US 12,460,727 B2
Self-centering seal and method of using same
John E. Wilber, Marlborough, CT (US); and Holly Teufel, Salt Lake City, UT (US)
Assigned to RTX CORPORATION, Farmington, CT (US)
Filed by United Technologies Corporation, Farmington, CT (US)
Filed on Sep. 20, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/576,876.
Prior Publication US 2021/0088144 A1, Mar. 25, 2021
Int. Cl. F16J 15/34 (2006.01); F16J 15/3212 (2016.01); F16J 15/3272 (2016.01); F16J 15/3292 (2016.01); F01D 11/00 (2006.01); F01D 17/14 (2006.01)
CPC F16J 15/3452 (2013.01) [F16J 15/3212 (2013.01); F16J 15/3272 (2013.01); F16J 15/3292 (2013.01); F16J 15/3472 (2013.01); F01D 11/003 (2013.01); F01D 11/005 (2013.01); F01D 17/145 (2013.01); F05D 2250/192 (2013.01); F05D 2250/292 (2013.01); F05D 2260/38 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A gas turbine engine comprising:
a valve;
a collector; and
a seal comprising:
a seal body mounted to the collector at a second axial end of the seal body, the seal body disposed about a seal axis and comprising an interior surface defining a seal gland circumferentially extending about the seal axis;
a packing disposed within the seal gland;
a retaining ring in communication with a second radial side of the packing and disposed within the seal gland; and
a plurality of exciter springs mounted to a second radial side of the retaining ring and circumferentially spaced about the retaining ring, the plurality of exciter springs biased against the interior surface of the seal body and configured to center the packing within the seal body,
wherein the packing forms a seal interface between the packing and the valve and wherein the seal body is configured to form a portion of a passage extending through the seal body, the collector, and the valve.