SEAL RUNNER

• US 20160238137A1
• Filed: 03/21/2016
• Published: 08/18/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rtx Corporation
• Original Assignee: United Technologies Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Clark, Thomas E., Grogg, Gary L., Mundell, Eric Charles
• Granted Patent: US 10,364,846 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 25/162 Bearing supports
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 25/183 Sealing means
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2230/60 Assembly methods
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/72 Sealings
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 37/00 Cooling of bearings
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/162 Special parts or details relating to lubrication or cooling of the sealing itself F16J15/324, F16J15/3404, F16J15/40 take precedence

Abstract

A seal runner may have an inner annular member, an outer annular member, and a radial wall member joined to the inner annular member according to an angle and extending from the inner annular member to the outer annular member. The seal runner may be positioned axially along a shaft and a bearing may be positioned axially along the shaft such that it is radially between the inner annular member and the outer annular member. In this regard, the seal runner may resemble a “C-shape.” A seal may interface with a seal land radially outboard of the outer annular member. Thus, the seal may be positioned axially near to the bearing so that the axial length of a shaft and accompanying bearing compartment hardware may be minimized.

Claims

1. A seal runner system comprising:

a seal runner disposed circumferentially around a shaft and comprising an outer annular member comprising a seal land configured to mechanically interface with a seal;

an air cavity disposed facially about an annulus of a face of the seal runner and covered by a heat shield;

a bearing disposed circumferentially around the shaft at a position axially abutting the seal runner; and

a bearing nut disposed circumferentially around the shaft at a position axially abutting the bearing, the bearing nut being configured to retain the bearing and the seal runner in fixed axial position with respect to the shaft, whereby the bearing and the seal runner are prevented from traveling axially in the aft direction,

wherein the outer annular member extends axially above the bearing, and

wherein the bearing lies between the outer annular member and the shaft.

2. The seal runner system according to claim 1, wherein the seal runner further comprises:

an inner annular member comprising;

a plurality of snap portions configured to mechanically interface with a circumferential portion of the shaft;

a lower fluid passage configured to receive a cooling fluid; and

a radial fluid passage configured to permit the cooling fluid to pass from the lower fluid passage and through the inner annular member of the seal runner; and

a radial wall member joined to the inner annular member according to an angle,

wherein the radial wall member extends from the inner annular member to the outer annular member,

wherein the outer annular member is held in mechanical communication with the inner annular member, and

wherein the length of the inner annular member to the radial extension of the radial wall member is defined according to a ratio.

3. The seal runner according to claim 2, wherein the angle comprises a 75 to 89 degree angle.

4. The seal runner according to claim 2, wherein the angle comprises a 90 degree angle.

5. The seal runner according to claim 2, wherein the ratio is approximately 1.

6. The seal runner according to claim 2, wherein the outer annular member is shorter than the inner annular member.

7. The seal runner according to claim 2, wherein the inner annular member is shorter than the outer annular member.

8. The seal runner system according to claim 2, wherein the inner annular member comprises two snap portions.

9. The seal runner system according to claim 2, wherein the outer annular member extends axially above the bearing, and wherein the bearing lies between the outer annular member and the shaft.

10. The seal runner system according to claim 2, wherein the shaft further comprises an axial shoulder, and wherein the seal runner is prevented from traveling axially forward direction.

11. The seal runner system according to claim 1, further comprising a bearing centering spring adapted to mechanically interface with the bearing, wherein the shaft is supported.

12. The seal runner system according to claim 2, wherein the outer annular member further comprises a chamfer whereby installation of the seal runner beneath the seal may be facilitated.

13. The system of claim 2, wherein the seal comprises carbon.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the seal runner comprises at least one of titanium and steel.

15. A method of assembling a seal runner system comprising:

pressing a seal runner down the axial length of a shaft;

wherein the seal runner comprises an inner annular member comprising a plurality of snap portions and an outer annular member comprising a seal land configured to mechanically interface with a seal,

wherein the shaft comprises an axial shoulder and an axial land wherein the snap portion of the inner annular member fits in mechanical communication against the axial land;

positioning the seal runner along the shaft by contacting the seal runner against the axial land whereby further travel forward along the length of the shaft is prevented;

pressing a bearing axially down the length of the shaft, so that the bearing rests in mechanical communication against the inner annular member of the seal runner; and

tightening a bearing nut axially along the length of a shaft, so that the bearing nut rests in mechanical communication against the bearing, whereby the bearing and the seal runner are secured between the axial shoulder and the bearing nut and prevented from axial travel along shaft,

wherein the outer annular member extends axially above the bearing, and

wherein the bearing lies between the outer annular member and the shaft.