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US 6,811,154 B2Granted
Noncontacting finger seal
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
InventorsMargaret P. Proctor, Bruce M. Steinetz
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An annular finger seal is adapted to be interposed between a high pressure upstream region and a lower pressure downstream region to provide noncontact sealing along a rotatable member. The finger seal comprises axially juxtaposed downstream and upstream finger elements, each having integrally spaced fingers. The downstream fingers each have a lift pad, whereas the upstream fingers lack a pad. Each pad extends in a downstream direction. Each upstream finger is spaced from the rotating member a greater distance than each pad. Upon sufficient rotational speed of the rotating member, each pad is operative to lift and ride on a thin film of fluid intermediate the rotating member and the pad.
Claims26
An apparatus including:
- a finger seal adapted to be interposed between an upstream region of relatively high fluid pressure and a downstream region of relatively lower fluid pressure, the finger seal comprising:
- circumferentially extending first and second finger elements,
- wherein the first and second finger elements each include a plurality of spaced integral fingers, wherein the fingers define gaps therebetween,
- wherein the first and second finger elements are adjacently positioned so that the fingers of each block the gaps of the other,
- a lift pads,
- wherein each lift pad extends from a respective finger,
- wherein each lift pad is adapted to be arranged adjacent a rotating member, whereby at least a portion of each lift pad is operative to lift away from the rotating member upon at least one of sufficient rotational speed of the rotating member or hydrostatic pressure loading adjacent the lift pad,
- wherein when the first finger element is positioned downstream of the second finger element, all lift pads of the finger seal extend from their respective finger in a downstream direction.
5 more elements
An apparatus including:
- a finger seal adapted to be interposed between an upstream region of relatively high fluid pressure and a downstream region of relatively lower fluid pressure, the finger seal comprising:
- a circumferentially extending downstream finger element,
- wherein the downstream finger element includes a plurality of spaced integral downstream fingers,
- wherein the downstream fingers define gaps therebetween,
- wherein each downstream finger includes a lift pad extending in a downstream direction,
- wherein each lift pad is adapted to be arranged adjacent a rotating member, whereby at least a portion of each lift pad is operative to lift away from the rotating member upon at least one of sufficient rotational speed of the rotating member or hydrostatic pressure loading adjacent the lift pad,
- a circumferentially extending upstream finger element,
- wherein the upstream finger element includes a plurality of spaced integral upstream fingers,
- wherein the upstream fingers define gaps therebetween,
- wherein the upstream finger element has an innermost diameter larger than an innermost diameter of the downstream finger element,
- wherein the upstream and downstream finger elements are adjacently positioned so that the fingers of each block the gaps of the other.
8 more elements
An apparatus including:
- a finger seal adapted to be interposed between an upstream region of relatively high fluid pressure and a downstream region of relatively lower fluid pressure, the finger seal comprising:
- circumferentially extending first and second finger elements,
- wherein the first and second finger elements each include a plurality of spaced integral fingers, wherein the fingers define gaps therebetween,
- wherein the first and second finger elements are adjacently positioned so that the fingers of each block the gaps of the other,
- a lift pad extending from each finger of at least the first finger element,
- wherein each first finger element lift pad has an innermost diameter,
- wherein each first finger element lift pad has an outermost diameter,
- wherein each second finger element finger has an innermost diameter,
- wherein each second finger element finger innermost diameter is larger than each first finger element lift pad innermost diameter,
- wherein each second finger element finger innermost diameter is smaller than each first finger element lift pad outermost diameter,
- wherein each lift pad is adapted to be arranged adjacent a rotating member, whereby at least a portion of each lift pad is operative to lift away from the rotating member upon at least one of sufficient rotational speed of the rotating member or hydrostatic pressure loading adjacent the lift pad.
8 more elements
An apparatus including:
- a finger seal adapted to be interposed between an upstream region of relatively high fluid pressure and a downstream region of relatively lower fluid pressure, the finger seal comprising:
- circumferentially extending first and second finger elements,
- wherein the first and second finger elements each include a plurality of spaced integral fingers, wherein the fingers define gaps therebetween,
- wherein the first and second finger elements are adjacently positioned so that the fingers of each block the gaps of the other,
- wherein the fingers of only the first finger element each include a lift pad extending therefrom,
- wherein each lift pad is adapted to be arranged adjacent a rotating member, whereby at least a portion of each lift pad is operative to lift away from the rotating member upon at least one of sufficient rotational speed of the rotating member or hydrostatic pressure loading adjacent the lift pad.
3 more elements
An apparatus including:
- a finger seal adapted to be interposed between an upstream region of relatively high fluid pressure and a downstream region of relatively lower fluid pressure, wherein the finger seal comprising:
- a circumferentially extending downstream finger element,
- wherein the downstream finger element includes a plurality of spaced integral downstream fingers,
- wherein the downstream fingers define gaps therebetween,
- wherein each downstream finger includes a lift pad extending therefrom,
- wherein each lift pad extends in a downstream direction,
- wherein each lift pad has an innermost diameter,
- wherein each lift pad has an outermost diameter,
- wherein each lift pad is adapted to be arranged adjacent a rotating member, whereby at least a portion of each lift pad is operative to lift away from the rotating member upon at least one of sufficient rotational speed of the rotating member or hydrostatic pressure loading adjacent the lift pad,
- a circumferentially extending upstream finger element,
- wherein the upstream finger element includes a plurality of spaced integral upstream fingers,
- wherein the upstream fingers define gaps therebetween,
- wherein the upstream and downstream finger elements are adjacently positioned so that the fingers of each block the gaps of the other,
- wherein each upstream finger is devoid of a lift pad,
- wherein each upstream finger has an innermost diameter,
- wherein each upstream finger innermost diameter is larger than each lift pad innermost diameter,
- wherein each upstream finger innermost diameter is smaller than each lift pad outermost diameter,
- an upstream cover plate, a downstream cover plate, an upstream spacer, a downstream spacer, a seal dam, and a pressure balance cavity,
- wherein the pressure balance cavity is at least partly created by the downstream spacer, the downstream cover plate, and the seal dam.
16 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.