Spring type ring seal

Claim 2

A seal assembly comprising: a first ring having a radially extending flat surface, a second ring axially spaced from said first ring and having a radially extending flat surface facing and cooperating with said surface of said first ring, said cooperating surfaces having a radial pressure gradient therebetween and able to move axially and radially relative to each other, a seal ring disposed between said cooperating surfaces, said seal ring comprising a truncated conical mid-section having an integral outwardly directed cylindrical flange at each end thereof, the free axial length of said seal ring being greater than the axial distance between said cooperating surfaces, the free ends of said flanges abutting said cooperating surfaces, the radially innermost end being free to slide radially inwardly on its abutting surface and the radially outermost end being free to slide radially outwardly on its abutting surface the material and dimensions of said seal ring being chosen such that the stiffness of the seal ring allows axial compression of said seal ring to occur by a radial sliding motion of said ends on said surfaces in combination with a rotation of said midsection whereby bending at the junction of the mid-section and the flanges is reduced.

Claim 3

A seal assembly comprising: a first ring having a radially extending flat surface, a second ring axially spaced from said first ring and having a radially extending flat surface facing and cooperating with said surface of said first ring, said cooperating surfacee having a radial pressure gradient therebetween, a first seal ring and a second seal ring disposed between said cooperating surfaces, said first seal ring and said second seal ring being concentric forming an annulus therebetween, each of said seal rings comprising a truncated conical mid-section having an integral outwardly directed flange at each end thereof, the free axial length of each seal ring being greater than the axial distance between said cooperating surfaces, and the material and dimensions of said rings being chosen such that the stiffness of said rings allows axial compression of said rings to occur by a radial sliding motion of said flanges against said surfaces in combination with a rotation of said mid-section whereby bending at the junction of the mid-section and the flanges is reduced, each of said cooperating surfaces having an opening therein communicating with said annulus for providing a flow of fluid through said annulus across the axial gap between said surfaces.

Claim 4

A seal assembly comprising: a first ring having a radially extending flat surface, a second ring axially spaced from said first ring and having a radially extending flat surface facing and cooperating with said surface of said first ring, said cooperating surfacee having a radial pressure gradient therebetween, a first seal ring and a second seal ring disposed between said cooperating surfaces, said first seal ring and said second seal ring being concentric forming an annulus therebetween, each of said seal rings comprising a truncated conical mid-section having an integral outwardly directed flange at each end thereof, the free axial length of each seal ring being greater than the axial distance between said cooperating surfaces, and the material and dimensions of said rings being chosen such that the stiffness of said rings allows axial compression of said rings to occur by a radial sliding motion of said flanges against said surfaces in combination with a rotation of said mid-section whereby bending at the junction of the mid-section and the flanges is reduced, each of said cooperating surfaces having an opening therein communicating with said annulus for providing a flow of fluid through said annulus across the axial gap between said surfaces.

Claim 5

A seal assembly for the turbine section of a gas turbine engine having an outer turbine casing, a row of stator vanes supported by the casing, and a row of rotor blades adjacent the stator vanes, said seal assembly comprising: a first ring located within the casing and connected thereto by means permitting relative radial and axial movement therebetween, said first ring surrounding the rotor blades and having a radially extending flat surface disposed about the engine centerline; a second ring disposed between the stator vanes and said first ring and having a radially extending flat surface disposed about the engine centerline, facing and cooperating with said radially extending flat surface on said first ring, said cooperating surfaces having a radial pressure gradient therebetween and able to move axially and radially relative to each other; and a seal ring disposed about the engine centerline and between said cooperating surfaces, said seal ring comprising a truncated conical mid-section having an integral outwardly directed cylindrical flange at each end thereof, the free axial length of said seal ring being Greater than the axial distance between said cooperating surfaces, the free ends of said flanges abutting said cooperating surfaces, the radially innermost end being free to slide radially inwardly on its abutting surface and the radially outermost end being free to slide radially outwardly on its abutting surface, the material and dimensions of said seal ring being chosen such that the stiffness of the seal ring allows axial compression of said seal ring to occur by a radial sliding motion of said ends on said surfaces in combination with a rotation of said mid-section whereby bending at the junction of the mid-section and the flanges is reduced.

Claim 6

A seal assembly for the turbine section of a gas turbine engine having an outer turbine casing, a row of stator vanes supported by the casing, and a row of rotor blades adjacent the stator vanes, said seal assembly comprising: a first ring located within the casing and connected thereto by means permitting relative radial and axial movement therebetween, said first ring surrounding the rotor blades and having a radially extending flat surface disposed about the engine centerline; a second ring disposed between the stator vanes and said first ring and having a radially extending flat surface disposed about the engine centerline, facing and cooperating with said radially extending flat surface on said first ring, said cooperating surfaces having a radial pressure gradient therebetween and able to move axially and radially relative to each other; and a seal ring disposed about the engine centerline and between said cooperating surfaces, said seal ring comprising a truncated conical mid-section having an integral outwardly directed cylindrical flange at each end thereof, the free axial length of said seal ring being Greater than the axial distance between said cooperating surfaces, the free ends of said flanges abutting said cooperating surfaces, the radially innermost end being free to slide radially inwardly on its abutting surface and the radially outermost end being free to slide radially outwardly on its abutting surface, the material and dimensions of said seal ring being chosen such that the stiffness of the seal ring allows axial compression of said seal ring to occur by a radial sliding motion of said ends on said surfaces in combination with a rotation of said mid-section whereby bending at the junction of the mid-section and the flanges is reduced.