Labyrinth cartridge seal, and centrifugal compressor applications thereof

A labyrinth cartridge seal for use in a compressor having a rotatable shaft, said labyrinth cartridge seal comprising:

• a shell comprising a passageway therethrough;
• four spaced-apart, concentrically aligned sleeves, axially and radially fixedly supportable along said passageway and generally sealable with said shell to define three separate chambers around the shaft;
• said shell having three ports each one opening into a different one of said three separate chambers;
• and
• wherein each of said sleeves comprises one-piece.

A compressor for pressurizing a gas, said compressor comprising:

• a shaft;
• a drive mechanism attached to a first end portion of said shaft for rotating said shaft;
• an impeller attached to a second end portion of said shaft for pressurizing the gas;
• and
• a labyrinth cartridge seal disposed around said shaft and between said drive mechanism and said impeller for inhibiting the flow of pressurized gas toward said drive mechanism, said labyrinth cartridge seal comprising a shell comprising a passageway therethrough, and four spaced-apart, concentrically aligned, sleeves axially and radially fixedly supportable along said passageway and generally sealable with said shell to define three separate axially spaced-apart chambers around said shaft, said shell having three ports each one opening onto a different one of said three separate chambers, and said shell being axially and radially fixedly disposed about said shaft.

A cartridge seal for use in a compressor having a rotatable shaft, said cartridge seal comprising:

• a shell comprising a passageway through said shell and a least one port opening onto said passageway;
• at least two, one-piece, spaced-apart, concentrically aligned sleeves axially and radially fixedly supportable along said passageway and generally sealable with said shell to define a chamber around the shaft with said port opening into said chamber;
• and
• wherein said shell comprises at least two, spaced-apart, inwardly extending portions which define a portion of said passageway, and
• wherein each of said sleeves comprise at least two outwardly extending spaced-apart portions between which one of said inwardly extending portions of said shell is receivable.

A compressor for pressurizing a gas, said compressor comprising:

• a shaft;
• a drive mechanism attached to a first end portion of said shaft for rotating said shaft;
• an impeller attached to a second end portion of said shaft for pressurizing the gas;
• and
• a labyrinth cartridge seal comprising a shell comprising a passageway therethrough, and at least two spaced-apart, concentrically aligned, sleeves axially and radially fixedly supportable along said passageway and generally sealable with said shell to define a chamber around said shaft, said shell having a port opening into said chamber, and said shell being axially and radially fixedly disposed about said shaft.