US5192083A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Single ring sector seal
Assignee: Dresser Rand Co
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Filing: 1992-01-16
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Granted: 1993-03-09
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Expires: 2012-01-16
Abstract
Abstract A single ring sector seal (10) has multiple arcuate sectors (12a, 12b, 12c) arranged circumferentially around a rotating shaft and in floating engagement with a seal housing. Each sector (12) engages each adjacent sector (12) with a slot seal (40) and overlapping joint (38) therebetween to deter leakage. A protruding ridge (36) on each sector (12) engages a low pressure end cover (18) to form a secondary seal. Spring balance seals (28) provide a further seal between the high pressure chambers (20b, 20c) and the chamber (20a) which can be vented while the shaft is rotating and pressurized when the shaft is stationary. Each sector (12) is radially, axially and moment balanced.
Inventors
- 👤 Henry F. Jones, Jr.
- 👤 Wilbur Shapiro
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 18:55
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16J; F16J15/00; F16J15/44; F16J15/441; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S277/00; Y10S277/928
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
224 words
A single ring sector seal assembly for mounting around a shaft for sealing against the passage of high pressure fluid along said shaft from a high pressure side of said seal assembly to a low pressure side of said seal assembly, said seal assembly comprising: a seal housing adapted to be circumferentially located around said shaft; at least two arcuate sectors adapted to be circumferentially positioned about said shaft and joined together to collectively form a single ring sector seal having an annular outer surface and an annular inner seal surface, with a fluid film between said annular inner seal surface and said shaft during the motion of said shaft, said sectors being encircled by and in floating relationship to said seal housing, said annular outer surface comprising first, second, and third annular portions, said second annular portion being positioned between said first and third annular portions; an annular vent chamber formed by said seal housing and said second annular portion and isolated from said high pressure side of said seal assembly; and means to vent said vent chamber to a suitable low pressure environment in order to maintain the pressure in said vent chamber substantially below the pressure of said high pressure side of said seal assembly while said shaft is in motion, thereby preventing contact of said sectors with the moving shaft.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
224 words
A single ring sector seal assembly for mounting around a shaft for sealing against the passage of high pressure fluid along said shaft from a high pressure side of said seal assembly to a low pressure side of said seal assembly, said seal assembly comprising: a seal housing adapted to be circumferentially located around said shaft; at least two arcuate sectors adapted to be circumferentially positioned about said shaft and joined together to collectively form a single ring sector seal having an annular outer surface and an annular inner seal surface, with a fluid film between said annular inner seal surface and said shaft during the motion of said shaft, said sectors being encircled by and in floating relationship to said seal housing, said annular outer surface comprising first, second, and third annular portions, said second annular portion being positioned between said first and third annular portions; an annular vent chamber formed by said seal housing and said second annular portion and isolated from said high pressure side of said seal assembly; and means to vent said vent chamber to a suitable low pressure environment in order to maintain the pressure in said vent chamber substantially below the pressure of said high pressure side of said seal assembly while said shaft is in motion, thereby preventing contact of said sectors with the moving shaft.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
A single ring sector seal assembly in accordance with claim 1, further comprising retaining means positioned around said sectors to provide radially inwardly directed forces on the sector seal to hold the sectors together in the absence of any hydraulic closing forces.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
94 words
A single ring sector seal assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the outer diameter of said second annular portion is greater than the outer diameters of said first and third annular portions, thereby providing annular shoulders which extend at least generally radially between said second annular portion and said first and third annular portions; and further comprising first and second annular seals positioned between said single ring sector seal and said seal housing, each of said first and second annular seals being in sliding contact with a respective one of said annular shoulders.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
68 words
A single ring sector seal assembly in accordance with claim 3, wherein said seal housing further comprises a high pressure end plate rigidly secured to the high pressure end of said seal housing, a low pressure end plate rigidly secured to the low pressure end of said seal housing, an assembly sleeve circumferentially encompassing said seal housing, said low pressure end plate, and said high pressure end plate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
A single ring sector seal assembly in accordance with claim 4, wherein each of said sectors further comprises a rim protruding longitudinally from the end of the sector adjacent to said low pressure end plate to sealingly engage said low pressure end plate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
A single ring sector seal assembly in accordance with claim 3, wherein said first and second annular seals are first and second annular spring balance seals, and wherein said vent chamber comprises a volume defined by the seal housing, said second annular portion, and said first and second annular spring balance seals.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
67 words
A single ring sector seal assembly in accordance with claim 6, further comprising a first high pressure chamber defined by said seal housing and said first annular portion, and a second high pressure chamber defined by said seal housing and said third annular portion, wherein said first and second high pressure chambers are isolated from said vent chamber by said first and second annular spring balance seals.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
52 words
A single ring sector seal assembly in accordance with claim 7, wherein said first and second high pressure chambers are axially pressure balanced by at least one of said sectors having a balance passageway extending at least generally longitudinally therethrough to connect said first and second high pressure chambers to each other.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
