Self-centering labyrinth seal

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016169394-A1
Application number	US-201414908263-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 23, 2014
Priority date	Aug 28, 2013
Publication date	Jun 16, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An annular seal may include a seal body configured for disposing around a rotor, a plurality of grooves and a plurality of projections formed on an inner circumferential surface of the seal body, and a plurality of dams circumferentially disposed on a first surface of the seal body. The first surface may extend radially from the inner circumferential surface of the seal body. The plurality of dams may be configured to increase a pressure of a working fluid contacting the plurality of dams such that the increase in the pressure may center the annular seal about the rotor.

First claim

We claim:

1 . An annular seal, comprising:
a seal body configured for disposition around a rotor; a plurality of grooves and a plurality of projections formed on an inner circumferential surface of the seal body; and a plurality of dams circumferentially disposed on a first surface of the seal body, the first surface extending radially from the inner circumferential surface of the seal body, and the plurality of dams configured to increase a pressure of a working fluid contacting the plurality of dams such that the increase in the pressure centers the annular seal about the rotor.

2 . The annular seal of claim 1 , wherein an axial width of each dam of the plurality of dams is the same.

3 . The annular seal of claim 1 , wherein each dam of the plurality of dams extends circumferentially between two ends thereof and a radial height of each dam at the two circumferential ends thereof is different.

4 . The annular seal of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of grooves are helical.

5 . The annular seal of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of grooves are annular.

6 . The annular seal of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of dams are configured such that the increase in the pressure of the working fluid contacting at least one dam proximate the rotor centers the annular seal about the rotor.

7 . The annular seal of claim 1 , wherein the seal body is a unitary structure or comprises at least two segments.

8 . An annular seal, comprising:
a seal body configured for disposition around a rotor, an outer circumferential surface of the seal body defining at least partially a first portion having a first diameter and a second portion having a second diameter less than the first diameter; a plurality of grooves and a plurality of projections formed on an inner circumferential surface of the seal body; and a plurality of dams circumferentially disposed on a first surface of the second portion, the first surface extending radially from the inner circumferential surface of the seal body, and the plurality of dams configured to increase a pressure of a working fluid contacting the plurality of dams such that the increase in the pressure centers the annular seal about the rotor.

9 . The annular seal of claim 8 , wherein an axial width of each dam of the plurality of dams is the same.

10 . The annular seal of claim 8 , wherein each dam of the plurality of dams extends circumferentially between two ends thereof and a radial height of each dam at the two circumferential ends thereof is different.

11 . The annular seal of claim 10 , wherein the circumferential end having the greater radial height is configured to increase the pressure of the working fluid.

12 . The annular seal of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of grooves are helical.

13 . The annular seal of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of grooves are annular.

14 . The annular seal of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of dams are configured such that the increase in the pressure of the working fluid contacting at least one dam proximate the rotor centers the annular seal about the rotor.

15 . The annular seal of claim 8 , wherein the seal body is a unitary structure or comprises at least two segments.

16 . An annular seal, comprising:
a seal body having a first surface, a second surface axially opposite the first surface, an outer circumferential surface extending between the first surface and the second surface, and an inner circumferential surface extending between the first surface and the second surface, wherein
the outer circumferential surface and the inner circumferential surface are radially separated from each other, and
the outer circumferential surface defines at least partially a first portion having a first diameter and a second portion having a second diameter less than the first diameter;
a plurality of grooves and a plurality of projections formed on the inner circumferential surface and extending between the first surface and the second surface; and a plurality of dams circumferentially disposed on the second surface, wherein
the plurality of dams form at least partially the second portion of the outer circumferential surface of the seal body, and
the plurality of dams are configured to increase a pressure of a working fluid contacting the plurality of dams such that the increase in the pressure centers the annular seal about a rotor.

17 . The annular seal of claim 16 , wherein an axial width of each dam of the plurality of dams is the same.

18 . The annular seal of claim 16 , wherein each dam of the plurality of dams extends circumferentially between two ends thereof and a radial height of each dam at the two circumferential ends thereof is different.

19 . The annular seal of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of dams are configured such that the increase in the pressure of the working fluid contacting at least one dam proximate the rotor centers the annular seal about the rotor.

20 . The annular seal of claim 16 , wherein the seal body is a unitary structure or comprises at least two segments.

Assignees

• Dresser Rand Co

Inventors

• Ranz Andrew J
• Aye Zin Min
• To Celeste
• Degroot Phoebe

Classifications

• F16J15/445 Primary

  with means for adjusting the clearance · CPC title

• F16J15/4476

  with radial path · CPC title

• F04D29/057 Primary

  hydrostatic; hydrodynamic · CPC title

• F04D29/162

  of a centrifugal flow wheel · CPC title