Labyrinth seal for fan assembly
AssigneeGood Earth Tools, Inc.
InventorEdward Williams
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Attaching a labyrinth seal composed of wear-resistant material to the surfaces of rotating equipment subject to wear can increase the life of the rotating equipment and reduce downtime for equipment maintenance and repairs.
Claims21
A rotating fan made of a first material having a hub through which a gas containing solid particles is drawn, the gas and solid particles being projected out the circumference of the fan along channels formed by fan blades and fan sides, the channels being lined with a labyrinth seal comprised of:
- a.) a layer of plates secured to at least a face of each fan blade wherein said plates are comprised of a second material harder than the first material;
- and
- b.) a second layer comprised of tiles of the second material secured along the length of at least one joint of the channel, the tiles being arranged with respect to each other to create irregular seams that cause turbulence and slow the rate at which the gas and solid particles are projected through the channels;
- the plates and tiles being capable of flexible movement in relation to other plates and tiles, such that the plates and tiles can withstand torque experienced with movement of the fan without cracking or fracturing.
A method for forming a protective labyrinth seal on at least some exposed areas of a rotating fan having a hub, sides and at least one fan blade, the method comprising:
- a) securing plates comprised of a hardened material to at least one face of each fan blade;
- b) affixing an additional layer of tiles of the hardened material having a face length, a side width, and an edge depth along at least one intersection of the fan side and the fan blade such that:
- a first face of a first tile is adjacent to the fan side and a first edge of the first tile is adjacent to the plates on the face of the fan blade;
- a first face of a second tile is adjacent to the plates on the face of the fan blade, a first edge of the second tile is adjacent to the side of the fan blade, and a portion of a first side of the second tile is adjacent to a first side of the first tile;
- a first face of a third tile is adjacent to the plates on the face of the fan blade, a first edge of the third tile is adjacent to a second face of the first tile, and a portion of a first side of the third tile is adjacent to the first side of the second tile;
- a first face of a fourth tile is adjacent to the side of the fan, a first edge of the fourth tile is adjacent to a second face of the second tile, and a portion of a first side of the fourth tile is adjacent to a first side of the first tile;
- and
- c) alternating the above configuration along the entire intersection of the fan side and the fan blade.
An apparatus for protecting at least one surface of a rotating fan having a hub, sides and at least one fan blade, the apparatus comprising:
- a) plates comprised of a hardened material secured to at least a face of each fan blade;
- b) a layer of tile comprised of the hardened material secured to an intersection of the fan side and the fan blade, each tile having a face length, a side width and an edge depth secured to the fan, the tile arranged such that:
- a first tile is secured to the fan with a first face adjacent to the side of the fan and a first edge adjacent to the plates on the face of the fan blade;
- a second tile is secured to the fan with a first face adjacent to the plates on the face of the fan blade, a first edge adjacent to the side of the fan blade, and a portion of a first side of the second tile adjacent to a first side of the first tile;
- a third tile is secured to the fan with a first face adjacent to the plates on the face of the fan blade, a first edge adjacent to a second face of the first tile, and a portion of a first side of the tile adjacent to the first side of the second tile;
- a fourth tile is secured to the fan with a first face adjacent to the side of the fan, a first edge adjacent to a second face of the second tile, and a portion of the first side of the tile adjacent to the first side of the first tile;
- and
- c) tiles configured in accordance with step b secured along the entire length of the joint of the fan blade and fan side.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.