Multiple seal stationary sealing ring

Claim 2

A high temperature multiple seal stationary sealing ring adapted to form a seal between a carrier and a circular housing; the carrier including a ring groove having an upper side, a lower side and a bottom, said sealing ring being disposable within said groove and comprising: a plurality of stacked, annular, parted ring segments dimensioned to slip within the carrier groove, each segment having an outer face and an inner face; and a circumferential expander means for exerting a radial force on the inner face of each of said segments, said expander means being configured to be spaced from the groove bottom at the operating temperature of the carrier and housing, said segments and said expander means being fabricated from a high temperature alloy which maintains its mechanical properties in the temperature range of 300° F. to 1600° F. and said radial force increasing as temperature increases to said operating temperature.

Claim 3

A high temperature multiple seal stationary sealing ring as defined by claim 1 wherein said expander means comprises a strip of metal having axially directed undulations, said expander being dimensioned to exert a given unit pressure on the segments at operating temperature which is greater than at ambient temperature.

Claim 4

A high temperature multiple seal stationary sealing ring as defined by claim 2 wherein said strip of metal is formed into a generally circular shape and includes opposed ends and wherein said ring further includes a pin extending through the opposed ends of said expander.

Claim 5

A high temperature multiple seal stationary sealing ring as defined by claim 1 wherein said expander means comprises a parted ring body having a group of circumferentially spaced strut sections with adjacent pairs of strut sections being joined by two rows of connectors, the connectors being bent inwardly towards one another to form a second group of sections, one of said groups of sections being arranged for radial engagement with the segments.

Claim 6

A high temperature joint, comprising: a generally cylindrical carrier defining a groove opening through a wall of said carrier, said groove including opposed sides and a bottom; a housing having a surface disposed in opposed, spaced relationship to said groove; and a stationary sealing ring means disposed within said groove for defining a multiple seal with the cylindrical surface of said housing, said carrier having an operating temperature higher than the operating temperature of said housing, said ring means including: a circumferential expander disposed within said groove, said expander having an annular configuration in plan and including an outer radial face and an inner radial face, said inner radial face being dimensioned and configured to be spaced from said groove bottom when said carrier is at its operating temperature; and a plurality of annular split rail segments disposed within said groove, each segment having an inner face and an outer face, the inner face of each of said segments engaging the outer radial face of said expander, said expander exerting a radial force on each of said segments thereby biasing the outer face of each segment into sealing engagement with said housing surface whereby as said carrier reaches its operating temperature, said expander will thermally expand and bias said segments towards said housing surface with an increasing pressure until a predetermined unit pressure is reached and wherein said expander and said segments are formed from a high temperature alloy which maintains its mechanical properties in the temperature range of 300° F. to 1600° F.

Claim 7

A high temperature joint, comprising: a generally cylindrical carrier defining a groove opening through a wall of said carrier, said groove including opposed sides and a bottom; a housing having a surface disposed in opposed, spaced relationship to said groove; and a stationary sealing ring means disposed within said groove for defining a multiple seal with the cylindrical surface of said housing, said carrier having an operating temperature higher than the operating temperature of said housing, said ring means including: a circumferential expander disposed within said groove, said expander having an annular configuration in plan and including an outer radial face and an inner radial face, said inner radial face being dimensioned and configured to be spaced from said groove bottom when said carrier is at its operating temperature; and a plurality of annular split rail segments disposed within said groove, each segment having an inner face and an outer face, the inner face of each of said segments engaging the outer radial face of said expander, said expander exerting a radial force on each of said segments thereby biasing the outer face of each segment into sealing engagement with said housing surface whereby as said carrier reaches its operating temperature, said expander will thermally expand and bias said segments towards said housing surface with an increasing pressure until a predetermined unit pressure is reached and wherein said expander and said segments are formed from a high temperature alloy which maintains its mechanical properties in the temperature range of 300° F. to 1600° F.

Claim 8

A high temperature joint as defined by claim 5 wherein said expander comprises a generally circular length of metal having a plurality of axially directed, equally dimensioned undulations.

Claim 9

A high temperature joint as defined by claim 6 wherein said expander includes opposed ends and a pin extending through said ends.

Claim 10

A high temperature joints as defined by claim 7 wherein each of said segments includes opposed ends, each of said ends including opposed circumferentially extending projections matingly configured to define end gaps.

Claim 11

A high temperature joint as defined by claim 5 wherein said circumferential expander comprises a parted ring body having a group of circumferentially spaced strut sections with adjacent pairs of strut sections being joined by two rows of connectors, the connectors being bent inwardly towards one another to form a second group of sections, one of said groups of sections being arranged for radial engagement with the segments.

Claim 12

A high temperature joint as defined by claim 9 wherein each of said segments includes opposed ends, each of said ends including opposed circumferentially extending projections matingly configured to define end gaps.

Claim 13

A high temperature joint as defined by claim 8 wherein said segments and said expander are fabricated from a high temperature nickel base alloy.

Claim 14

A high temperature joint as defined by claim 11 wherein said segments and said expander are fabricated from a high temperature nickel base alloy.

Claim 17

A method as defined by claim 13 wherein said circumferential expander is an elongated strip having a plurality of axially extending undulations.

Claim 18

A method as defined by claim 14 further including the step of pinning opposed ends of said expander.

Claim 19

A method as defined by claim 15 wherein said segments and said expander are fabricated from a high temperature alloy.

Claim 20

A method as defined by claim 16 wherein four segments are stacked one upon the other.

Claim 21

A method as defined by claim 13 wherein said circumferential expander is a parted ring body having a group of circumferentially spaced strut sections with adjacent pairs of strut sections being joined by two rows of connectors, the connectors being bent inwardly towards one another to form a second group of sections, one of said groups of sections being arranged for radial engagement with the annular split rail segments.