Non-contact seal assembly with multiple axially spaced spring elements

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11359726-B2
Application number	US-202016919444-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 2, 2020
Priority date	Jul 2, 2020
Publication date	Jun 14, 2022
Grant date	Jun 14, 2022

Abstract

An assembly is provided for rotational equipment. This assembly includes a plurality of seal shoes, a seal base and a spring system. The seal shoes are arranged about a centerline in an annular array. The seal shoes include a first seal shoe. The seal base circumscribes the seal shoes. The spring system connects the seal shoes to the seal base. The spring system includes a first spring element and a second spring element. The first spring element extends axially along the centerline in a first axial direction from the seal base to the first seal shoe. The second spring element extends axially along the centerline in a second axial direction from the seal base to the first seal shoe. The second axial direction is opposite the first axial direction.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An assembly for rotational equipment, comprising:
a plurality of seal shoes arranged about a centerline in an annular array, the plurality of seal shoes comprising a first seal shoe;
a seal base circumscribing the plurality of seal shoes; and
a spring system connecting the plurality of seal shoes to the seal base, the spring system including a first spring element and a second spring element;
the first spring element extending axially along the centerline in a first axial direction from the seal base to the first seal shoe; and
the second spring element extending axially along the centerline in a second axial direction from the seal base to the first seal shoe, the second axial direction opposite the first axial direction.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein
the seal base includes a first flange that radially overlaps the first seal shoe; and
the first spring element extends axially from the first flange to the first seal shoe.

3. The assembly of claim 2 , wherein
the seal base further includes a second flange that radially overlaps the first seal shoe; and
the second spring element extends axially from the second flange to the first seal shoe.

4. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein
a first radius extends from the centerline to the first spring element;
a second radius extends from the centerline to the second spring element; and
the first radius is equal to the second radius.

5. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein
a first radius extends from the centerline to the first spring element;
a second radius extends from the centerline to the second spring element; and
the first radius is different than the second radius.

6. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a compression spring between and engaged with the seal base and the first spring element.

7. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a compression spring between and engaged with the seal base and the first seal shoe.

8. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a damper between and connected to the seal base and the first seal shoe.

9. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the seal base includes a seal shoe stop configured to limit radial outward movement of the first seal shoe.

10. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein a vent aperture extends through the seal shoe stop.

11. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein a vent aperture extends through the first spring element or the first seal shoe.

12. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first seal shoe projects axially beyond the seal base.

13. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein
the first spring element extends axially along the centerline in the first axial direction from the seal base to the first seal shoe for a first axial distance;
the second spring element extends axially along the centerline in the second axial direction from the seal base to the first seal shoe for a second axial distance; and
the second axial distance is different than the first axial distance.

14. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one of
the first spring element has a straight, linear sectional geometry as the first spring element extends from the seal base to the first seal shoe; or
the second spring element has a straight, linear sectional geometry as the second spring element extends from the seal base to the first seal shoe.

15. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one of
at least a portion of the first spring element has a tortuous sectional geometry as the first spring element extends away from the seal base towards the first seal shoe; or
at least a portion of the second spring element has a tortuous sectional geometry as the second spring element extends away from the seal base towards the first seal shoe.

16. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the spring system further includes one or more additional spring elements connected to and extending between the seal base and the first seal shoe.

17. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first seal shoe has a first seal shoe lateral width, and at least one of
the first spring element has a first spring element lateral width that is equal to the first seal shoe lateral width; or
the second spring element has a second spring element lateral width that is equal to the first seal shoe lateral width.

18. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a stationary structure;
a rotating structure configured to rotate about the centerline; and
a seal assembly including the plurality of seal shoes, the seal base and the spring system, the seal assembly configured to seal a gap between the stationary structure and the rotating structure;
wherein the plurality of seal shoes are arranged circumferentially about and sealingly engage the rotating structure; and
wherein the seal base is mounted to the stationary structure.

19. An assembly for rotational equipment, comprising:
a plurality of seal shoes arranged about a centerline in an annular array, the plurality of seal shoes comprising a first seal shoe;
a seal base extending circumferentially around the plurality of seal shoes and the centerline; and
a spring system connecting the plurality of seal shoes to the seal base, the spring system including a first spring element and a second spring element;
the first spring element axially between and connected to the seal base and the first seal shoe;
the second spring element axially between and connected to the seal base and the first seal shoe; and
the first seal shoe axially between the first spring element and the second spring element.

20. An assembly for rotational equipment, comprising:
a plurality of seal shoes arranged about a centerline in an annular array, the plurality of seal shoes comprising a first seal shoe and a second seal shoe;
a seal base extending circumferentially around the plurality of seal shoes and the centerline; and
a spring system connecting the plurality of seal shoes to the seal base, the spring system including a first spring element, a second spring element, a third spring element and a fourth spring element;
the first spring element arranged towards a first axial side of the first seal shoe, and the first spring element connected to and between the first seal shoe and the seal base;
the second spring element arranged towards a second axial side of the first seal shoe, and the second spring element connected to and between the first seal shoe and the seal base;
the third spring element arranged towards a first axial side of the second seal shoe, and the third spring element connected to and between the second seal shoe and the seal base;
the fourth spring element arranged towards a second axial side of the second seal shoe, and the fourth spring element connected to and between the second seal shoe and the seal base;
the first seal shoe and the second seal shoe laterally separated by a first lateral distance; and
the first spring element and the third spring element laterally separated by a second lateral distance that is equal to the first lateral distance.

Assignees

• Raytheon Tech Corp

Inventors

• Hilbert Brian F
• Grover Eric A

Classifications

• F01D11/02

  by non-contact sealings, e.g. of labyrinth type (for sealing space between rotor blade tips and stator F01D11/08) · CPC title

• F16J15/445

  with means for adjusting the clearance · CPC title

• F01D11/025

  Seal clearance control; Floating assembly; Adaptation means to differential thermal dilatations · CPC title

• F16J15/442 Primary

  segmented · CPC title

• F05D2240/57

  Leaf seals · CPC title