Balanced Seal Runner With Trim Weights for Leakage and Vibration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gas turbine engines face challenges in maintaining effective circumferential seals and balancing due to vibrations, with existing seal runners and balance weight mounting systems not adequately addressing leakage and imbalance issues across varying operating conditions.
Innovation Solution
The integration of a seal system with a metallic seal runner featuring a chromium carbide coating, angled hubs, and discrete circumferential mounting features for balance weights, along with an interference fit and spline engagement, enhances sealing performance and balance by allowing for precise weight placement and reduced leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a simple metal ring seal runner is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the sealing performance deteriorates due to coning and runout during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The seal runner is segmented into multiple parts: a metallic substrate, a hard coating layer, and a lubricious impregnation layer. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function - the substrate provides structural support, the coating maintains cylindrical geometry, and the impregnation reduces friction, collectively resolving the contradiction between simplicity and sealing reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The seal runner employs composite material construction with a metallic substrate (e.g., Inconel, Hastelloy, or titanium alloy) combined with a hard coating (such as chromium carbide or titanium nitride) and lubricious impregnation (salt or other materials). This composite structure maintains cylindrical geometry under operating conditions while reducing friction, thereby improving sealing performance without excessive complexity
2Ease of operation
If trim balance weights are placed away from the centerline to maximize imbalance correction, then the balancing effectiveness is improved, but the local flange deformation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting features are strategically positioned at specific locations on the seal runner where they provide effective balancing correction while minimizing local flange deformation. The distributed array of mounting features allows selection of optimal positions that balance effectiveness with structural integrity, applying local quality enhancement at critical locations
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows dynamic adjustment of balance weights by providing multiple mounting feature locations. Weights can be repositioned between different mounting features to optimize balancing effectiveness while monitoring and controlling flange deformation, enabling adaptive balancing that responds to operational conditions
3Adaptability or versatility
If a distributed array of mounting features is provided on the seal runner, then the adaptability for balance weight placement is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The seal runner is designed with a distributed array of mounting features that serve multiple functions: providing various placement options for balance weights, maintaining structural integrity, and potentially serving as attachment points for other components. This multi-functionality increases adaptability while managing complexity through integrated design
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration improves seal integrity and reduces vibrations by maintaining cylindrical sealing surfaces and providing flexible weight placement options, optimizing both sealing and balancing functions.
Implementation Method 1
The seal runner may include a metallic substrate with a hard coating at the sealing surface
Implementation Method 2
the seal ring(s) may be at least locally impregnated with a salt or other material to reduce friction
Implementation Method 3
The mounting section may be configured to an interference fit with the inner member
Implementation Method 4
The mounting section may include a radially outwardly extending flange and an inner diameter spline engaging a spline of the inner member
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
AI summary
A machine has: an outer member; an inner member mounted for rotation about an axis (500) relative to the outer member; and a seal system (100). The seal system (100) has: a seal housing (110) mounted to the outer member; one or more seal rings (120, 122) held by the seal housing (110) and having an inner diameter surface (140); and a seal runner (152) mounted to the inner member and having a first outer diameter surface portion (150) contacting or facing the inner diameter surface (140) of the one or more seal rings (120, 122). The seal runner (152) has a circumferential array of mounting features (162). One or more weights (164) are mounted to one or more of the mounting features (162).