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Non-contact seal for a gas-turbine engine
PATENTS basic composition of the raw material is composed of 16–28 wt% of NBR, serving as the rubber; 4–8 wt% of an aramid fibre, serving as the reinforcing fibre; 10–20 wt% of a needlelike dolomite, serving as the reinforcing fibre; 8–20 wt% of silica particles, serving as the filler; and the balance, an inorganic filler. Publication number: WO/2009/142292 Inventors: K. Fujiwara, K. Akiyoshi, Y. Hamada, Y. Nagai and S. Mochizuki Publication date: 26 November 2009 Editor’s note: The diagrams in this patent show a laminated structure but this is not discussed in the English abstract.
Seal device Applicant: Aktiebolaget Somas Ventiler, Sweden A seal and method of assembly is detailed that permits the use of an exfoliated graphite, PEEK, PPS or PTFE seal ring in a valve. The seal can be used as a split-ring to avoid over extension. Publication number: WO/2009/142575 Inventor: C. Nilsson Publication date: 26 November 2009
Seal and seal/boss assembly Applicant: Hewlett-Packard Development Co Lp, USA This patent provides details of a seal for the ink passages of an inkjet printer. It is designed to have improved resilience so that a replacement cartridge can be installed with minimum effort but reliable sealing is still achieved. Publication number: WO/2009/142625 Inventor: M.A. Smith Publication date: 26 November 2009
Electrolytic cell stack sealing gasket Applicant: Parker-Hannifin Corp, USA An electrolytic cell employs a plastic moulded frame component with raised ridges on one surface to create a seal with a proton exchange membrane (PEM), and on the opposite surface a groove with an interlocking feature for accepting a tabbed elastomer gasket. The gasket and frame design, when combined with a PEM, can be stacked in multiple layers. The frame captures the softer elastomeric sealing material, preventing elastomeric creep and loss of positive seal caused by the relaxation of mechanical hardware under load and internal pressure fluctuations. The addition of the ridged sealing surface provides positive surface contact with the membrane to further prevent the loss of
March 2010
A dry gas seal arrangement, with sensors providing signals to a programmable logic controller to optimise seal running conditions (patent WO/2009/143213).
sealing under mechanical load. The interlocking feature reduces assembly time and improves assembly accuracy. Publication number: WO/2009/142653 Inventor: J.J. Ronan Publication date: 26 November 2009
Shaft seal assembly for a hydrogen-cooled turbine Applicant: Siemens Energy Inc, USA In this patent, a shaft-seal assembly for hydrogen that is based on lubricated carbon segment seals is described. The seal segments are held in a carrier that is insulated from the main turbine casing. There is provision for an oil circulation system to lubricate the hydrogen seals. A particular feature of this design is that the carbon segment seals can be inspected and serviced without disturbing the insulating flange, thus avoiding potential insulation break-down problems. Publication number: WO/2009/142687 Inventors: D.M. Freal, J.M. Emery and J.M Nemeth Publication date: 26 November 2009
Seal monitoring and control system Applicant: John Crane Inc, USA A seal monitoring and control system for a dry gas seal includes various sensors providing signals to a programmable logic control system. It is used to determine a presence of an anomalous operating condition of the seal. The supply system includes a control unit and sensors for measuring seal operating parameters, supply-system operating parameters relative to the flow of treated gas, and
compressor operating parameters. The control system provides an output in response to the operating condition. Conditions monitored may include product gas temperature and pressure, buffer gas conditions and compressor shaft position. Control actions may be initiated to avoid conditions such as condensate carry over to the seals. Publication number: WO/2009/143213 Inventors: E. Shamseldin, J. Delrahim, P. Hosking, J.L. Savio and V. Bakalchuk Publication date: 26 November 2009
Flange joint Applicant: GS-Hydro Oy, Finland A flange joint assembly has been developed in which one of the flanges is designed to permit circumferential rotation of the flange, in the conventional sense, around the pipe to enable alignment of the bolt holes. The rotatable flange is located on a circular locking ring, positioned in a matching locking ring groove on the flange and pipe. The design of the grooves and the contact between the locking ring and groove profile are covered in detail. It is claimed that the locking ring is also reuseable. Publication number: WO/2009/144359 Inventor: R. Eriksson Publication date: 3 December 2009