A single ring sector seal assembly in accordance with claim 1, further comprising means for supplying fluid under pressure to said vent chamber when said shaft is stationary.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
A single ring sector seal assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said sectors are dimensioned to be at least substantially axially, radially, and moment balanced.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
A single ring sector seal assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein each of said sectors is joined to each sector immediately adjacent thereto by a slot seal such that leakage paths between sectors are blocked.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
223 words
A single ring sector seal-assembly for mounting around a shaft for sealing against the passage of high pressure fluid along said shaft from a high pressure side of said seal assembly to a low pressure side of said seal assembly, said seal assembly comprising: a seal housing adapted to be circumferentially located around said shaft; at least two arcuate sectors adapted to be circumferentially positioned about said shaft and joined together to collectively form a single ring sector seal having a fluid film between said single ring sector seal and said shaft during the movement of said shaft, said sectors being encircled by and in floating relationship to said seal housing; an annular vent chamber formed by said seal housing and an outer circumferential portion of said single ring sector seal and isolated from said high pressure side of said seal assembly; means to vent said vent chamber to a suitable low pressure environment in order to maintain the pressure in said vent chamber substantially below the pressure of said high pressure side of said seal assembly while said shaft is in motion to thereby prevent contact of said sectors with the moving shaft; and means for supplying fluid under pressure to said vent chamber when said shaft is stationary to thereby provide a positive closure of said sectors against the stationary shaft.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
223 words
A single ring sector seal-assembly for mounting around a shaft for sealing against the passage of high pressure fluid along said shaft from a high pressure side of said seal assembly to a low pressure side of said seal assembly, said seal assembly comprising: a seal housing adapted to be circumferentially located around said shaft; at least two arcuate sectors adapted to be circumferentially positioned about said shaft and joined together to collectively form a single ring sector seal having a fluid film between said single ring sector seal and said shaft during the movement of said shaft, said sectors being encircled by and in floating relationship to said seal housing; an annular vent chamber formed by said seal housing and an outer circumferential portion of said single ring sector seal and isolated from said high pressure side of said seal assembly; means to vent said vent chamber to a suitable low pressure environment in order to maintain the pressure in said vent chamber substantially below the pressure of said high pressure side of said seal assembly while said shaft is in motion to thereby prevent contact of said sectors with the moving shaft; and means for supplying fluid under pressure to said vent chamber when said shaft is stationary to thereby provide a positive closure of said sectors against the stationary shaft.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
A single ring sector seal assembly in accordance with claim 12, further comprising first and second annular spring balance seals attached to the seal housing, said first and second annular spring balance seals being in sliding contact with said sectors.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
74 words
A single ring sector seal assembly in accordance with claim 12, wherein each of said sectors comprises: a seal surface adjacent to said shaft; and an outer sector surface spaced radially outwardly from said seal surface, said outer sector surface having first, second, and third balance portions spaced along the longitudinal length of the sector, the second balance portion being located between the first and third balance portions and being said outer circumferential portion.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
108 words
A single ring sector seal assembly in accordance with claim 14, wherein the outer diameter of said second balance portion is greater than the outer diameters of said first and third balance portions, thereby providing annular shoulders which extend at least generally radially between said second balance portion and said first and third balance portions; and further comprising first and second annular spring balance seals attached to said seal housing, each of said first and second annular spring balance seals being in sliding contact with said outer sector surface at a location between said second balance portion and a respective one of said first and third balance portions.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
A single ring sector seal assembly in accordance with claim 15, further comprising a garter spring positioned around said sectors.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
89 words
A single ring sector seal assembly in accordance with claim 15, further comprising a first high pressure chamber defined by said seal housing, the first balance portion of each of said sectors, and the first annular spring balance seal; and a second high pressure chamber defined by said seal housing, the third balance portion of each of said sectors, and said second annular spring balance seal; wherein said first and second high pressure chambers are isolated from said vent chamber by said first and second annular spring balance seals.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
49 words
A single ring sector seal assembly in accordance with claim 17, wherein said first and second high pressure chambers are pressure balanced by each of said sectors having a balance passageway extending at least generally longitudinally therethrough to connect said first and second high pressure chambers to each other.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
34 words
A single ring sector seal assembly in accordance with claim 18, wherein adjacent sectors have complementary slot seal grooves in their confronting faces with a slot seal positioned in the complementary slot seal grooves.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
A single ring sector seal assembly in accordance with claim 19, further comprising a garter spring positioned around said sectors.
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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) | 1996-03-08 | 1996-09-07 | 1997-03-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-03-08 | 2000-09-07 | 2001-03-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-03-08 | 2004-09-07 | 2005-03-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |