Turbomachinery seal
First Claim
1. A seal assembly designed for rise with a first member between a high pressure region and a low pressure region, the assembly comprising:
- a. a support with a central axis; and
b. a sealing means for engaging the first member and, when said sealing means is engaged with the first member, maintaining a pressure difference of greater than 300 psi between the high pressure region and the low pressure region while permitting relative rotational movement between the first member and said sealing means, said sealing means being attached to said support so that a portion of said sealing means extends radially beyond said support, said portion defining an annular space, said sealing means limiting leakage between the high pressure region and the low pressure region when said sealing means is engaged with the first member such that fluid flow from the high pressure region to the low pressure region through said sealing means does not exceed thirty percent of what said fluid flow would be through said annular space if said portion of said sealing means did not occupy said annular space, said sealing means having a plurality of bristles and at least one second member that includes a tapered portion having a taper confronting said plurality of bristles and located proximate the first member when the seal assembly is engaged with the first member.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A turbomachinery seal (20) attached to annular member (30) which surrounds and rotatably engages a shaft (34). The seal is capable of sealing pressure differentials between a high pressure region (24) and a low pressure region (26) well in excess of 300 psi at relatively low leakage rates. One embodiment (120) of the seal includes a plurality of confronting plates (128) arranged so as to form an annular structure. Another embodiment (220) includes a plurality of bristle packs (252), each positioned between annular plates (256) having an axial taper (278) adjacent radially inner ends (274). In another embodiment (320) bristles 334′ and 334″ extend in axial positive and negative directions so as to create an interleaved bristle structure. In yet another embodiment (720), a plurality of elongate members (450) are embedded within bristles (434). A turbomachine (550) includes seals 520′ and 520″ of the invention.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A seal assembly designed for rise with a first member between a high pressure region and a low pressure region, the assembly comprising:
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a. a support with a central axis; and
b. a sealing means for engaging the first member and, when said sealing means is engaged with the first member, maintaining a pressure difference of greater than 300 psi between the high pressure region and the low pressure region while permitting relative rotational movement between the first member and said sealing means, said sealing means being attached to said support so that a portion of said sealing means extends radially beyond said support, said portion defining an annular space, said sealing means limiting leakage between the high pressure region and the low pressure region when said sealing means is engaged with the first member such that fluid flow from the high pressure region to the low pressure region through said sealing means does not exceed thirty percent of what said fluid flow would be through said annular space if said portion of said sealing means did not occupy said annular space, said sealing means having a plurality of bristles and at least one second member that includes a tapered portion having a taper confronting said plurality of bristles and located proximate the first member when the seal assembly is engaged with the first member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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7. A brush seal intended for use with a first member, the seal comprising:
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a. a support having a central axis;
b. a plurality of annular plates attached to said support so that each of said plates is spaced a first axial distance from adjacent plates, as measured along said central axis, so as to form a cavity between pairs of adjacent plates, wherein each of said plates has an axial thickness, a radially inner end and a radially outer end, with at least one of said plurality of plates having a taper adjacent said radially inner end in which said axial thickness decreases from (i) a first amount proximate, but spaced from, said radially inner end to (ii) a second, lesser, amount at said radially inner end; and
c. a plurality of bristles positioned in said cavity;
d. wherein said taper confronts said plurality of bristles. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A brush seal intended for use with a first member, the seal comprising:
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a. a support having a central axis;
b. a plurality of bristles attached to said support so as to form an annular bristle bed surrounding said central axis; and
c. a plurality of elongate structures, each having a longitudinal axis, attached to said support so as to be positioned within said bristle bed such that each of said plurality of elongate structures is immediately laterally surrounded 360°
by said bristle bed, wherein said plurality of elongate structures are less flexible than said plurality of bristles.- View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A turbomachine comprising:
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a. a first region;
b. a first member supported for rotation about a central axis;
c. a housing having a second region in which said first member is received, said second region being sized and configured so that said first member can rotate relative to said housing within said second region; and
d. a sealing means for maintaining a pressure difference of greater than 300 psi between said first region and said second region while permitting relative rotational movement between said first member and said housing, said sealing means engaging said first member and said housing so that a portion of said sealing means extends radially beyond said housing, said portion defining an annular space, said sealing means limiting leakage between said first region and said second region such that fluid flow between said first region to said second region through said sealing means does not exceed thirty percent of what said fluid flow would be through said annular space if said portion of said sealing means did not occupy said annular space, said sealing means having a plurality of bristles and at least one second member that includes a tapered portion having a taper confronting said plurality of bristles and located proximate the first member when the seal assembly is used with the first member.
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28. A turbomachine comprising:
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a. a first region;
b. a first member supported for rotation about a central axis;
c. a housing having a second region in which said first member is received, said second region being sized and configured so that said first member can rotate relative to said housing within said second region; and
d. a seal, comprising;
i. a support attached to said housing;
ii. a plurality of annular plates attached to said support so that each of said plates is spaced a first axial distance from adjacent plates, as measured along said central axis, so as to form a cavity between adjacent plates, wherein each of said plates has an axial thickness, a radially inner end and a radially outer end, with at least one of said plurality of plates having a taper adjacent said radially inner end in which said axial thickness decreases from (i) a first amount proximate, but spaced from, said radially inner end to (ii) a second, lesser, amount at said radially inner end; and
iii. a plurality of bristles positioned in at least some of said cavities;
iv. wherein said taper confronts said plurality of bristles.
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29. A turbomachine comprising:
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a. a first region;
b. a first member supported for rotation about a central axis;
c. a housing having a second region in which said first member is received, said second region being sized and configured so that said first member can rotate relative to said housing within said second region; and
d. a seal, comprising;
i. a support attached to said housing;
ii. a plurality of bristles attached to said support so as to form an annular bristle bed surrounding said central axis; and
iii. a plurality of elongate structures attached to said support so as to be positioned within said bristle bed such that each of said plurality of elongate structures is immediately laterally surrounded 360°
by said bristle bed, wherein said plurality of elongate structures are less flexible than said plurality of bristles.- View Dependent Claims (30, 31)
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Specification