Turbine engine with a rotor seal retraction mechanism

US12140034B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• General Electric Company · US

Inventors

• David Raju Yamarthi · Bengaluru, IN
• Prateek Jalan · Bengaluru, IN
• Grant Robert Portune · Cincinnati, US
• Steven Douglas Johnson · Milford, US
• Mark L. Hopper · Sharonville, US
• Richard Alan Wesling · Cincinnati, US
• Ravindra Shankar Ganiger · Kanchinakote, IN

Key dates

• Filing date: May 11, 2023
• Grant date: Nov 12, 2024
• Expiry date: May 11, 2043

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F05D2270/65
• WIPO field: Engines, pumps, turbines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A rotary machine, such as a turbomachine of a gas turbine engine, for example, including a rotor and a rotor seal assembly. The rotor is rotatable about a rotational axis and has a rotor seal face. The rotor seal assembly includes a seal body, one or more primary fluid conduits formed in the seal body, and a retraction assembly. The seal body has a seal face and is positionable to form a fluid-bearing gap between the seal face of the seal body and the rotor seal face. The one or more primary fluid conduits are fluidly connected to the fluid-bearing gap to supply a fluid to the fluid-bearing gap. The retraction assembly is connected to the seal body to move the seal body in a retraction direction away from the rotor seal face.