surfaces;
and
(e) at least two auxiliary flow restrictor means supported from the engine stationary member separately from the face seal means, at least one restrictor means spaced from the face seal means to define a first auxiliary flow restrictor clearance therebetween, and at least one auxiliary flow restrictor means spaced from an auxiliary rotating surface on the engine rotating member to define a second auxiliary flow restrictor clearance therebetween.

3 more elements

(a) a face seal ring member including a gas bearing face surface, a primary flow restrictor means, passage means disposed in the face seal ring member for providing fluid communication between the higher pressure region and the gas bearing face surface, gas bearing vent means disposed in the face seal ring member, the vent means in flow communication with the relatively lower pressure region, and a first secondary sealing surface;
(b) seal housing means including a second secondary sealing surface and a housing structure fixedly attached to the engine stationary member;
(c) face seal ring support means including at least three pin and radially extending groove combinations, the pins positioned on one of the face seal ring member and the housing structure, and the grooves disposed on the other of the face seal ring member and the housing structure, the pin and groove combinations concentrically supporting the face seal ring member on the seal housing means for movement from a retracted position to establish a primary restrictor clearance between the primary flow restrictor means and a primary sealing surface on the engine rotating member, the face seal ring support means maintaining a circumferentially uniform radial clearance between the face seal ring and the seal housing means;
and
(d) secondary seal means biased into sealing engagement with the first and second secondary seal surfaces;
and
(e) wherein the face seal ring member includes the gas bearing face surface and the primary flow restrictor means spaced apart radially by a circumferentially extending vent channel, a plurality of vent passages in flow communication with the lower pressure region, the passages angled radially from the vent channel and angled circumferentially from the vent channel in a direction of rotation of the rotating member, and wherein the vent channel includes a circumferentially extending turning vane surface, the turning vane surface having a smoothly curved profile for turning a portion of a flow exiting the primary restrictor means into the vent passages.

4 more elements

(a) a face seal ring member including a primary flow restrictor means and a first secondary sealing surface;
(b) a clearance control ring including a second secondary sealing surface;
(c) clearance control support means for supporting the clearance control ring on the engine stationary member for radial growth of the clearance control ring independent of the radial growth of the engine stationary member;
(d) means for supporting the face seal ring member on the engine stationary member for translation of the primary flow restrictor means relative to a primary sealing surface on the rotating member to establish a primary restrictor clearance therebetween;
and
(e) secondary seal means biased into sealing engagement with the first and second secondary sealing surfaces.

3 more elements

(a) a face seal ring member including a primary flow restrictor means and a first secondary sealing surface;
(b) seal housing means including a second secondary sealing surface and a housing structure fixedly attached to the engine stationary member;
(c) means for movably supporting the face seal ring member on the seal housing means for movement of the primary flow restrictor means relative to a primary sealing surface on the engine rotating member to establish a primary restrictor clearance therebetween;
(d) means for supporting at least two auxiliary flow restrictor means from the engine stationary structure independently of the face seal ring member, at least one auxiliary flow restrictor means spaced from the face seal ring member to establish a first auxiliary flow restrictor clearance therebetween, and at least one auxiliary flow restrictor means spaced from a second sealing surface on the engine rotating member to define a second auxiliary flow restrictor clearance therebetween;
and
(e) secondary seal means biased into sealing engagement with the first and second secondary seal surfaces.

3 more elements

A method of restricting fluid flow from a relatively higher pressure region to a relatively lower pressure region at a juncture of an engine stationary structure and a rotating member mounted for rotation about an axis in a gas turbine engine, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) supporting a face seal ring member on a stationary engine structure for biased movement of a primary restrictor means with respect to a primary sealing surface on the rotating member;
(b) supporting a clearance control ring on the engine stationary structure for radial growth of the clearance control ring independent of radial growth of the engine stationary structure;
and
(c) biasing a secondary seal member into sealing engagement with a first secondary sealing surface on the face seal ring member and a second secondary sealing surface positioned on the clearance control ring.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

07/968,220Filed 29 Oct 1992 · continuation

Priority

25 Mar 1991

Granted

8 Feb 1994

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

F01D 25/22
Lubricating arrangements: using working-fluid or other gaseous fluid as lubricant
F01D 11/025
By non-contact sealings, e.g. of labyrinth type: seal clearance control; Floating assembly; Adaptation means to differential thermal dilatations
F01D 11/06
Using sealing fluid, e.g. steam: control thereof
F16J 15/164
Between relatively-moving surfaces: the sealing action depending on movements; pressure difference, temperature or presence of leaking fluid

