Patent US3646809A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3620654A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3620654A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tangency seals for compressors
Assignee: Northrop Grumman Space and Mission Systems Corp
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Filing: 1970-06-22
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Granted: 1971-11-16
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Expires: 1990-06-22
Abstract
Abstract A compressor incorporating a rotor equipped with radially movable vanes eccentrically received in a cylindrical compressor chamber with the outer diameter of the rotor contacting the inner diameter of the compressor chamber along a line of tangency, the compressor chamber being equipped with a tangency seal to assure continued contact between the rotor and the compressor chamber carried seal. In one embodiment, the seal is a cantilever suspended strip backed by a pressure groove open to the interior of the compressor chamber on the high-pressure side of the tangency line, and the groove is ported to the exterior of the pressure chamber. In another embodiment, the seal member is a normally flat deformable sheet received in a variable depth groove in the chamber wall, the sheet having openings therethrough on high-pressure side of the tangency line and the groove being ported to the exterior. In a third embodiment, the seal is a length of material received in a longitudinal groove at the line of tangency, the material having a different rate of expansion than the material of the chamber member to maintain rotor contact at both low and operating temperatures.
Inventors
- 👤 Clifford H Allen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 11:40
CPC Classifications
F; F04; F04C; F04C27/00; F04C27/001
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
130 words
In a compressor having a vane-carrying rotor eccentrically positioned in a compression chamber defining member, the rotor contacting the inner wall of the chamber along a line, the improvement of: a seal along said line comprising a stepped groove in said member extending the length of said line, the groove having a first portion at one depth overlying the line of tangency, and a second portion on the low-pressure side of said first portion at a second depth less than the depth of the said first portion, a strip of seal material received in said groove, said seal material having a length substantially equal to the length of the groove and said seal material attached to the second portion of the said groove and overlying portions of said first portion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
130 words
In a compressor having a vane-carrying rotor eccentrically positioned in a compression chamber defining member, the rotor contacting the inner wall of the chamber along a line, the improvement of: a seal along said line comprising a stepped groove in said member extending the length of said line, the groove having a first portion at one depth overlying the line of tangency, and a second portion on the low-pressure side of said first portion at a second depth less than the depth of the said first portion, a strip of seal material received in said groove, said seal material having a length substantially equal to the length of the groove and said seal material attached to the second portion of the said groove and overlying portions of said first portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The compressor of claim 1 wherein passage means are provided from the bottom of the said groove to the exterior of the said compression chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The compressor of claim 2 wherein passage means are provided from the high-pressure side of the compressor to the first portion of the said groove behind the said seal member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The compressor of claim 3 wherein the said passage means comprises a gap between the leading edge of the said seal member and the leading edge of the said groove.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
The compressor of claim 4 wherein the said seal member is biased towards the bottom of the said groove from its normal position by contact with the said rotor and the said seal member is constructed of a resilient material whereby it is spring-urged against the said rotor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The compressor of claim 5 wherein a dropoff is provided from the trailing edge thereof to the adjacent inner wall of the chamber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The compressor of claim 6 wherein the leading edge of the said seal member is recessed into the said groove during normal operation of the said compressor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
180 words
A rotary vane tangency compressor comprising a compression chamber defining member, a rotor suspended in said chamber having vanes projecting therefrom in contact with the chamber-defining surface of said member, the said rotor and vanes tangent to the normal arc of said surface along a line, a variable depth groove along said line having its greatest depth adjacent the said line, a seal member in said groove, said seal member attached to the bottom of a portion of said groove spaced from the portion of greatest depth, said seal member having a portion overlying said portion of greatest depth in a cantilever fashion, said seal member having a width less than the width of said groove whereby a gap is provided between the leading edge of said groove and the leading edge of the said seal member, at least one bleed hole communication the bottom of said groove with the exterior of the said member, and the said member effective to contact the outer diameter of the said rotor along said line to provide a circumferential seal along said line.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
180 words
