US 8,740,225 B2Granted

Hydrodynamic bore seal

AssigneeExponential Technologies, Inc.

InventorsCurtis Patterson, Alejandro Juan, Soheil Farshchian

Life of this patent

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Abstract

The disclosed finger seals are designed to be operational under rotational velocity or a stationary condition. The contact surface of the finger seals is inclined in an axial direction. The rotational velocity of the bore does not affect the hydrodynamic lift and the finger seals can operate at any rotational speed, unlike prior finger seal where the hydrodynamic lift is generated by rotational velocity. Each finger seal is pressure balanced. The pressure chambers on the two sides of each finger seal are connected through the finger cutouts. The finger seal design is such that the fingers lift and move away from the bore surface in radial direction. In one form, each finger seal is designed with the specific required length to allow sufficient surface area for the hydrodynamic force such that the finger seals would be lifted from the bore surface at the design pressure.

Claims9

Dependent claims

A sealing assembly for a bore or shaft, the sealing assembly comprising:

a. a ring shaped seal holder;
b. at least one sealing ring having a main body, the sealing ring adjacent the seal holder and attached thereto;
i. wherein each sealing ring comprises a plurality of adjacent sealing pads having a surface configured to engage a bore or shaft;
ii. wherein each sealing pad has a first circumferential end portion, a second circumferential end portion, and a middle circumferential portion;
iii. wherein each sealing ring comprises a spring structure coupling each sealing pad to the main body of the sealing ring;
iv. wherein each spring structure comprises a radially extending first brace connected to the main body at a first circumferential location and a radially extending second brace connected to the main body at a second circumferential location extending from the main body of the sealing ring to the bore or shaft,
v. wherein a beam spring is connected to and bridges the first brace and second brace and the beam spring extends circumferentially between the radially extending first brace and radially extending second brace;
vi. wherein a third brace extends radially from and is connected to the beam spring between the first brace and the second brace and is connected to a circumferential median portion of the sealing pad;
wherein the spring structure biases the associated sealing pad towards the bore or shaft linearly away from the main body of the sealing ring;
and
c. a forward backing plate adjacent a sealing ring and positioned opposite the sealing ring relative to the seal holder.

8 more elements

A sealing assembly for a bore or shaft, the sealing assembly comprising:

a. a ring shaped seal holder;
b. at least one sealing ring having a main body, the sealing ring adjacent the seal holder and attached thereto;
i. wherein each sealing ring comprises a plurality of adjacent sealing pads having a surface configured to engage a bore or shaft;
ii. wherein each sealing ring comprises a radially extending spring structure coupling each sealing pad to the main body of the sealing ring;
iii. wherein each spring structure comprises a radially extending first brace connected to the main body at a first circumferential location and a radially extending second brace connected to the main body at a second circumferential location extending from the main body of the sealing ring toward the sealing pad,
iv. wherein a beam spring is connected to and bridges the first brace and second brace and the beam spring extends circumferentially between the radially extending first brace and radially extending second brace;
v. wherein a third brace extends radially from and is connected to the beam spring between the first brace and the second brace to a circumferential median portion of the sealing pad;
vi. wherein each sealing pad is L-shaped in cross section, such that the sealing pad is substantially thicker adjacent the bore or shaft than a portion distal from the bore or shaft;
and
c. a forward backing plate adjacent a sealing ring and positioned opposite the sealing ring relative to the seal holder.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/792,162Filed 2 Jun 2010 · us provisional application
Priority: 3 Jun 2009
Published: US 2011/0133410 A19 Jun 2011
Granted: 3 Jun 2014
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

F01D 11/02
Preventing or minimising internal leakage of working-fluid, e.g. between stages: by non-contact sealings, e.g. of labyrinth type
F16J 15/441
Free-space packings: with floating ring
F16J 15/54
Sealings: other sealings for rotating shafts
F01D
Non-positive displacement machines or engines

Family

Application61/183,846Us provisional application · filed 3 Jun 2009
US 2011/0133410 A1Pre-grant publication · published 9 Jun 2011
US 8,740,225 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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