US3915459A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Turbo-machinery seal
Assignee: Dresser Rand Co
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Filing: 1974-05-13
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Granted: 1975-10-28
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Expires: 1994-05-13
Abstract
Abstract The improved turbo-machinery seal described herein includes an annular seal body encircling the turbo-machinery rotor shaft and disposed within the housing. The seal body includes a first end arranged to frictionally and sealingly engage a radially disposed face in the housing while the seal is exposed to a pressure fluid that biases the seal body toward the radial face. In one aspect, the seal body is provided with a recess in a portion of the bore adjacent the rotor shaft that is exposed to the pressure fluid providing a biasing force on the seal body in a radial direction. In another aspect, the seal body may be provided with a seal on the outer periphery thereof that engages the housing. The area thus isolated by the seal is vented to a low pressure so that the seal body is biased radially. The purpose of the radial bias on the seal body is to provide the seal with a predetermined direction of force so that predictable results can be obtained with respect to the shaft supporting characteristics of the improved seal.
Inventors
- 👤 Fred K Kunderman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 16:13
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16J; F16J15/00; F16J15/44; F16J15/441; F01; F01D; F01D11/00; F01D25/00; F01D25/18; F01D25/183; F01D25/186
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
195 words
An improved seal for turbo-machinery or the like that includes a hollow housing having an interior radial face, lubricant means for delivering pressure fluid into the housing, and a rotor shaft journaled in the housing, the improved seal comprising an annular seal body disposed in the housing and having: a longitudinal axis generally parallel to the rotor shaft; first and second ends disposed generally perpendicularly to said axis; a bore extending through said ends for rotatably and sealingly receiving the rotor shaft; surface means on said first end sealingly and frictionally engaging the radial face of the housing; said second end being exposed to the pressure fluid whereby said seal is biased axially toward the radial face of the housing; a biasing means on said body for biasing said seal in a radial direction in response to the pressure fluid, siad biasing means including recess means non-symetrically located in said body adjacent said bore in communication with the pressure fluid whereby said seal is biased radially; and locating means engaging said seal body and said housing for preventing relative rotation between said body and housing whereby the direction of the radial bias can be predetermined.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
195 words
An improved seal for turbo-machinery or the like that includes a hollow housing having an interior radial face, lubricant means for delivering pressure fluid into the housing, and a rotor shaft journaled in the housing, the improved seal comprising an annular seal body disposed in the housing and having: a longitudinal axis generally parallel to the rotor shaft; first and second ends disposed generally perpendicularly to said axis; a bore extending through said ends for rotatably and sealingly receiving the rotor shaft; surface means on said first end sealingly and frictionally engaging the radial face of the housing; said second end being exposed to the pressure fluid whereby said seal is biased axially toward the radial face of the housing; a biasing means on said body for biasing said seal in a radial direction in response to the pressure fluid, siad biasing means including recess means non-symetrically located in said body adjacent said bore in communication with the pressure fluid whereby said seal is biased radially; and locating means engaging said seal body and said housing for preventing relative rotation between said body and housing whereby the direction of the radial bias can be predetermined.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The improved seal of claim 1 wherein said recess is arcuate in configuration and formed by the periphery of a circle of lesser diameter than said bore having a center offset from the centerline of said bore.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
201 words
An improved seal for turbo-machinery or the like that includes a hollow housing having an interior radial face, lubricant means for delivering pressure fluid into the housing, and a rotor shaft journaled in the housing, the improved seal comprising an annular seal body disposed in the housing and having: a longitudinal axis generally parallel to the rotor shaft; first and second ends disposed generally perpendicularly to said axis; a bore extending through said ends for rotatably and sealing receiving the rotor shaft; surface means on said first end sealingly and frictionally engaging the radial face of the housing; said second end being exposed to the pressure fluid whereby said seal is biased axially toward the radial face of the housing; a biasing means on said body for biasing said seal in a radial direction in response to the pressure fluid, said biasing means including sealing means on the periphery of said body sealingly engaging the housing for isolating an area on said periphery and pressure venting means communicating with said isolating area; and locating means engaging said seal body and said housing for preventing relative rotation between said body and housing whereby the direction of the radial bias can be predetermined.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
201 words
An improved seal for turbo-machinery or the like that includes a hollow housing having an interior radial face, lubricant means for delivering pressure fluid into the housing, and a rotor shaft journaled in the housing, the improved seal comprising an annular seal body disposed in the housing and having: a longitudinal axis generally parallel to the rotor shaft; first and second ends disposed generally perpendicularly to said axis; a bore extending through said ends for rotatably and sealing receiving the rotor shaft; surface means on said first end sealingly and frictionally engaging the radial face of the housing; said second end being exposed to the pressure fluid whereby said seal is biased axially toward the radial face of the housing; a biasing means on said body for biasing said seal in a radial direction in response to the pressure fluid, said biasing means including sealing means on the periphery of said body sealingly engaging the housing for isolating an area on said periphery and pressure venting means communicating with said isolating area; and locating means engaging said seal body and said housing for preventing relative rotation between said body and housing whereby the direction of the radial bias can be predetermined.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The improved seal of claim 3 wherein said venting means is in communication with a space having a pressure lower than said pressure fluid whereby said seal is biased relatively toward said isolated area.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3756673A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-10-27 | 1979-04-28 | 1979-10-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-10-27 | 1983-04-28 | 1983-10-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-10-27 | 1987-04-28 | 1987-10-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |