Mechanical Technology Incorporated

Dresser-rand Company

USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Cummins Engine Company, Inc.

Wilbur Shapiro

Hooshang Heshmat

Stanley Gray

Hugh G Anderson

Henry F Jones, Jr

Sargit S Bupara

Richard W Graham, Ii

A face seal with hydrodynamic thrust pads assembly is provided. The assembly comprises a ring structure with a front side facing in an axial direction that has a seal face continuous about the ring structure and a plurality of cut-outs with concave surfaces spaced concentrically around the seal face. A plurality of elastomeric laminates having a convex side are disposed in the concave surfaces. A plurality of thrust pads are bonded to the laminates such that one side of the thrust pads are all in a plane parallel to the plane of the seal face. When a closing load is transmitted against an opposing member by the sealing pressure against the back face of the assembly while the opposing member rotates relative to the assembly, friction and pressure forces cause the thrust pads to swing about a pivot point located towards the opposing member such that the fluid film converges in the direction of movement of the opposing member. Simultaneously, the seal face seals against the opposing member.

Face seal with hydrodynamic thrust pads

A single ring sector seal (10) has multiple arcuate sectors (12a, 12b, 12c) arranged circumferentially around a rotating shaft and in floating engagement with a seal housing. Each sector (12) engages each adjacent sector (12) with a slot seal (40) and overlapping joint (38) therebetween to deter leakage. A protruding ridge (36) on each sector (12) engages a low pressure end cover (18) to form a secondary seal. Spring balance seals (28) provide a further seal between the high pressure chambers (20b, 20c) and the chamber (20a) which can be vented while the shaft is rotating and pressurized when the shaft is stationary. Each sector (12) is radially, axially and moment balanced.

Single ring sector seal

A thrust bearing for a main propulsion shafting system on a ship having ting pads and fluid equalizing pistons. Hydraulic oil fills a recess on the face of each pad to provide additional lubrication and hydrostatic pressure to allow the bearing to handle added load capacity. The system for supplying oil to the recess may either be separate from the piston equalizing hydraulic system or part of a combined system. In the combined system, stationary control pads sense the oil thickness and control the oil flow.

Fluid equalized tilting pad thrust bearings

A hydrodynamic fluid film bearing having a series of axially aligned foil bearing modules which act in concert to extend the load carrying capability of the bearing assembly while providing whirl free operation.

High load, whirl free, foil journal bearing

A gas bearing supported piston assembly (2) for an internal combustion engine including a piston body (14, 14') and a segmented piston ring (3) arranged to expand to compensate for wear. A piston supporting gas layer (27) is formed between the cylinder walls (8) and the exterior surface of each piston ring segment (32) by means of a plurality of restricted flow passages (40) formed in each segment (32) and extending between the inner and outer surfaces of the segment (32). In one embodiment, gas under pressure is supplied to the ring segments (32) through a single annular cavity (36) formed in piston body (14). In another embodiment, gas under pressure is supplied to the ring segments (32) through a plurality of corresponding holes (70) in piston body (14').

Gas bearing piston assembly

In a piston rod seal for a Stirling engine, a hydrostatic bearing and differential pressure regulating valve are utilized to provide for a low pressure differential across a rubbing seal between the hydrogen and oil so as to reduce wear on the seal.

Piston rod seal for a Stirling engine

A hydrodynamic compliant journal bearing for dynamically supporting a rotating shaft in a journal sleeve, includes three pads, each having a flexible bearing sheet attached to the sleeve along one edge and a resilient supporting structure attached to the sleeve under the bearing sheet for compliantly supporting the bearing sheet to support the shaft. The resilient support has a series of resilient elevations which increase in stiffness in the direction of shaft rotation so that the pad assumes a profile under hydrodynamic loading which increases in inclination with increasing shaft speed to maintain bearing stability over the full load range.

Growing community of inventors

Schenectady, NY, United States of America

Wilbur Shapiro