Non-contact seal for a gas-turbine engine Applicant/Inventor: J.F. Justak, USA A hybrid design of seal that, in effect, is a ‘shoed’ labyrinth arrangement, forms the subject of this patent. A section of seal, or shoe, is suspended on a beam-spring assembly to main-
Sealing Technology
13
PATENTS seal and the shaft. It is claimed that this seal can be used in all turbine seal applications, including labyrinth, brush and carbon. The robust design eliminates the careful handling required of carbon seals used in lubrication system compartments. This seal may enable engine designers to use fewer parts in assemblies because it will permit ‘blind’ assemblies to occur. Publication number: WO/2009/148787 Publication date: 10 December 2009
Fluid-activated shaft seal
An isometric view of a typical example of the hybrid, labyrinth seal that is discussed in patent WO/2009/146258.
tain close alignment with the shaft. A series of these shoes circumferentially make up the entire seal. There is a secondary seal to prevent leakage around the outside of the shoe, past the spring. Publication number: WO/2009/146258 Publication date: 3 December 2009
Spherical bearing triple-lip seal Applicant: The Timken Co, USA A seal with a triple-lip configuration for sealing against the inner ring race surface of a spherical plain bearing is described. The triple-lip configuration incorporates a pair of outward inclined seal lips for providing protection from external contaminates, and a third inwardly inclined seal lip, which is orientated, to provide lubricant or grease retention within the sealed bearing. The size and configuration of the third seal lip is selected to minimise surface friction and to avoid seal-lip inversion during oscillatory motion of the bearing components during use. A retention feature abuts against the outer ring race surface to resist roll-out displacement of the seal. Publication number: WO/2009/146364 Inventors: T.P. Murphy, L.V. Anton, M. Esposito, I.C. Savin and R. Borowski Publication date: 3 December 2009 14
Sealing Technology
Plastic pipe sealing gasket Applicant: S&B Technical Products Inc, USA A sealing gasket that is used to form joints in a plastic pipe is detailed. The gasket has a bulbous region that is bisected by a planar region which forms a pair of oppositely extending wing-like flaps. These features of the gasket enable it to be more reliably seated on the working mandrel used to bell a female, thermoplastic pipe-end. The wing-like flap portions of the gasket form wiper surfaces for a subsequently installed male, spigot pipe-end, as the joint is formed. Publication number: WO/2009/148540 Inventors: R. Chinchilla and G. Darce Publication date: 10 December 2009
Applicant: Midé Technology Corp, USA This patent details a fluid-activated shaft seal, including a support component (804), a carrier component (808) and a seal (812). The seal (816) includes a lip portion and a fluid-responsive gel material that expands when exposed to a fluid to urge the lip portion towards or into contact with a shaft. The action of the gel is reversible and it contracts in the absence of a fluid to form or increase the size of a gap between the shaft and the lip portion. Methods of assembling and installing such a system are also described. A system for confining and/or securing an alignment/interface ring is detailed. A number of variants are also covered. The gel may energise a seal lip, or be embedded in a hard or soft foam. Publication number: WO/2009/149448 Inventors: M. van Schoor, D. Gilbert, A. Cutler and S. Klepper Publication date: 10 December 2009 Editor’s note: An application of this seal was described in the news section of the January issue of Sealing Technology
Gas-turbine engine seal Applicant/Inventor: J.F. Justak, USA This invention is a continuation of the one detailed in patent WO/2009/146258. The shoes are provided with a surface geometry and labyrinth-type teeth that influence the inertia of fluid flowing across the seal, and hence the velocity of the fluid and the pressure distribution across the seal – ultimately affecting the balance of forces applied to the seal. This construction influences fluid velocity and pressure resulting from the application of aerodynamic forces to the seal, improving control of the clearance between the
A cross-section of a gel-activated seal for sealing shaft bulkheads (patent WO/2009/149448).
