Circumferential Seal with Ceramic Runner

摘要

The disclosure describes a circumferential seal applicable to turbine engines. The circumferential seal includes a ceramic runner, an annular seal ring, at least one tolerance ring, and a pair of sealing rings. The runner is circumscribed about a shaft or a carrier within a recess along the shaft and is bounded by a shoulder and a clamping ring. At least one non-sealing spring mechanism is disposed between and directly contacts the shoulder and the first end of the runner. A second end of the runner directly contacts the clamping ring. In other embodiments, at least one non-sealing spring mechanism is disposed between and directly contacts the second end and the clamping ring and the first end directly contacts the shoulder. An anti-rotation element is attached to the clamping ring, carrier, or shaft and extends into a slot or hole or slot along the runner. The spring(s) applies a biasing force onto the runner toward the clamping ring or shoulder. The annular seal ring is rotationally stationary and circumscribed about the runner. The tolerance ring(s) directly contacts the runner and the shaft. The runner is fixed to the shaft or carrier via the tolerance ring(s), anti-rotation element, and spring(s) so that the runner rotates with the shaft. The sealing rings directly contact the runner and the shaft along the annular gap about the tolerance ring(s).

主权项

1. A circumferential seal comprising:
(a) a ceramic runner circumscribed about a recess along a shaft, said recess bounded by a shoulder and a clamping ring, a first annular gap disposed between a first end of said ceramic runner and said shoulder, a second end of said ceramic runner directly contacts said clamping ring, an anti-rotation pin attached to said clamping ring and extends into a slot along said ceramic runner, at least one non-sealing spring mechanism disposed between and directly contacts said shoulder and said first end along said first annular gap, said at least one non-sealing spring mechanism applies a biasing force onto said ceramic runner toward said clamping ring; (b) an annular seal ring circumscribed about said ceramic runner and disposed within a seal housing so that said annular seal ring is rotationally stationary; (c) at least one tolerance ring directly contacts said ceramic runner and said shaft along a second annular gap between said ceramic runner and said shaft, said ceramic runner fixed to said shaft via said at least one tolerance ring, said anti-rotation pin, and said at least one non-sealing spring mechanism so that said ceramic runner rotates with said shaft, said at least one non-sealing spring mechanism expands and contracts in response to expansion and contraction of said ceramic runner; and (d) a pair of sealing rings directly contacts said ceramic runner and said shaft between said pair of sealing rings.