General Electric Company

Matthew Michael Langenderfer

Rahul Anil Bidkar

Azam Mihir Thatte

Hrishikesh Vishvas Deo

A seal assembly for a rotary machine is provided. The seal assembly includes multiple sealing device segments disposed circumferentially intermediate to a stationary housing and a rotor. Each of the sealing device segments includes a stator interface element. The sealing device segment also includes a shoe plate having one or more labyrinth teeth facing the rotor and a load-bearing surface region, wherein the shoe plate allows a high pressure fluid to an upstream portion of the forwardmost labyrinth tooth and a low pressure fluid to a downstream portion of the aftmost labyrinth tooth. The sealing device segment further includes a secondary seal in contact with the stator interface element at a radially outer end and in contact with an elevated nose of the shoe plate on a radially inner end; and multiple bellow springs or flexures attached to the shoe plate and to the stator interface element.

Growing community of inventors

Palm Coast, FL, United States of America

Matthew Michael Langenderfer