US 11,892,006 B2
Baffle element, diffuser plate, and seal system incorporating a baffle element and a diffuser plate
Yao Lu, Jiangsu (CN); Chris Witkowski, London (GB); and Matthew Purdey, London (GB)
Assigned to CUMMINS LIMITED, London (GB)
Appl. No. 17/639,267
Filed by Cummins Limited, London (GB)
PCT Filed Aug. 28, 2019, PCT No. PCT/CN2019/102974
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Feb. 28, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/035564, PCT Pub. Date Mar. 4, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0333609 A1, Oct. 20, 2022
Int. Cl. F04D 29/10 (2006.01); F02B 39/14 (2006.01); F04D 29/063 (2006.01)
CPC F04D 29/102 (2013.01) [F02B 39/14 (2013.01); F04D 29/063 (2013.01)] 7 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A baffle element for a seal system of a turbomachine, the baffle element having a front surface which in use faces axially into a bearing chamber of the turbomachine, and a rear face which in use faces axially away from the bearing chamber, the baffle element comprising:
an inner portion defining a circular central opening which in use is positioned on a rotational axis of the turbomachine with a center of the central opening on the axis and the perimeter of the central opening lying in a plane transverse to the axis;
a wall upstanding from the front surface of the baffle element at a periphery of the inner portion of the baffle element; and
at least two gutter surfaces extending radially-outwardly from the inner portion through respective gaps in the wall at different respective circumferential positions about the center of the central opening, the gutter surfaces each being mirror symmetric about respective planes which pass through the center of the central opening; and the front surface comprises a recess portion which is axially rearward with respect to the central opening of the inner portion of the baffle element, the recess portion defining a circumferentially extending oil reception channel, and wherein the channel includes a different depth at different circumferential positions, the depth of the channel of at least one circumferential position which is in register with one of the gutter surfaces being less than the maximum depth of the channel.