US 11,725,588 B2
Intershaft seal assembly with pressure-balanced translatable carrier
Glenn M. Garrison, Perkiomenville, PA (US)
Assigned to Stein Seal Company, Kulpsville, PA (US)
Appl. No. 17/311,713
Filed by Stein Seal Company, Kulpsville, PA (US)
PCT Filed Jul. 20, 2020, PCT No. PCT/US2020/042746
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jun. 8, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/019878, PCT Pub. Date Jan. 27, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2022/0136447 A1, May 5, 2022
Int. Cl. F02C 7/28 (2006.01); F16C 32/06 (2006.01); F01D 11/04 (2006.01); F16J 15/00 (2006.01); F16J 15/3244 (2016.01)
CPC F02C 7/28 (2013.01) [F16J 15/006 (2013.01); F16J 15/3244 (2013.01); F05D 2220/32 (2013.01); F05D 2240/55 (2013.01)] 36 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An intershaft seal assembly for use between a rotatable outer structure and an inner structure within a turbine engine comprising:
(a) a primary sealing ring;
(b) a translatable carrier interposed between a lower-pressure side and a higher-pressure side, said translatable carrier comprises a center portion with a circumferential groove extending into said center portion and a pair of flange portions oppositely extending from said center portion, said center portion extends relative to said flange portions and toward each of said rotatable outer structure and said inner structure, said primary sealing ring disposed within and extends from said circumferential groove so as to sealingly engage an inner diameter surface of said rotatable outer structure, said primary sealing ring being rotatably movable within said circumferential groove so as to rotate with said rotatable outer structure;
(c) at least one secondary sealing ring interposed between said translatable carrier and said inner structure, said translatable carrier slidingly contacts said at least one secondary sealing ring;
(d) a lower-pressure chamber cooperatively formed by said center portion, one of said flange portions, and said inner structure adjacent to said higher-pressure side;
(e) a higher-pressure chamber cooperatively formed by said center portion, one of said flange portions, and said inner structure adjacent to said lower-pressure side;
(f) at least one first channel which traverses said translatable carrier so that a lower-pressure gas from said lower-pressure side may enter said lower-pressure chamber; and
(g) at least one second channel which traverses said translatable carrier so as that a higher-pressure gas from said higher-pressure side may enter said higher-pressure chamber;
wherein
said translatable carrier being translatable with respect to both said rotatable outer structure and said inner structure;
said translatable carrier being pressure balanced by said lower-pressure gas acting on said center portion and one of said flange portions at said lower-pressure side, by said lower-pressure gas acting on said center portion at said lower-pressure chamber between one of said flange portions and said inner structure, by said higher-pressure gas acting on said center portion and one of said flange portions at said higher-pressure side, and by said higher-pressure gas acting on said center portion at said higher-pressure chamber between one of said flange portions and said inner structure;
a total translation-resistance force (FTTR) at contact between said translatable carrier and said at least one secondary sealing ring being less than a translation-resistance force (FTR) at contact between said rotatable outer structure and said primary sealing ring.