Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100143102 | COMPLIANT PLATE SEAL WITH SELF-CORRECTING BEHAVIOR - A self-correcting seal assembly comprises a plurality of compliant plates coupled circumferentially to a stationary component, at least one slot in the compliant plates extending from the stationary component towards a rotor; and a resistance member coupled to a stationary component. The resistance member comprising at least one annular ring extending from the stationary component towards a rotor and through the slot. The seal assembly is configured to create passive feedback on hydrostatic forces in response to a tip-clearance between the rotor and tips of the compliant plates. | 06-10-2010 |
20110103987 | PUMP SYSTEM - The present invention provides a pump system comprising a bearing housing coupled to a pump liner, the pump liner defining a fluid conduit, the pump liner comprising a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet; and at least one rotor having a first rotor portion and a second rotor portion, the first rotor portion being disposed within the fluid conduit and the second rotor portion being disposed within the bearing housing; the first rotor portion comprising a first conveying stage adjacent to the bearing housing, and a second conveying stage adjacent to the first conveying stage, the first and second conveying stages being configured to convey a fluid, the first conveying stage being configured to convey the fluid from the bearing housing into the fluid conduit. The new pump systems rely on a dynamic restriction to reduce the need for mechanical seals between bearing housings and raw process fluid. | 05-05-2011 |
20110182719 | METHOD AND APPARTUS FOR LABYRINTH SEAL PACKING RINGS - A seal assembly for a turbomachine may include at least one arcuate plate coupled to an interior surface of a stationary housing; a circumferentially-segmented packing ring disposed intermediate to a rotor and the plate; a plurality of arcuate teeth disposed intermediate to the ring and the rotor, wherein a clearance of each tooth decreases progressively going from an upstream side of the turbomachinery to a downstream side; wherein the progressive decrease in the clearances of the teeth creates a passive feedback, such that as a tip clearance decreases, outward radial forces cause the packing ring to move away from the rotor and as the tip clearance increases, inward radial forces cause the packing ring to move toward the rotor; and a biasing member disposed intermediate to the arcuate plate and the ring and coupled to both. | 07-28-2011 |
20110293441 | MULTIPHASE PUMP FLOW RECIRCULATION SYSTEM - In accordance with certain aspects of the invention, a pump system is provided. The pump system includes a pump casing having a process fluid inlet chamber connected to a process fluid inlet through the pump casing, and a process fluid outlet chamber connected to a process fluid outlet through the pump casing. The pump system also includes rotors disposed inside the process fluid inlet chamber and the process fluid outlet chamber. The rotors are configured to pump a process fluid from the process fluid inlet chamber to the process fluid outlet chamber. In addition, the pump casing comprises one or more fluid injection inlets axially located between the process fluid inlet and the process fluid outlet. | 12-01-2011 |
20120003080 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LABYRINTH SEAL PACKING RINGS - The present disclosure relates to a seal assembly for a turbomachine that includes at least one arcuate plate, a biasing member, and a packing ring. In addition, the seal assembly includes a plurality of arcuate teeth disposed intermediate to the packing ring and the rotor. The plurality of arcuate teeth includes at least one subset of arcuate teeth. The clearance of at least one of the arcuate teeth is different from the clearances of the rest of the arcuate teeth. The clearances of the arcuate teeth of the at least one subset do not progressively increase going from an upstream to a downstream side of the turbomachinery. | 01-05-2012 |
20120133101 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PACKING RINGS - A seal assembly for a turbomachine is provided. The turbomachine includes a stationary housing and a rotor rotatable about an axis. The seal assembly includes a plurality of arcuate packing ring segments disposed intermediate to the rotor and the stationary housing, and a plurality of inter-segment gaps disposed between the plurality of arcuate packing ring segments. The plurality of inter-segment gaps are inclined at a first angle from a radial axis of the rotor and inclined in a direction of motion of the plurality of arcuate packing ring segments. The seal assembly also includes a biasing member disposed intermediate to the stationary housing and the plurality of arcuate packing ring segments and coupled to both. | 05-31-2012 |
20120193875 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LABYRINTH SEAL PACKING RING - The present disclosure relates to a seal assembly for a turbomachine that includes at least one arcuate plate, a biasing member, and at least one packing ring segment. The packing ring segment includes at least one barrier that restricts circumferential flow of a fluid along the packing ring segment. In addition, the seal assembly includes a plurality of arcuate teeth disposed intermediate to the packing ring segment and the rotor. The clearances of at least two of the arcuate teeth are different from one another. | 08-02-2012 |
20120228153 | DEVICE, APPARATUS, AND METHOD FOR ABRASIVE ELECTROCHEMICAL FINISHING - A device, apparatus, and method for abrasive electrochemical finishing of an arc flange leaf pack are presented. The device includes: a concave support block having holes to receive securing members; removable first and second end blocks configured to seat at opposite ends of the concave support block; removable first and second face plates attached to opposite sides of the concave support block via the securing members; and a region of space between the removable first and second face plates, the removable first and second end blocks, and the concave support block. | 09-13-2012 |
20120315138 | COMPLIANT PLATE SEAL ASSEMBLY FOR A TURBO MACHINE - A seal assembly for a turbo machine is provided. The turbo machine includes a rotary component and a stationary component. The seal assembly is disposed between the rotary component and the stationary component. The seal assembly is configured to provide a sealing between a high pressure area and a low pressure area of the turbo machine. The seal assembly includes a plurality of compliant plates coupled circumferentially along the stationary component. Each of the compliant plate includes a tip disposed facing the rotary component. A tip slot is provided on the tip of the compliant plates, wherein the tip slots is provided at the portion of the tip proximate the high pressure area. The compliant plates further include a plate slot extending from the stationary component towards the tip. An annular resistance member coupled to the stationary component is disposed in the plate slot in the compliant plates. | 12-13-2012 |
20130001886 | TWIST PROOF FLEXURES OF SEAL ASSEMBLIES - A seal assembly for a turbomachine is provided. The seal assembly includes multiple arcuate packing ring segments disposed intermediate to a stationary housing and a rotatable element about an axis. The seal assembly further includes multiple flexures mechanically coupled to the stationary housing and the multiple arcuate packing ring segments, wherein the multiple flexures are attached to the stationary housing and the arcuate packing ring segments at positions predetermined to control packing ring twist under differential pressure conditions. | 01-03-2013 |
20130170965 | COMPLIANT PLATE SEAL FOR USE WITH ROTATING MACHINES AND METHODS OF ASSEMBLING A ROTATING MACHINE - A sealing assembly for use with a rotating machine is described herein. The rotating machine includes a stator casing that includes a radially inner surface that defines a cavity therein, and a rotor positioned within the cavity and spaced inwardly from the stator inner surface. The sealing assembly includes a support ring coupled to the stator casing, and a plurality of plate members coupled to the support ring and oriented circumferentially about the rotor. A resistance member extends inwardly from the support ring towards the rotor outer surface. The resistance member is coupled to the support ring and extends through each plate member of the plurality of plate members. At least one rotor land is defined circumferentially about the rotor outer surface. Each plate member is oriented adjacent the at least one rotor land. | 07-04-2013 |
20140119912 | FILM RIDING AERODYNAMIC SEALS FOR ROTARY MACHINES - A seal assembly for a rotary machine is provided. The seal assembly includes multiple sealing device segments disposed circumferentially intermediate to a stationary housing and a rotor. Each of the sealing device segments includes a stator interface element. The sealing device segment also includes a shoe plate having one or more labyrinth teeth facing the rotor and a load-bearing surface region, wherein the shoe plate allows a high pressure fluid to an upstream portion of the forwardmost labyrinth tooth and a low pressure fluid to a downstream portion of the aftmost labyrinth tooth. The sealing device segment further includes a secondary seal in contact with the stator interface element at a radially outer end and in contact with an elevated nose of the shoe plate on a radially inner end; and multiple bellow springs or flexures attached to the shoe plate and to the stator interface element. | 05-01-2014 |
20140138918 | SEAL ASSEMBLY INCLUDING PARTIALLY FILLED GAPS - A seal assembly between a rotor and a stator is disclosed. In one embodiment, the seal assembly includes: a rotor; a stator positioned around the rotor; and a plurality of seal leaves positioned between the rotor and the stator, the plurality of seal leaves circumferentially stacked around the rotor to define a seal ring between the rotor and the stator, wherein gaps between adjacent seal leaves are partially filled, such that contact faces and residual gaps are between adjacent seal leaves, wherein the contact faces generate friction to dampen vibrations during operation. Such damping effects still allow the compliant motion of the seal leaves with minimal leaf vibration. Also, thicker and more resilient leaves may be applied with reduced leakage through the root gaps. | 05-22-2014 |
20140154060 | TURBOMACHINE SEAL ASSEMBLY AND METHOD OF SEALING A ROTOR REGION OF A TURBOMACHINE - A turbomachine seal assembly includes a rotor disposed about an axial centerline, the rotor having an outer surface. Also included is a stationary component extending circumferentially about the rotor. Further included is at least one primary annular seal ring operably coupled to the stationary component and extending radially inwardly to close proximity with the outer surface of the rotor. Yet further included is a secondary annular seal ring operably coupled to the stationary component and integrally formed with the at least one primary annular seal ring, the secondary annular seal ring extending radially inwardly to close proximity with the outer surface of the rotor. | 06-05-2014 |