Slip Joint Assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018306367-A1
Application number	US-201715491056-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 19, 2017
Priority date	Apr 19, 2017
Publication date	Oct 25, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A slip joint assembly for joining multiple pipes is provided. The slip joint assembly includes a flow expander that is connected to a downstream pipe and is tapered toward a forward end. An inlet bellmouth is coupled to the forward end of the flow expander and defines a flared inlet positioned within an upstream pipe. An annular seal assembly is coupled to the upstream pipe and includes a ball seal positioned around and forming a seal with the flow expander to operably couple the upstream pipe and the downstream pipe. An internal diameter of the annular seal assembly is smaller than a diameter of the flared inlet.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A slip joint assembly for joining an upstream pipe and a downstream pipe, the slip joint assembly comprising:
a flow expander having a forward end and an aft end, the flow expander being coupled to the downstream pipe at the aft end and being tapered toward the forward end; an inlet bellmouth coupled to the forward end of the flow expander, the inlet bellmouth comprising a flared inlet positioned within the upstream pipe and defining a bellmouth diameter; and an annular seal assembly coupled to the upstream pipe and being positioned around the flow expander to operably couple the upstream pipe and the downstream pipe, the annular seal assembly defining an internal diameter that is smaller than the bellmouth diameter.

2 . The slip joint assembly of claim 1 , wherein the annular seal assembly comprises:
a seal housing defining a spherical seat; a ball seal positioned within the seal housing and defining a spherical surface for engaging the spherical seat, the ball seal defining a radially inner portion; and a circumferential seal extending around the radially inner portion of the ball seal, the circumferential seal forming a fluid seal between the ball seal and the flow expander.

3 . The slip joint assembly of claim 2 , wherein the upstream pipe and the seal housing are in threaded engagement.

4 . The slip joint assembly of claim 1 , wherein the inlet bellmouth and the downstream pipe are in threaded engagement.

5 . The slip joint assembly of claim 1 , wherein the upstream pipe defines an upstream diameter and the downstream pipe defines a downstream diameter, the upstream diameter being substantially equivalent to the downstream diameter.

6 . The slip joint assembly of claim 5 , wherein an outer diameter of the seal housing is less than or equal to the upstream diameter of the upstream pipe.

7 . The slip joint assembly of claim 6 , wherein the bellmouth diameter is substantially equivalent to the upstream diameter of the upstream pipe.

8 . The slip joint assembly of claim 1 , wherein the inlet bellmouth is positioned entirely within the upstream pipe.

9 . The slip joint assembly of claim 1 , wherein the slip joint assembly enables the upstream pipe to move along an axial direction relative to the downstream pipe and enables angular misalignment between the upstream pipe and the downstream pipe.

10 . The slip joint assembly of claim 1 , wherein flow expander is welded to the downstream pipe.

11 . The slip joint assembly of claim 1 , wherein the flow expander is integrally formed with the downstream pipe.

12 . The slip joint assembly of claim 1 , wherein the upstream pipe is directly coupled to a compressor section of a gas turbine engine.

13 . A method of assembling a slip joint, the method comprising:
joining a downstream pipe with a flow expander, the flow expander having a tapered forward end and an aft end joined to the downstream pipe; sliding an annular seal assembly over the tapered forward end of the flow expander; joining an inlet bellmouth with the flow expander, the inlet bellmouth defining a forward end having a flared inlet and an aft end joined to the tapered forward end of the flow expander; and joining an upstream pipe to the annular seal assembly, the inlet bellmouth being at least partially received within the upstream pipe.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the annular seal assembly comprises:
a seal housing defining a spherical seat; a ball seal positioned within the seal housing and defining a spherical surface for engaging the spherical seat, the ball seal defining a radially inner portion; and a circumferential seal extending around the radially inner portion of the ball seal, the circumferential seal forming a fluid seal between the ball seal and the flow expander.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein joining the upstream pipe and the annular seal assembly comprises threading the upstream pipe onto the seal housing.

16 . The method of claim 13 , wherein joining the inlet bellmouth and the flow expander comprises threading or welding the inlet bellmouth onto the flow expander.

17 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the upstream pipe is directly coupled to a compressor section of a gas turbine engine.

18 . A slip joint assembly for joining a first pipe and a second pipe, the slip joint assembly comprising:
a flow expander having a first end and a second end, the flow expander being coupled to the second pipe at the second end and being tapered toward the first end; a bellmouth coupled to the first end of the flow expander and positioned within the first pipe, the bellmouth defining a flared mouth defining a bellmouth diameter; and an annular seal assembly comprising:
a seal housing coupled to the first pipe and defining a spherical seat;
a ball seal positioned within the seal housing and defining a spherical surface for engaging the spherical seat, the ball seal defining a radially inner portion having an internal diameter that is smaller than the bellmouth diameter; and
a circumferential seal extending around the radially inner portion of the ball seal, the circumferential seal forming a fluid seal between the ball seal and the flow expander.

19 . The slip joint assembly of claim 18 , wherein the first pipe is positioned upstream of the second pipe.

20 . The slip joint assembly of claim 18 , wherein the first pipe is directly coupled to a compressor section of a gas turbine engine.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Corsmeier Donald Michael

Classifications

• F16L51/00 Primary

  Expansion-compensation arrangements for pipe-lines (telescopic pipes F16L27/12) · CPC title

• F16L27/125

  having longitudinal and rotary movement · CPC title

• F04D29/545

  Ducts · CPC title

• F16L27/04

  with partly-spherical engaging surfaces · CPC title

• F04D29/5826

  Cooling at least part of the working fluid in a heat exchanger · CPC title