A rotary vane tangency compressor comprising a compression chamber defining member, a rotor suspended in said chamber having vanes projecting therefrom in contact with the chamber-defining surface of said member, the said rotor and vanes tangent to the normal arc of said surface along a line, a variable depth groove along said line having its greatest depth adjacent the said line, a seal member in said groove, said seal member attached to the bottom of a portion of said groove spaced from the portion of greatest depth, said seal member having a portion overlying said portion of greatest depth in a cantilever fashion, said seal member having a width less than the width of said groove whereby a gap is provided between the leading edge of said groove and the leading edge of the said seal member, at least one bleed hole communication the bottom of said groove with the exterior of the said member, and the said member effective to contact the outer diameter of the said rotor along said line to provide a circumferential seal along said line.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
The compressor of claim 8 wherein the said seal member is arcuately curved in a circumferential direction and is deformed from its normal state by contact with the rotor, the seal member being resilient whereby it is resiliently urged against the rotor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
134 words
A tangency seal for rotary vane compressors having a rotor received within a compression chamber defining surface comprising a variable depth groove in said surface along the line of tangency, the greatest depth of said groove intermediate the circumferential ends of said groove, the said groove ported to the exterior of the compression chamber defining member, a seal member received in said groove, said seal member having leading and trailing edges contacting the backwall of said groove at points spaced to either side of the greatest depth of said groove, the said seal member being resilient, the said seal member being deformed from its normal shape by contact with the said rotor at the said line of tangency and the said seal member resiliently urged against the said rotor by means of the deformation.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
134 words
A tangency seal for rotary vane compressors having a rotor received within a compression chamber defining surface comprising a variable depth groove in said surface along the line of tangency, the greatest depth of said groove intermediate the circumferential ends of said groove, the said groove ported to the exterior of the compression chamber defining member, a seal member received in said groove, said seal member having leading and trailing edges contacting the backwall of said groove at points spaced to either side of the greatest depth of said groove, the said seal member being resilient, the said seal member being deformed from its normal shape by contact with the said rotor at the said line of tangency and the said seal member resiliently urged against the said rotor by means of the deformation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
169 words
A tangency seal for rotary vane compressors having a rotor eccentrically received within a compression chamber defining surface, the rotor tangent to the normal arc of said surface along a line of tangency comprising: a peaked groove in the said surface along the said line, the said groove extending circumferentially to either side of said line, the said groove having its greatest depth intermediate the circumferential ends of the said groove, the said groove tapering from the point of said greatest depth to the said circumferential edges, a seal member received in said groove, said seal member having a length substantially as long as the said groove, said seal member having a width substantially as wide as the said groove, said seal member received in said groove with its surface remote from the bottom of the said groove lying in a plane different than the plane of the said surface, the said seal member being resilient, and the said seal member being deformed by contact with the said rotor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
169 words
A tangency seal for rotary vane compressors having a rotor eccentrically received within a compression chamber defining surface, the rotor tangent to the normal arc of said surface along a line of tangency comprising: a peaked groove in the said surface along the said line, the said groove extending circumferentially to either side of said line, the said groove having its greatest depth intermediate the circumferential ends of the said groove, the said groove tapering from the point of said greatest depth to the said circumferential edges, a seal member received in said groove, said seal member having a length substantially as long as the said groove, said seal member having a width substantially as wide as the said groove, said seal member received in said groove with its surface remote from the bottom of the said groove lying in a plane different than the plane of the said surface, the said seal member being resilient, and the said seal member being deformed by contact with the said rotor.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
50 words
The seal of claim 11 wherein the said groove has circumferentially leading and trailing edges and the said seal member has circumferentially leading and trailing edges, the said leading edge of the said seal member having passage means therethrough to flow pressure from the compression chamber to the said groove.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The seal of claim 12 wherein the said leading edge of the said seal member is recessed below the said leading edge of the said groove.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The seal of claim 13 wherein the said trailing edge of the said seal member projects beyond the said trailing edge of the said groove.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-11-15 | 1975-05-17 | 1975-11-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-11-15 | 1979-05-17 | 1979-11-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-11-15 | 1983-05-17 | 1983-11-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |