SLOTTED LABYRINTH SEAL

摘要

A seal for use in a machine, such as a machine with rotating members, includes a labyrinth seal with multiple fins. The seal is slotted and is designed to limit fluid flow to the desired amount from the high pressure side of the seal to the low pressure side of the seal inside partially or exclusively radially extending cavities between two rotating members. The rotating members may operate at different speeds with a common axis of rotation. The seal remains effective when the rotating members move axially in relation to one another despite the fins having a component parallel to the axis of rotation.

主权项

1. A seal for a machine comprising:
a first rotating member having a cavity; a second rotating member having at least one outwardly extending fin, the fin has a length and a width, the length of the fin extends within the cavity of the first rotating member, the width of the fin is generally uniform at an outer portion; a first clearance between the cavity and the fin; and a second clearance between the cavity and the fin, wherein said rotating members are operable to rotate at different speeds about a common rotational axis.