Seal-off mechanism for rotating turbine shaft

• US 4,722,663 A
• Filed: 02/04/1986
• Issued: 02/02/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: GE Oil & Gas Operations LLC (GE Aerospace)
• Original Assignee: Rotoflow Corporation
• Inventors: Swearingen, Judson S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Garrett, Robert E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KWON, JOHN
• Application Number:
  US06/825,801
• Time in Patent Office: 728 Days
• Field of Search: 415/110, 415/111, 415/112, 415/169 R, 415/173 R, 415/174, 415/113, 277/3, 277/27, 277/28, 277/83, 277/173, 277/174, 277/175, 277/176, 277/177
• US Class Current: 415/168.2
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 11/06 Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 25/186 for sliding contact bearing
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/008 with provision to put out of action at least one sealing; One sealing sealing only on standstill; Emergency or servicing sealings F16J15/164 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/34 with slip-ring pressed against a more or less radial face on one member
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 277/918 Seal combined with filter or fluid separator

Abstract

A seal-off mechanism for preventing migration of working fluid along a turbine shaft which includes a floating seal ring and a shaft shoulder. The seal ring is spring biased against the shaft shoulder. During turbine operation, a pressurized fluid moves the ring away from the shoulder. The pressurized fluid then flows toward the turbine to contain the working fluid. A chamber collects the pressurized fluid and the working fluid for subsequent separation and reuse.

Claims

1. A turbine comprising:

a turbine housing having a rotor cavity;

a rotor in said cavity;

a first bearing fixed in said housing and displaced from said rotor cavity;

a shaft rotatably mounted in said bearing, said rotor being fixed to said shaft, said shaft having an annular shoulder facing toward said rotor between said first bearing and said rotor;

a seal cavity between said rotor cavity and said first bearing about said shaft in said housing;

a bearing cavity in said housing between said first bearing and said seal cavity;

a seal ring in said housing about said shaft resiliently biased against said shoulder between said bearing cavity and said seal cavity; and

vent means for venting said bearing cavity to a preselected differential pressure of said bearing cavity over said seal cavity, said vent means including a bearing cavity vent for said bearing cavity, a valve controlling said bearing cavity vent and a valve controller actuated by differential pressure between said bearing cavity and said seal cavity.

2. The turbine of claim 1 further comprising a seal cavity vent.