Deflection spring seal

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10533567-B2
Application number	US-201715608415-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 30, 2017
Priority date	May 30, 2017
Publication date	Jan 14, 2020
Grant date	Jan 14, 2020

Abstract

An intershaft seal assembly that is between a first shaft and a second shaft of a bearing compartment of an engine includes a first seal element and a retaining element. The first seal element surrounds the first shaft and includes a first portion is in contact with the first shaft and a second portion extending in a non-parallel direction to a radial direction of the first shaft. The retaining element is threadably engaged with the first shaft such that the retaining element presses the first seal element against the shoulder of the first shaft.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An intershaft seal assembly between a first shaft and a second shaft of a bearing compartment of an engine, the seal assembly comprising:
a first seal element surrounding the first shaft, the first seal element with a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion is in contact with the first shaft and is connected to the second portion, wherein the second portion extends in a non-radial direction of the first shaft;
a plurality of seal elements, wherein the first shaft comprises a first passage extending radially through a portion of the first shaft, wherein the second shaft comprises a second passage extending radially through a portion of the second shaft, and wherein a flowpath extends through the first passage, the second passage, and between two of the plurality of seal elements; and
a retaining element threadably engaged with the first shaft, wherein the retaining element presses the first seal element against a shoulder of the first shaft.

2. The intershaft seal assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first passage and the second passage radially aligned such that the first passage and the second passage are aligned in a radial direction of the first shaft.

3. The intershaft seal assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least two consecutive seal elements of the plurality of seal elements face concave towards each other.

4. The intershaft seal assembly of claim 1 further comprising a spacer disposed axially between each of consecutive seal elements of the plurality of seal elements, wherein the spacer is a hollow cylinder of solid material, wherein the spacer comprises a first anti-rotation feature extending from the spacer, wherein the first anti-rotation feature is configured to engage with at least one of the plurality of seal elements to prevent relative rotational motion between the spacer and the at least one of the plurality of seal elements.

5. The intershaft seal assembly of claim 4 , wherein at least one of the plurality of seal elements comprises a second anti-rotation feature extending from the at least one of the plurality of seal elements, wherein the second anti-rotation feature is configured to engage with at least one of the spacer, the shoulder, and the retaining element to prevent relative rotational motion between the at least one of the plurality of seal elements and at least one of the spacer, the shoulder, and the retaining element.

6. The intershaft seal assembly of claim 4 , wherein the spacer includes a third passage extending therethrough, wherein the third passage is in radial alignment with the first passage and the second passage such that the first passage, the second passage, and the third passage are aligned in a radial direction of the first shaft.

7. The intershaft seal assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first seal element comprises a third portion disposed on a distal end of the second portion from the first portion, wherein the third portion comprises an extension.

8. The intershaft seal assembly of claim 7 , wherein a cross-sectional shape of the extension comprises a curved, arcuate, serpentine, or bulbous shape.

9. The intershaft seal assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first seal element is configured to deflect upon the second shaft coming into contact with the first seal element.

10. The intershaft seal assembly of claim 9 , wherein the second portion of the first seal element is configured to bend radially towards the first shaft upon the second shaft coming into contact with the first seal element.

11. The intershaft seal assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second portion of the first seal element extends at an angle from an axial centerline of the first shaft, wherein the angle is between 0 to 90 degrees.

12. The intershaft seal assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second portion of the first seal element extends at an angle from an axial centerline of the first shaft, wherein the angle is 30 to 60 degrees.

13. An engine comprising;
a compressor section including a first compressor supported for rotation on a first shaft and a second compressor supported for rotation on a second shaft, wherein the first shaft comprises a shoulder;
a combustor in fluid communication with the compressor section;
a turbine section in fluid communication with the combustor including a first turbine driving the first compressor through the first shaft and a second turbine driving the second compressor through the second shaft;
an intershaft seal assembly disposed between the first shaft and the second shaft, the intershaft seal comprising:
a first seal element surrounding the first shaft, the first seal element with a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion is in contact with the first shaft and is connected to the second portion, wherein the second portion extends in a non-radial of the first shaft, wherein the second portion of the first seal element is configured to bend radially towards the first shaft upon the second shaft coming into contact with the first seal element;
a plurality of seal elements;
a spacer disposed axially between each of consecutive seal elements of the plurality of seal elements, wherein the spacer is a hollow cylinder of solid material; and
a retaining element threadably engaged with the first shaft, wherein the retaining element presses the first seal element against the shoulder of the first shaft.

14. The engine of claim 13 , wherein the spacer comprises a first anti-rotation feature extending from the spacer, wherein the first anti-rotation feature is configured to engage with at least one of the plurality of seal elements to prevent relative rotational motion between the spacer and the at least one of the plurality of seal elements.

15. The engine of claim 13 , wherein at least one of the plurality of seal elements comprises a second anti-rotation feature extending from the at least one of the plurality of seal elements, wherein the second anti-rotation feature is configured to engage with at least one of the spacer, the shoulder, and the retaining element to prevent relative rotational motion between the spacer and the at least one of the plurality of seal elements.

16. The engine of claim 13 , wherein the first shaft comprises a first passage extending radially through a portion of the first shaft, wherein the second shaft comprises a second passage extending radially through a portion of the second shaft, and wherein a flowpath extends through the first passage, the second passage, and between two of the plurality of seal elements, further wherein the first and second passages are radially aligned such that the first passage and the second passage are aligned in a radial direction of the first shaft.

17. The engine of claim 16 , wherein the spacer includes a third passage extending therethrough, wherein the third passage is in radial alignment with the first passage and the second passage such that the first passage, the second passage, and the third passage are aligned in a radial direction of the first shaft.

18. The engine of claim 13 , wherein at least two consecutive seal elements of the plurality of seal elements face concave towards each other.

19. The engine of claim 13 , wherein the first seal element comprises a third portion disposed on a distal end of the second portion from the first portion, wherein the third portion comprises an extension.

20. The engine of claim 19 , wherein a cross-sectional shape of the extension comprises a curved, arcuate, serpentine, or bulbous shape.

Assignees

• United Technologies Corp

Inventors

• Juh Christopher M
• Wilson Ross

Classifications

• F05D2260/38

  by a spring, i.e. spring loaded or biased towards a certain position · CPC title

• F04D29/044 Primary

  Arrangements for joining or assembling shafts · CPC title

• F05D2240/55

  Seals · CPC title

• F04D29/0405

  joining shafts, e.g. rigid couplings, quill shafts · CPC title

• F04D29/0473

  for radial pumps · CPC title