Patent US4606652A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4606652A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Shaft seal for turbomachinery
Assignee: GE Oil and Gas Operations LLC
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Filing: 1984-06-20
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Granted: 1986-08-19
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Expires: 2004-06-20
Abstract
Abstract A cryogenic turboexpander employing a rotor and a shaft fixed thereto including bearings rotatably supporting the shaft having a pressurized lubricating system. A labyrinth seal is positioned between the bearings and the rotor. A control valve is employed to sense differential pressure across a portion of the seal and regulate the pressure within a cavity between the seal and a near bearing.
Inventors
- 👤 Judson S. Swearingen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 11:08
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16J; F16J15/00; F16J15/002; F16J15/006; F16J15/16; F16J15/40; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S277/00; Y10S277/927
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
A shaft seal for turbomachinery having a rotatably mounted shaft, a pressure lubricated bearing supporting said shaft and pressurized working fluid, comprising a labyrinth seal between the bearing and the source of pressurized working fluid and about the shaft, said labyrinth seal having an annular groove intermediate the ends of said labyrinth seal; an outlet between the bearing and said labyrinth seal; and a control valve including a diaphragm, a first side of said diaphragm being in pressure communication with said annular groove and a second side of said diaphragm being in pressure communication with said outlet, bias means for biasing said diaphragm in the direction of said first side and a valve controlled by said diaphragm to selectively vent said outlet.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
122 words
A shaft seal for turbomachinery having a rotatably mounted shaft, a pressure lubricated bearing supporting said shaft and pressurized working fluid, comprising a labyrinth seal between the bearing and the source of pressurized working fluid and about the shaft, said labyrinth seal having an annular groove intermediate the ends of said labyrinth seal; an outlet between the bearing and said labyrinth seal; and a control valve including a diaphragm, a first side of said diaphragm being in pressure communication with said annular groove and a second side of said diaphragm being in pressure communication with said outlet, bias means for biasing said diaphragm in the direction of said first side and a valve controlled by said diaphragm to selectively vent said outlet.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The shaft seal of claim 1 wherein said bias means includes a spring extending between said control valve and said diaphragm.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The shaft seal of claim 1 wherein the displacement of said diaphragm is large relative to the volume of said annular groove.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The shaft seal of claim 1 further comprising a passageway from said annular groove to said control valve, at least a portion of which is transparent.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
167 words
A shaft seal for turbomachinery having a rotatably mounted shaft, a pressure lubricated bearing supporting said shaft and pressurized working fluid, comprising a labyrinth seal between the bearing and the source of pressurized working fluid and about the shaft, said labyrinth seal having an annular groove; an outlet between the bearing and said labyrinth seal; a control valve including a diaphragm, a first side of said diaphragm being in pressure communication with said annular groove and a second side of said diaphragm being in pressure communication with said outlet, a spring biasing said diaphragm in the direction of said first side and a valve controlled by said diaphragm and to selectively vent said outlet; and a chamber intermediate said outlet and said control valve for accumulating lubricant and working fluid and including an inlet passageway from said outlet and an outlet passageway between said chamber and said control valve, said outlet passageway being at the upper end of said chamber to vent working fluid from said chamber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
167 words
A shaft seal for turbomachinery having a rotatably mounted shaft, a pressure lubricated bearing supporting said shaft and pressurized working fluid, comprising a labyrinth seal between the bearing and the source of pressurized working fluid and about the shaft, said labyrinth seal having an annular groove; an outlet between the bearing and said labyrinth seal; a control valve including a diaphragm, a first side of said diaphragm being in pressure communication with said annular groove and a second side of said diaphragm being in pressure communication with said outlet, a spring biasing said diaphragm in the direction of said first side and a valve controlled by said diaphragm and to selectively vent said outlet; and a chamber intermediate said outlet and said control valve for accumulating lubricant and working fluid and including an inlet passageway from said outlet and an outlet passageway between said chamber and said control valve, said outlet passageway being at the upper end of said chamber to vent working fluid from said chamber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
153 words
A shaft seal for turbomachinery having a rotatably mounted shaft, a pressure lubricated bearing supporting said shaft and pressurized working fluid, comprising a labyrinth seal between the bearing and the source of pressurized working fluid and about the shaft, said labyrinth seal having an annular groove intermediate the ends of said labyrinth seal; an outlet between the bearing and said labyrinth seal; and a control valve including a diaphragm, a first side of said diaphragm being in pressure communication with said annular groove and a second side of said diaphragm being in pressure communication with said outlet, bias means for biasing said diaphragm in the direction of said first side and a valve controlled by said diaphragm to selectively vent said outlet, said outlet including a chamber for collecting effluent from between said bearing and said labyrinth seal and a passageway extending from the upper end of said chamber to said control valve.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
153 words
A shaft seal for turbomachinery having a rotatably mounted shaft, a pressure lubricated bearing supporting said shaft and pressurized working fluid, comprising a labyrinth seal between the bearing and the source of pressurized working fluid and about the shaft, said labyrinth seal having an annular groove intermediate the ends of said labyrinth seal; an outlet between the bearing and said labyrinth seal; and a control valve including a diaphragm, a first side of said diaphragm being in pressure communication with said annular groove and a second side of said diaphragm being in pressure communication with said outlet, bias means for biasing said diaphragm in the direction of said first side and a valve controlled by said diaphragm to selectively vent said outlet, said outlet including a chamber for collecting effluent from between said bearing and said labyrinth seal and a passageway extending from the upper end of said chamber to said control valve.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
161 words
A shaft seal for turbomachinery having a rotatably mounted shaft, a pressure lubricated bearing supporting said shaft and pressurized working fluid, comprising a labyrinth seal between the bearing and the source of pressurized working fluid and about the shaft, said labyrinth seal having an annular groove intermediate the ends of said labyrinth seal; an outlet between the bearing and said labyrinth seal; and a control valve including a diaphragm, a first side of said diaphragm being in pressure communication with said annular groove and a second side of said diaphragm being in pressure communication with said outlet, bias means for biasing said diaphragm in the direction of said first side, a valve controlled by said diaphragm to selectively vent said outlet, an inlet passageway in communication with said outlet, an exhaust passageway from said system, a valve element controlling communication between said inlet passageway and said exhaust passageway and a valve stem coupled with said valve element and with said diaphragm.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
161 words
A shaft seal for turbomachinery having a rotatably mounted shaft, a pressure lubricated bearing supporting said shaft and pressurized working fluid, comprising a labyrinth seal between the bearing and the source of pressurized working fluid and about the shaft, said labyrinth seal having an annular groove intermediate the ends of said labyrinth seal; an outlet between the bearing and said labyrinth seal; and a control valve including a diaphragm, a first side of said diaphragm being in pressure communication with said annular groove and a second side of said diaphragm being in pressure communication with said outlet, bias means for biasing said diaphragm in the direction of said first side, a valve controlled by said diaphragm to selectively vent said outlet, an inlet passageway in communication with said outlet, an exhaust passageway from said system, a valve element controlling communication between said inlet passageway and said exhaust passageway and a valve stem coupled with said valve element and with said diaphragm.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The shaft seal of claim 7 wherein said valve element is constructed and arranged to provide a nonlinear response between valve element displacements and flow.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-08-18 | 1990-02-17 | 1990-08-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-08-18 | 1994-02-17 | 1994-08-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-08-18 | 1998-02-17 | 1998-08-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |