The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 29, 2011
Filed:
Sep. 04, 2007
Applicants:
Charles Alan Bulgrin, Greenville, SC (US);
Ralph Chris Bruner, Greenville, SC (US);
Robert Craig Akin, Greer, SC (US);
Inventors:
Charles Alan Bulgrin, Greenville, SC (US);
Ralph Chris Bruner, Greenville, SC (US);
Robert Craig Akin, Greer, SC (US);
Assignee:
General Electric Company, Schenctady, NY (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
F01D 11/02 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
Abstract
A uniquely configured rotating seal tooth is used in conjunction with commonly used labyrinth-type seals that provide a seal between a rotating component and a stationary component. The uniquely configured rotating seal tooth produces a compression mechanism to counter leakage flow through the labyrinth of seal teeth, thereby lessening the pressure gradient that drives leakage and reversing the direction of some of the leakage flow.