March 2010
Seal device Applicant: Aktiebolaget Somas Ventiler, Sweden A seal and method of assembly is detailed that permits the use of an exfoliated graphite, PEEK, PPS or PTFE seal ring in a valve. The seal can be used as a split-ring to avoid over extension. Publication number: WO/2009/142575 Inventor: C. Nilsson Publication date: 26 November 2009
Seal and seal/boss assembly Applicant: Hewlett-Packard Development Co Lp, USA This patent provides details of a seal for the ink passages of an inkjet printer. It is designed to have improved resilience so that a replacement cartridge can be installed with minimum effort but reliable sealing is still achieved. Publication number: WO/2009/142625 Inventor: M.A. Smith Publication date: 26 November 2009
Electrolytic cell stack sealing gasket Applicant: Parker-Hannifin Corp, USA An electrolytic cell employs a plastic moulded frame component with raised ridges on one surface to create a seal with a proton exchange membrane (PEM), and on the opposite surface a groove with an interlocking feature for accepting a tabbed elastomer gasket. The gasket and frame design, when combined with a PEM, can be stacked in multiple layers. The frame captures the softer elastomeric sealing material, preventing elastomeric creep and loss of positive seal caused by the relaxation of mechanical hardware under load and internal pressure fluctuations. The addition of the ridged sealing surface provides positive surface contact with the membrane to further prevent the loss of
March 2010
A dry gas seal arrangement, with sensors providing signals to a programmable logic controller to optimise seal running conditions (patent WO/2009/143213).
sealing under mechanical load. The interlocking feature reduces assembly time and improves assembly accuracy. Publication number: WO/2009/142653 Inventor: J.J. Ronan Publication date: 26 November 2009
Shaft seal assembly for a hydrogen-cooled turbine Applicant: Siemens Energy Inc, USA In this patent, a shaft-seal assembly for hydrogen that is based on lubricated carbon segment seals is described. The seal segments are held in a carrier that is insulated from the main turbine casing. There is provision for an oil circulation system to lubricate the hydrogen seals. A particular feature of this design is that the carbon segment seals can be inspected and serviced without disturbing the insulating flange, thus avoiding potential insulation break-down problems. Publication number: WO/2009/142687 Inventors: D.M. Freal, J.M. Emery and J.M Nemeth Publication date: 26 November 2009
Seal monitoring and control system Applicant: John Crane Inc, USA A seal monitoring and control system for a dry gas seal includes various sensors providing signals to a programmable logic control system. It is used to determine a presence of an anomalous operating condition of the seal. The supply system includes a control unit and sensors for measuring seal operating parameters, supply-system operating parameters relative to the flow of treated gas, and
compressor operating parameters. The control system provides an output in response to the operating condition. Conditions monitored may include product gas temperature and pressure, buffer gas conditions and compressor shaft position. Control actions may be initiated to avoid conditions such as condensate carry over to the seals. Publication number: WO/2009/143213 Inventors: E. Shamseldin, J. Delrahim, P. Hosking, J.L. Savio and V. Bakalchuk Publication date: 26 November 2009
Flange joint Applicant: GS-Hydro Oy, Finland A flange joint assembly has been developed in which one of the flanges is designed to permit circumferential rotation of the flange, in the conventional sense, around the pipe to enable alignment of the bolt holes. The rotatable flange is located on a circular locking ring, positioned in a matching locking ring groove on the flange and pipe. The design of the grooves and the contact between the locking ring and groove profile are covered in detail. It is claimed that the locking ring is also reuseable. Publication number: WO/2009/144359 Inventor: R. Eriksson Publication date: 3 December 2009
Non-contact seal for a gas-turbine engine Applicant/Inventor: J.F. Justak, USA A hybrid design of seal that, in effect, is a ‘shoed’ labyrinth arrangement, forms the subject of this patent. A section of seal, or shoe, is suspended on a beam-spring assembly to main-
Sealing Technology
13
PATENTS seal and the shaft. It is claimed that this seal can be used in all turbine seal applications, including labyrinth, brush and carbon. The robust design eliminates the careful handling required of carbon seals used in lubrication system compartments. This seal may enable engine designers to use fewer parts in assemblies because it will permit ‘blind’ assemblies to occur. Publication number: WO/2009/148787 Publication date: 10 December 2009
Fluid-activated shaft seal
An isometric view of a typical example of the hybrid, labyrinth seal that is discussed in patent WO/2009/146258.
