IP Library Granted Patent US 10,221,714
Granted Patent B2
US 10,221,714 · App. 15/004,556 · Granted Mar 5, 2019

Secondary seal device(s) with alignment tab(s)

Inventors: Christopher J. Peters (West Hartford, CT); Dave J. Hyland (Portland, CT)
Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
F01D11/04F01D5/02F01D9/02F01D11/025F16J15/442F05D2220/30
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,221,714
App. No.
15/004,556
Granted
Mar 5, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

An assembly is provided for rotational equipment with an axial centerline. This assembly includes a primary seal device, a ring structure and a secondary seal device. The primary seal device is configured as a hydrostatic non-contact seal device. The primary seal device includes a plurality of seal shoes and a seal base. The seal shoes are arranged circumferentially about the axial centerline in an annular array. The seal base circumscribes the annular array of the seal shoes. The ring structure is axially engaged with the seal base. The secondary seal device is mounted with the ring structure. The secondary seal device includes a seal ring body and an alignment tab. The seal ring body is configured to substantially seal an annular gap between the ring structure and the seal base. The alignment tab projects out from the seal ring body and into an aperture in the ring structure. The alignment tab is adapted to substantially rotationally locate and/or fix the secondary seal device to the ring structure.

Claims (68)

1. An assembly for rotational equipment with an axial centerline, the assembly comprising:

a primary seal device configured as a hydrostatic non-contact seal device, the primary seal device including a plurality of seal shoes and a seal base, the seal shoes arranged circumferentially about the axial centerline in an annular array, and the seal base circumscribing the annular array of the seal shoes;

a ring structure axially contacting the seal base; and

a secondary seal device mounted with the ring structure, the secondary seal device including a seal ring body and an alignment tab, the seal ring body configured to substantially seal an annular gap between the ring structure and the seal base, and the alignment tab projecting out from the seal ring body and into an aperture in the ring structure, wherein the alignment tab is adapted to substantially rotationally locate the secondary seal device to the ring structure.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the annular gap between the ring structure and the seal base is fluidly coupled with a passage that extends axially through the primary seal device.

3. The assembly of claim 2 , wherein

the primary seal device further includes a plurality of spring elements that form the passage; and

each of the spring elements is radially between and connects a respective one of the seal shoes with the seal base.

4. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein

the primary seal device further includes a plurality of spring elements; and

each of the spring elements is radially between and connects a respective one of the seal shoes with the seal base.

5. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein

the alignment tab is a first alignment tab;

the aperture is a first aperture;

the secondary seal device further includes a second alignment tab that projects out from the seal ring body and into a second aperture in the ring structure; and

the second alignment tab is adapted to substantially rotationally locate the secondary seal device to the ring structure.

6. The assembly of claim 5 , wherein the first alignment tab has a first configuration and the second alignment tab has a second configuration which is different than the first configuration.

7. The assembly of claim 5 , wherein the first alignment tab has a first configuration and the second alignment tab has a second configuration which is substantially the same as the first configuration.

8. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the alignment tab projects radially out from an outer periphery of the seal ring body.

9. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the secondary seal device is configured as a split ring.

10. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein

the secondary seal device includes a plurality cutouts arranged circumferentially about the axial centerline; and

a first of the cutouts extends axially through the secondary seal device and partially radially into the secondary seal device.

11. The assembly of claim 10 , further comprising:

a second secondary seal device mounted with the ring structure and configured as a split ring;

wherein the cutouts are first cutouts;

wherein the second secondary seal device includes a plurality second cutouts arranged circumferentially about the axial centerline and offset from the first cutouts; and

wherein a first of the second cutouts extends axially through the second secondary seal device and partially radially into the second secondary seal device.

12. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:

a second secondary seal device mounted with the ring structure;

the second secondary seal device including a second seal ring body and a second alignment tab;

the seal ring body and the second seal ring body configured to substantially seal the annular gap between the ring structure and the seal base; and

the second alignment tab projecting out from the second seal ring body and into the aperture in the ring structure;

wherein the second alignment tab is adapted to substantially rotationally fix the second secondary seal device to the ring structure.

13. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:

a second secondary seal device mounted with the ring structure;

the second secondary seal device including a second seal ring body and a second alignment tab;

the seal ring body and the second seal ring body configured to substantially seal the annular gap between the ring structure and the seal base; and

the second alignment tab projecting out from the second seal ring body and into a second aperture in the ring structure;

wherein the second alignment tab is adapted to substantially rotationally fix the second secondary seal device to the ring structure.

14. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein

the ring structure comprises a secondary seal device support ring and a retention ring;

the secondary seal device support ring is axially engaged with and between the seal base and the retention ring;

the retention ring is configured to axially retain the secondary seal device with the secondary seal device support ring; and

the aperture is formed in the secondary seal device support ring.

15. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein

the ring structure comprises a secondary seal device support ring and a retention ring;

the secondary seal device support ring is axially engaged with and between the seal base and the retention ring;

the retention ring is configured to axially retain the secondary seal device with the secondary seal device support ring; and

the aperture is formed in the retention ring.

16. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:

a stator structure;

a rotor structure; and

a seal assembly configured for sealing an annular gap between the stator structure and the rotor structure, the seal assembly including the primary seal device, the ring structure and the secondary seal device;

wherein the seal base is engaged with the stator structure, and the seal shoes are sealingly engaged with the rotor structure.

17. The assembly of claim 16 , wherein the stator structure and the rotor structure are configured within a turbine engine.

18. An assembly for rotational equipment with an axial centerline, the assembly comprising:

a primary seal device configured as a hydrostatic non-contact seal device, the primary seal device including a plurality of seal shoes and a seal base, the seal shoes arranged circumferentially about the axial centerline in an annular array, and the seal base circumscribing the annular array of the seal shoes;

a ring structure axially contacting the seal base, the ring structure including a first surface and a second surface that laterally faces the first surface; and

a secondary seal device mounted with the ring structure, the secondary seal device including a seal ring body and an alignment tab, the seal ring body configured to substantially seal an annular gap between the ring structure and the seal base, and the alignment tab projecting out from the seal ring body and arranged circumferentially between the first surface and the second surface.

19. The assembly of claim 18 , wherein the ring structure is configured with a notch that is partially formed by the first surface and the second surface.

20. An assembly for a turbine engine with an axial centerline, the assembly comprising:

a turbine engine stator structure;

a turbine engine rotor structure; and

a seal assembly configured for forming a seal between the turbine engine stator structure and the turbine engine rotor structure, the seal assembly including a primary seal device, a ring structure and a secondary seal device;

the primary seal device configured as a hydrostatic non-contact seal device, the primary seal device including a plurality of seal shoes and a seal base, the seal shoes arranged circumferentially about the axial centerline in an annular array and sealingly engaged with the turbine engine rotor structure, and the seal base circumscribing the annular array of the seal shoes and engaged with the turbine engine stator structure;

the ring structure axially contacting the seal base; and

the secondary seal device mounted with the ring structure, the secondary seal device including a seal ring body and an alignment tab, the seal ring body configured to substantially seal an annular gap between the ring structure and the seal base, and the alignment tab projecting out from the seal ring body and into an aperture in the ring structure.

Assignments (5)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 27, 2023
From: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: RTX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 064714/0001 →
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded Jul 14, 2021
From: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION PRATT & WHITNEY
To: THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES AS REPRSENTED BY THE SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE
Reel/Frame 056922/0324 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE AND REMOVE PATENT APPLICATION NUMBER 11886281 AND ADD PATENT APPLICATION NUMBER 14846874. TO CORRECT THE RECEIVING PARTY ADDRESS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 054062 FRAME: 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CHANGE OF ADDRESS. Recorded Mar 4, 2021
From: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 055659/0001 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 4, 2020
From: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 054062/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 26, 2016
From: PETERS, CHRISTOPHER J.; HYLAND, DAVE J.
To: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 037586/0089 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20170211402A1 · Jul 27, 2017
Cited By (1)
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