Vented buffer air supply for intershaft seals

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10161314-B2
Application number	US-201715484424-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 11, 2017
Priority date	Apr 11, 2017
Publication date	Dec 25, 2018
Grant date	Dec 25, 2018

Abstract

Aspects of the disclosure are directed to a system associated with an engine having a central longitudinal axis, comprising: a first shaft axially extend along the central longitudinal axis, a second shaft coaxial with the first shaft, a first air seal that seals between the first shaft and the second shaft at a first axial location, a second air seal that seals between the first shaft and the second shaft at a second axial location, a high pressure compressor section that provides air to the first air seal and the second air seal, at least one buffer passage, and a meter connected to the buffer passage that exhausts a portion of the air.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system associated with an engine having a central longitudinal axis, comprising:
a first shaft axially extended along the central longitudinal axis;
a second shaft coaxial with the first shaft;
a first air seal that seals between the first shaft and the second shaft at a first axial location;
a second air seal that seals between the first shaft and the second shaft at a second axial location;
a high pressure compressor section that provides air to the first air seal and the second air seal;
at least one buffer passage; and
a meter connected to the buffer passage that exhausts a portion of the air,
a bearing compartment;
a third air seal that seals between the first shaft and the bearing compartment at a third axial location;
a fourth air seal that seals between the second shaft and the bearing compartment at a fourth axial location,
a first air drain substantially located at the third axial location to exhaust air in the at least one buffer passage; and
a second air drain substantially located at the fourth axial location to exhaust air in the at least one buffer passage;
wherein the first air seal and the second air seal regulate a flow of air entering the buffer passage,
wherein the third air seal and the fourth air seal consume a portion of the air that is in the buffer passage.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the meter exhausts the portion of the air to a gas path.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the gas path is a core gas path.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the meter exhausts the portion of the air to an overboard location.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the overboard location includes an external, ambient environment relative to the engine.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the meter exhausts the portion of the air to a gearbox.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the meter includes an orifice plate.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the meter includes a venturi tube.

9. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first oil seal that is substantially located at the first axial location; and
a second oil seal that is substantially located at the second axial location.

10. The system of claim 9 , further comprising:
a third oil seal that is substantially located at a third axial location;
a fourth oil seal that is substantially located at a fourth axial location.

Assignees

• United Technologies Corp

Inventors

• Parnin Francis

Classifications

• F05D2220/32

  in gas turbines · CPC title

• F01D25/183

  Sealing means · CPC title

• F01D11/04

  using sealing fluid, e.g. steam · CPC title

• F05D2240/60

  Shafts · CPC title

• F01D11/00

  Preventing or minimising internal leakage of working-fluid, e.g. between stages (sealings in general F16J {; sealing arrangements for transition ducts of combustor cans F01D9/023}) · CPC title