US 12,281,706 B2
Floating ring seal for refrigerant compressor
Mihai B. Dobrica, Albigny-sur-Saone (FR); and Tianlei Li, Tallahassee, FL (US)
Assigned to DANFOSS A/S, Nordborg (DK)
Appl. No. 17/791,575
Filed by DANFOSS A/S, Nordborg (DK)
PCT Filed Dec. 9, 2020, PCT No. PCT/US2020/063994
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jul. 8, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/230909, PCT Pub. Date Nov. 18, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/022,629, filed on May 11, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0381350 A1, Dec. 1, 2022
Int. Cl. F16J 15/44 (2006.01); F25B 31/00 (2006.01)
CPC F16J 15/441 (2013.01) [F25B 31/00 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A refrigerant compressor, comprising:
a floating ring seal having a nose configured to contact a housing, wherein a low friction coating including carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is applied to one or both of the nose and the housing, wherein a radial dimension of the nose is less than a radial dimension of the floating ring seal, wherein a radially inner surface of the nose is spaced-apart from a radially inner surface of the floating ring seal; and
a shaft surrounded by the floating ring seal, and wherein the radially inner surface of the floating ring seal is radially spaced-apart from a radially outer surface of the shaft, wherein the refrigerant compressor includes a motor and an impeller connected via the shaft.