US 11,933,180 B2
Labyrinth seal
Ian Macfarlane, St-Bruno-de-Montarville (CA); Eric Durocher, Boucherville (CA); and Guy Lefebvre, St-Bruno-de-Montarville (CA)
Assigned to PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP., Longueuil (CA)
Filed by PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP., Longueuil (CA)
Filed on Dec. 16, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/644,630.
Prior Publication US 2023/0193774 A1, Jun. 22, 2023
Int. Cl. F01D 11/02 (2006.01); F02C 7/28 (2006.01)
CPC F01D 11/02 (2013.01) [F02C 7/28 (2013.01); F05D 2220/323 (2013.01); F05D 2240/55 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A labyrinth seal assembly comprising:
an outer seal component having a radially inner cavity surface extending circumferentially about an axis, and an axial cavity surface located radially inward of the radially inner cavity surface relative to the axis, the axial cavity surface extending radially outwardly from an inner cavity diameter to an outer cavity diameter;
a floating seal component received by the outer seal component about the axis so as to be movable in a radial direction relative to the outer seal component, the floating seal component structurally radially decoupled from the outer seal component, the floating seal component extending axially from a first end to a second end, the floating seal component having a radially outer floating seal surface extending from the first end to the second end, the radially outer floating seal surface spaced radially inwardly from the radially inner cavity surface, a radially inner sealing surface radially inward of the radially outer floating seal surface, an axial floating seal surface at the first end of the floating seal component, the axial floating seal surface bearing against the axial cavity surface, the axial floating seal surface movable relative to the axial cavity surface, the axial floating seal surface extending radially outwardly from an inner floating seal diameter to an outer floating seal diameter, a slope portion at the first axial end between the outer floating seal diameter and the radially outer floating seal surface, and a recess portion in the first axial end between the inner floating seal diameter and the radially inner sealing surface, the inner floating seal diameter spaced radially outwardly from the inner cavity diameter of the axial cavity surface of the outer seal component; and
an inner seal component received by the floating seal component about the axis, the inner seal component having a radially outer sealing surface spaced radially inwardly from the radially inner sealing surface,
the radially inner sealing surface defining at least one tooth, the at least one tooth projecting radially toward the radially outer sealing surface to a location radially inward of the axial floating seal surface;
wherein in a first position where the outer seal component, the floating seal component and the inner seal component are centered with respect to the axis, a first radial gap extends from the radially outer sealing surface of the inner seal component to the radially inner sealing surface of the floating seal component, and a second radial gap extends from the radially inner cavity surface of the outer seal component to the radially outer floating seal surface of the floating seal component, and wherein the first radial gap is smaller than the second radial gap.