Abstract

Claims30

Dependent claims

(a) a face seal ring member including a gas bearing face surface, a primary flow restrictor means, passage means disposed in the face seal ring member for providing fluid communication between the higher pressure region and the gas bearing face surface, gas bearing vent means disposed in the face seal ring member, the vent means in flow communication with the relatively lower pressure region, and a first secondary sealing surface;
(b) seal housing means including a second secondary sealing surface and a housing structure fixedly attached to the engine stationary member;
(c) face seal ring support means including at least three pin and radially extending groove combinations, the pins positioned on one of the face seal ring member and the housing structure, and the grooves disposed on the other of the face seal ring member and the housing structure, the pin and groove combinations concentrically supporting the face seal ring member on the seal housing means for movement from a retracted position to establish a primary restrictor clearance between the primary flow restrictor means and a primary sealing surface on the engine rotating member, the face seal ring support means maintaining a circumferentially uniform radial clearance between the face seal ring and the seal housing means;
and
(d) secondary seal means biased into sealing engagement with the first and second secondary seal surfaces;
and
(e) wherein said primary flow restrictor means comprises a primary restrictor dam having a radially and circumferentially extending seal dam surface which is radially spaced apart from said gas bearing face surface, said primary restrictor dam being more effective in restricting fluid flow from the relatively higher pressure region to the relatively lower pressure region than a circumferentially extending labyrinth tooth.

4 more elements

(a) a face seal ring member including a gas bearing face surface, a primary flow restrictor means, passage means disposed in the face seal ring member for providing fluid communication between the higher pressure region and the gas bearing face surface, gas bearing vent means disposed in the face seal ring member, the vent means in flow communication with the relatively lower pressure region, and a first secondary sealing surface;
(b) seal housing means including a second secondary sealing surface and a housing structure fixedly attached to the engine stationary member;
(c) face seal ring support means including at least three pin and radially extending groove combinations, the pins positioned on one of the face seal ring member and the housing structure, and the grooves disposed on the other of the face seal ring member and the housing structure, the pin and groove combinations concentrically supporting the face seal ring member on the seal housing means for movement from a retracted position to establish a primary restrictor clearance between the primary flow restrictor means and a primary sealing surface on the engine rotating member, the face seal ring support means maintaining a circumferentially uniform radial clearance between the face seal ring and the seal housing means;
and
(d) secondary seal means biased into sealing engagement with the first and second secondary seal surfaces;
and
(e) wherein the face seal ring member is pressurized radially outwardly by a pressure differential between the higher pressure region and the lower pressure region.

4 more elements

(a) a face seal ring member including a gas bearing face surface, a primary flow restrictor means, passage means disposed in the face seal ring member for providing fluid communication between the higher pressure region and the gas bearing face surface, gas bearing vent means disposed in the face seal ring member, the vent means in flow communication with the relatively lower pressure region, and a first secondary sealing surface;
(b) seal housing means including a second secondary sealing surface and a housing structure fixedly attached to the engine stationary member;
(c) face seal ring support means including at least three pin and radially extending groove combinations, the pins positioned on one of the face seal ring member and the housing structure, and the grooves disposed on the other of the face seal ring member and the housing structure, the pin and groove combinations concentrically supporting the face seal ring member on the seal housing means for movement from a retracted position to establish a primary restrictor clearance between the primary flow restrictor means and a primary sealing surface on the engine rotating member, the face seal ring support means maintaining a circumferentially uniform radial clearance between the face seal ring and the seal housing means;
and
(d) secondary seal means biased into sealing engagement with the first and second secondary seal surfaces;
and
(e) wherein the seal housing means includes a clearance control ring, the control ring including the second secondary sealing surface and a surface defining a housing secondary seal radius.