tain close alignment with the shaft. A series of these shoes circumferentially make up the entire seal. There is a secondary seal to prevent leakage around the outside of the shoe, past the spring. Publication number: WO/2009/146258 Publication date: 3 December 2009
Spherical bearing triple-lip seal Applicant: The Timken Co, USA A seal with a triple-lip configuration for sealing against the inner ring race surface of a spherical plain bearing is described. The triple-lip configuration incorporates a pair of outward inclined seal lips for providing protection from external contaminates, and a third inwardly inclined seal lip, which is orientated, to provide lubricant or grease retention within the sealed bearing. The size and configuration of the third seal lip is selected to minimise surface friction and to avoid seal-lip inversion during oscillatory motion of the bearing components during use. A retention feature abuts against the outer ring race surface to resist roll-out displacement of the seal. Publication number: WO/2009/146364 Inventors: T.P. Murphy, L.V. Anton, M. Esposito, I.C. Savin and R. Borowski Publication date: 3 December 2009 14
Sealing Technology
Plastic pipe sealing gasket Applicant: S&B Technical Products Inc, USA A sealing gasket that is used to form joints in a plastic pipe is detailed. The gasket has a bulbous region that is bisected by a planar region which forms a pair of oppositely extending wing-like flaps. These features of the gasket enable it to be more reliably seated on the working mandrel used to bell a female, thermoplastic pipe-end. The wing-like flap portions of the gasket form wiper surfaces for a subsequently installed male, spigot pipe-end, as the joint is formed. Publication number: WO/2009/148540 Inventors: R. Chinchilla and G. Darce Publication date: 10 December 2009
Applicant: Midé Technology Corp, USA This patent details a fluid-activated shaft seal, including a support component (804), a carrier component (808) and a seal (812). The seal (816) includes a lip portion and a fluid-responsive gel material that expands when exposed to a fluid to urge the lip portion towards or into contact with a shaft. The action of the gel is reversible and it contracts in the absence of a fluid to form or increase the size of a gap between the shaft and the lip portion. Methods of assembling and installing such a system are also described. A system for confining and/or securing an alignment/interface ring is detailed. A number of variants are also covered. The gel may energise a seal lip, or be embedded in a hard or soft foam. Publication number: WO/2009/149448 Inventors: M. van Schoor, D. Gilbert, A. Cutler and S. Klepper Publication date: 10 December 2009 Editor’s note: An application of this seal was described in the news section of the January issue of Sealing Technology
Gas-turbine engine seal Applicant/Inventor: J.F. Justak, USA This invention is a continuation of the one detailed in patent WO/2009/146258. The shoes are provided with a surface geometry and labyrinth-type teeth that influence the inertia of fluid flowing across the seal, and hence the velocity of the fluid and the pressure distribution across the seal – ultimately affecting the balance of forces applied to the seal. This construction influences fluid velocity and pressure resulting from the application of aerodynamic forces to the seal, improving control of the clearance between the
A cross-section of a gel-activated seal for sealing shaft bulkheads (patent WO/2009/149448).
March 2010