The Boeing Company

Scott Elder McVey

Sen Y Meng

James D Goss

Jozsef L Moharos

Dean J Nunez

Stephan J Ebert

Kevin Joseph Lunde

Neil G Hicks

Richard L Gulden

A gas-buffered brush seal assembly and associated method are provided. The seal assembly includes at least one brush seal that defines an interface with a rotatable member. The seal assembly is configured to deliver a gas to the interface so that the gas at least partially prevents the flow of a fluid therethrough. In addition, the seal assembly can be adjustable so that the flow of the fluid is controlled by adjusting the flow rate of the gas through the seal assembly.

Gas-buffered seal assembly and method therefor

An annular fluid film bearing is formed of a stator ring and a rotatable element concentrically mounted within the stator ring such that an annular clearance is defined between the inner surface of the stator ring and the outer surface of the rotatable element. Fluid flows through the annular clearance, and hydrostatic pressure of the fluid in the clearance provides radial support to the rotatable element and stiffness and damping for the bearing. A diffuser and inlet flow guide is mounted adjacent the inlet end of the annular bearing clearance. The diffuser and inlet flow guide comprises a ring having a plurality of flow passages formed in its inner surface facing the rotatable element. The flow passages are configured to turn the fluid approaching the inlet of the annular bearing clearance such that the fluid entering the annular clearance has a tangential velocity opposite to the direction of rotation of the rotatable element. The flow passages also include diffuser portions that diffuse the fluid to increase its static pressure prior to entering the annular clearance.

Annular bearing with diffuser and inlet flow guide

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Newbury Park, CA, United States of America

Scott Elder McVey