4 more elements

(a) a face seal ring member including a gas bearing face surface, a primary flow restrictor means, passage means disposed in the face seal ring member for providing fluid communication between the higher pressure region and the gas bearing face surface, gas bearing vent means disposed in the face seal ring member, the vent means in flow communication with the relatively lower pressure region, and a first secondary sealing surface;
(b) seal housing means including a second secondary sealing surface and a housing structure fixedly attached to the engine stationary member;
(c) face seal ring support means including at least three pin and radially extending groove combinations, the pins positioned on one of the face seal ring member and the housing structure, and the grooves disposed on the other of the face seal ring member and the housing structure, the pin and groove combinations concentrically supporting the face seal ring member on the seal housing means for movement from a retracted position to establish a primary restrictor clearance between the primary flow restrictor means and a primary sealing surface on the engine rotating member, the face seal ring support means maintaining a circumferentially uniform radial clearance between the face seal ring and the seal housing means;
(d) secondary seal means biased into sealing engagement with the first and second secondary seal surfaces;
and
(e) at least two auxiliary flow restrictor means supported from the engine stationary member separately from the face seal means, at least one restrictor means spaced from the face seal means to define a first auxiliary flow restrictor clearance therebetween, and at least one auxiliary flow restrictor means spaced from an auxiliary rotating surface on the engine rotating member to define a second auxiliary flow restrictor clearance therebetween.

3 more elements

(a) a face seal ring member including a gas bearing face surface, a primary flow restrictor means, passage means disposed in the face seal ring member for providing fluid communication between the higher pressure region and the gas bearing face surface, gas bearing vent means disposed in the face seal ring member, the vent means in flow communication with the relatively lower pressure region, and a first secondary sealing surface;
(b) seal housing means including a second secondary sealing surface and a housing structure fixedly attached to the engine stationary member;
(c) face seal ring support means including at least three pin and radially extending groove combinations, the pins positioned on one of the face seal ring member and the housing structure, and the grooves disposed on the other of the face seal ring member and the housing structure, the pin and groove combinations concentrically supporting the face seal ring member on the seal housing means for movement from a retracted position to establish a primary restrictor clearance between the primary flow restrictor means and a primary sealing surface on the engine rotating member, the face seal ring support means maintaining a circumferentially uniform radial clearance between the face seal ring and the seal housing means;
and
(d) secondary seal means biased into sealing engagement with the first and second secondary seal surfaces;
and
(e) wherein the face seal ring member includes the gas bearing face surface and the primary flow restrictor means spaced apart radially by a circumferentially extending vent channel, a plurality of vent passages in flow communication with the lower pressure region, the passages angled radially from the vent channel and angled circumferentially from the vent channel in a direction of rotation of the rotating member, and wherein the vent channel includes a circumferentially extending turning vane surface, the turning vane surface having a smoothly curved profile for turning a portion of a flow exiting the primary restrictor means into the vent passages.

4 more elements

(a) a face seal ring member including a primary flow restrictor means and a first secondary sealing surface;
(b) a clearance control ring including a second secondary sealing surface;
(c) clearance control support means for supporting the clearance control ring on the engine stationary member for radial growth of the clearance control ring independent of the radial growth of the engine stationary member;
(d) means for supporting the face seal ring member on the engine stationary member for translation of the primary flow restrictor means relative to a primary sealing surface on the rotating member to establish a primary restrictor clearance therebetween;
and
(e) secondary seal means biased into sealing engagement with the first and second secondary sealing surfaces.

3 more elements

(a) a face seal ring member including a primary flow restrictor means and a first secondary sealing surface;
(b) seal housing means including a second secondary sealing surface and a housing structure fixedly attached to the engine stationary member;
(c) means for movably supporting the face seal ring member on the seal housing means for movement of the primary flow restrictor means relative to a primary sealing surface on the engine rotating member to establish a primary restrictor clearance therebetween;
(d) means for supporting at least two auxiliary flow restrictor means from the engine stationary structure independently of the face seal ring member, at least one auxiliary flow restrictor means spaced from the face seal ring member to establish a first auxiliary flow restrictor clearance therebetween, and at least one auxiliary flow restrictor means spaced from a second sealing surface on the engine rotating member to define a second auxiliary flow restrictor clearance therebetween;
and
(e) secondary seal means biased into sealing engagement with the first and second secondary seal surfaces.

3 more elements

(a) supporting a face seal ring member on a stationary engine structure for biased movement of a primary restrictor means with respect to a primary sealing surface on the rotating member;
(b) supporting a clearance control ring on the engine stationary structure for radial growth of the clearance control ring independent of radial growth of the engine stationary structure;
and
(c) biasing a secondary seal member into sealing engagement with a first secondary sealing surface on the face seal ring member and a second secondary sealing surface positioned on the clearance control ring.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Gas bearing sealing means

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims30

Gas bearing sealing means

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims30