Mounting assembly for a ceramic seal runner

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10935142-B2
Application number	US-201916285476-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 26, 2019
Priority date	Feb 1, 2019
Publication date	Mar 2, 2021
Grant date	Mar 2, 2021

Abstract

A seal assembly is disclosed for sealing a higher pressure fluid cavity from a lower pressure fluid cavity. The seal assembly comprises a ceramic seal runner and a mounting assembly. The ceramic seal runner extends around an axial portion of a shaft. The mounting assembly is affixed to and carries the seal runner in axial and radial alignment with the shaft. The mounting assembly comprises an annular base member, a plurality of flexible members, and an annular sleeve member. The plurality of flexible members are circumferentially spaced about the base member and each extend radially outward from one end affixed to the base member in a direction opposite the direction of rotation of the shaft to a distal end. The annular sleeve member is positioned to engage the distal ends of the flexible members and a radially inner surface of the seal runner.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An assembly including a ceramic seal runner mounted to a rotatable shaft, said assembly comprising:
a rotatable shaft having a direction of rotation;
an annular ceramic seal runner extending around an axial portion of said shaft; and
a mounting assembly affixed to said shaft and carrying said seal runner in axial and radial alignment with said shaft, said mounting assembly comprising:
an annular base member affixed to said shaft;
a plurality of flexible members circumferentially spaced about said base member, each of said flexible members extending radially outward from one end affixed to said base member in a direction opposite the direction of rotation of said shaft to a distal end; and
an annular sleeve member positioned so that a radially inner surface engages the distal ends of said flexible members and a radially outer surface engages a radially inner surface of said seal runner.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein one or more of said flexible members extend radially outward from said base member along a tangent of said base member.

3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein the distal end of each flexible member is affixed to said sleeve member.

4. The assembly of claim 2 wherein each of said flexible members extend radially outward from said base member along a tangent of said base member.

5. The assembly of claim 4 wherein the distal end of each flexible member is affixed to said sleeve member.

6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein one or more of said flexible members extend axially from a first axial edge of said base member to a second axial edge of said base member.

7. The assembly of claim 6 wherein each of said flexible members extend axially from a first axial edge of said base member to a second axial edge of said base member.

8. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said base member comprises a plurality of axial ribs circumferentially spaced about said base member and extending radially away from said base member, and wherein each of said flexible members is affixed at one end to a rib of said base member.

9. The assembly of claim 8 wherein said sleeve member comprises a plurality of axial ribs circumferentially spaced about the sleeve member and extending radially inward from said sleeve member, and wherein each of said flexible members is affixed at the distal end to a rib of said sleeve member.

10. The assembly of claim 2 wherein each of said flexible members extend radially outward from said base member at an angle between −10° and +20° of a tangent of said base member.

11. A runner mounting assembly comprising:
a rotatable shaft having a direction of rotation;
an annular ceramic seal runner extending around an axial portion of said shaft; and
a mounting assembly affixed to said shaft and carrying said seal runner in axial and radial alignment with said shaft, said mounting assembly comprising:
an annular inner member coupled to said shaft;
an annular outer member coupled to said ceramic seal runner; and
a plurality of spokes circumferentially spaced about said inner member, each spoke of said plurality of spokes extends from said inner member to said outer member in a direction opposite the direction of rotation of said shaft.

12. The runner mounting assembly of claim 11 wherein each of the plurality of spokes extend radially outward from the inner member along a tangent of the inner member.

13. The runner mounting assembly of claim 11 wherein each of the plurality of spokes extend radially outward from the inner member at an angle between −10° and +20° of a tangent of the inner member.

14. The assembly of claim 11 wherein said inner member comprises a plurality of axial ribs circumferentially spaced about said inner member and extending radially away from said inner member, and wherein each of said spokes is affixed at one end to a rib of said inner member.

15. The assembly of claim 14 wherein said outer member comprises a plurality of axial ribs circumferentially spaced about the outer member and extending radially inward from said outer member, and wherein each of said spokes is affixed at a distal end to a rib of said outer member.

16. The assembly of claim 11 wherein each of said spokes extend axially from a first axial edge of said inner member to a second axial edge of said inner member.

17. A method of mounting a ceramic seal runner in radial and axial alignment to a rotatable shaft, said method comprising:
affixing a runner mount to the shaft, the runner mount comprising an annular inner member, an annular outer member, and a plurality of spokes circumferentially spaced about the inner member and extending between the inner member and outer member;
affixing the ceramic seal runner to the annular outer member,
whereby the plurality of spokes deflect responsive to thermal expansion of the runner mount.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein affixing the runner mount to the shaft comprises providing an interference fit between the annular inner member and the shaft.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein affixing the ceramic seal runner to the annular out member comprises providing an interference fit between the ceramic seal runner and the annular outer member.

20. The method of claim 17 further comprising affixing one or more axial retainers to the shaft adjacent the runner mount.

Assignees

• Rolls Royce Corp

Inventors

• Bernacchi James Alfredo
• Schubert Mark William
• Black Joseph

Classifications

• F01D11/003

  by packing rings; Mechanical seals · CPC title

• F16J15/445 Primary

  with means for adjusting the clearance · CPC title

• F16J15/3216

  supported in a direction parallel to the surfaces · CPC title

• F16J15/441

  with floating ring · CPC title

• F05D2260/38

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