Radially Coacting Ring Seal

• US 20150204447A1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Published: 07/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rtx Corporation
• Original Assignee: United Technologies Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Kloepfer, Richard J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,797,515 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 11/003 by packing rings; Mechanical seals
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 11/005 Sealing means between non relatively rotating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 25/246 Fastening of diaphragms or stator-rings
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 9/041 using blades F01D5/148 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2230/642 using maintaining alignment while permitting differential dilatation
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2240/55 Seals
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2250/314 the axes being inclined in relation to each other
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/3464 Mounting of the seal

Abstract

A ring seal apparatus for high temperature sealing includes a first ring including a pair of radial faces and a second ring including a second pair of radial faces, the second ring adapted to coact with the first ring. The first and second rings together define a pair of coacting mating faces. The mating faces are obliquely angled relative to the radial faces, such that each of the coacting mating faces is adapted to seal an interface of the two rings at an angle relative to their substantially parallel radial faces. The pair of coacting rings is adapted to seal a circumferential gap between a pair of components.

Claims

1. A ring seal apparatus for high temperature sealing, comprising:

a first ring including a pair of radial faces;

a second ring including a second pair of radial faces substantially parallel to the first pair of radial faces, the second ring adapted to coact with the first ring;

the first and second rings together defining a pair of coacting mating faces, wherein the mating faces are obliquely angled relative to the radial faces, such that each of the coacting mating faces is adapted to seal an interface of the two rings at an angle relative to the radial faces;

wherein the pair of coacting rings is adapted to seal a circumferential gap between a pair of components.

2. The ring seal apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second rings are axially positioned side-by-side, such that the coacting mating faces are adapted to slide with respect to each other at an angle relative to the radial faces of the rings when the ring seal apparatus is subject to thermal expansion and vibration.

3. The ring seal apparatus of claim 1, wherein the obliquely angled mating faces comprise a separate sealing interface between the first and second rings in addition to the seal of the circumferential gap provided by the ring seal apparatus.

4. The ring seal apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sealing interface between the first and second rings is adapted to function as a wedge for enhancement of radial sealing of the ring seal apparatus.

5. The ring seal apparatus of claim 1, wherein radial sealing is enhanced as a direct function of axial pressure between the coacting mating faces of the first and second rings.

6. The ring seal apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second rings defines a component sealing surface.

7. The ring seal apparatus of claim 6, wherein each component sealing surface is defined by a rounded corner.

8. The ring seal apparatus of claim 1, wherein when the seals are applied to asymmetrically oriented component surfaces, at least three sealing contacts are established between the ring seal and the component surfaces.

9. A ring seal apparatus and axial support structure for high temperature sealing of a circumferential gap between a pair of components, comprising:

a first ring including a pair of radial faces;

a second ring including a second pair of radial faces substantially parallel to the first pair of radial faces, the second ring adapted to coact with the first ring;

the support structure comprising a pair of axially spaced abutments adapted to axially retain the first and second rings;

the first and second rings together defining a pair of coacting mating faces, wherein the mating faces are obliquely angled relative to the radial faces, such that each of the mating faces is adapted to slide at an angle relative to the radial faces;

wherein the pair of coacting rings is adapted to seal the circumferential gap between the components, and wherein the abutments are fixed to one of the aligned components.

10. The ring seal apparatus and axial support structure of claim 9, wherein the first and second rings are axially positioned side-by-side, such that the coacting mating faces are adapted to slide with respect to each other at an angle relative to the radial faces of the rings when the ring seal apparatus is subject to thermal expansion and vibration.

11. The ring seal apparatus and axial support structure of claim 9, wherein the obliquely angled mating faces comprise a separate sealing interface between the first and second rings in addition to the seal of the circumferential gap provided by the ring seal apparatus.

12. The ring seal apparatus and axial support structure of claim 9, wherein the sealing interface between the first and second rings is adapted to function as a wedge for enhancement of radial sealing of the ring seal apparatus.

13. The ring seal apparatus and axial support structure of claim 9, wherein radial sealing is enhanced as a direct function of axial pressure between the coacting mating faces of the first and second rings.

14. The ring seal apparatus and axial support structure of claim 9, wherein each of the first and second rings defines a component sealing surface.

15. The ring seal apparatus and axial support structure of claim 14, wherein each component sealing surface is defined by a rounded corner.

16. The ring seal apparatus and axial support structure of claim 9, wherein when the seals are applied to asymmetrically oriented component surfaces, at least three sealing contacts are established between the ring seal and the component surfaces.

17. A method of sealing a circumferential gap between components, comprising:

forming a ring seal apparatus including a first ring having a pair of radial faces;

forming a second ring having a second pair of radial faces substantially parallel to the first pair of radial faces, and providing that the second ring is adapted to coact with the first ring;

forming an obliquely angled face in each of the first and second rings to define a pair of coacting mating faces relative to the radial faces of each ring, such that each of the mating faces is adapted to slide at an angle relative to the radial faces;

juxtaposing the first and second rings axially side-by-side so that their coacting mating faces are adapted to seal a circumferential gap between asymmetrically aligned components.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising providing a pair of abutments on one of the components to axially retain the first and second rings.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the pair of abutments defines a peripheral slot adapted to axially retain the rings.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising forming rounded corners on each ring to define enhanced component sealing surfaces.