Abstract:
A bearing structure having an annular cage (124) and an annular housing (114) that optionally mate at frustogeometrical surfaces (115a, 125) for supporting and positioning a rotatable shaft (102) of a turbomachine and that optionally provides a squeeze film damper between the frustogeometrical surfaces of the annular cage and the annular housing. A bearing structure having an annular cage (124) and an annular housing (114) that optionally mate at frustogeometrical surfaces (115a, 124) for supporting and positioning rotatable shaft (102) of a turbomachine and that optionally provides an externally adjustable squeeze film damper between the frustogeometrical surfaces of the annular cage and the annular housing. The squeeze film damper is defined by two annular squeeze film seals (156a, 158a) positioned in respective annular squeeze film seal grooves (156, 158) formed in the frustogeometrical radially outer surface of the annular cage (124). Lubricant is also delivered to the squeeze film damper which serves as the damping medium.
Abstract:
An improved compressor impeller (10) has partial height blades (18) between full height blades (15). The invention is adaptable to radial or mixed flow centrifugal compressors, axial compressors, radial turbines and axial turbines.
Abstract:
A damper film bearing assembly (10) for supporting a rotatable shaft (11) of a turbomachine includes a housing (22) having a central bore sized to receive the bearing member, and an annular cavity (34) formed within the housing around the central bore. The annular cavity (34) includes an outer wall (36) that is concentric with the central bore. A bearing member (35) having an annular outer surface and an inner bearing surface is mounted within the cavity and engages the shaft (11) to support the shaft within the housing. A fluid film damper mechanism (55) acts between the annular outer surface (39) and the outer wall of the cavity (36) for damping radial movement of the bearing member within the cavity. A resiliently adjustable dead weight hanging spring support system (61, 62) acts between the housing and the bearing member to support the dead weight of the shaft within a vertically centered position within the central bore so that the fluid film damper means functions to maintain the shaft centered within the bore when vibrations occur during rotation of the shaft.
Abstract:
A compressor piston (154) divides a first compartment (153) into two compression chambers (155, 156), while a hammer piston (285) divides a second compartment (284) into two drive chambers (286, 287), each of the compression chambers (155, 156) being connected to a respective one of the drive chambers (286, 287) to form a closed fluid system wherein reciprocation of the compressor piston (154) causes cyclic compression and expansion of the fluid in the compression chambers (155, 156) and thus in the drive chambers (286, 287), to effect a cyclic impacting of the hammer piston (285) with a bit adapter (27) connected to the drill bit (14). A mud motor (16) rotates a shaft (68) to drive an oscillator (172) which reciprocates the compressor piston (154). The oscillator (172) can comprise roller elements (191-198) in the compressor piston (154) in engagement with canted grooves (181-184) in the shaft (68).
Abstract:
A turbomachine comprising a turbine wheel (77) rotatable about an axis, and having a circumferential edge. The turbine wheel comprises a plurality of rotating blade rows (78), radially displaced from the axis and positioned along the circumferential edge, wherein each blade row has a plurality of circumferentially spaced blades and a reversing ring (82) comprising a retaining ring (88) holding a reversing blade row. The reversing blade row (82) has a plurality of circumferentially-spaced reversing blades extending radially inward from the retaining ring between adjacent blade rows of the turbine wheel, and are positioned at a location radially outward of the rotating blade rows. The reversing blade row (82) is axially displaced from adjacent rotating blade rows to permit clearance for rotating of said turbine wheel, and are positioned to receive flow from an adjacent first rotating blade row and to direct flow to an adjacent second rotating blade row. The retaining ring extends axially to an extent sufficient and configured to cover the rotating blade rows.
Abstract:
A shaftless compressor module (10) has a module casing (11) containing an axial chamber (14) and an annular chamber (15) coaxially with the longitudinal axis (16) of the axial chamber. An annular motor stator (33) can be fixedly positioned in the annular chamber coaxially with the longitudinal axis of the axial chamber. An annular motor rotor (31) can be positioned in the annular chamber coaxially with the annular motor stator. A shaftless impeller (22) is rotatably mounted within the axial chamber. The impeller has a plurality of impeller passageways (27), with one end of each passageway being open to the inlet of the module casing and the other end of each passageway being located in a radially outer periphery of the impeller. Magnetic bearings (51, 52, 54, 55) can counter axial and radial thrust. Annular gas seals (62) can prevent gas flow through the annular chamber. A plurality of these modules (10) can be connected together to form a multiple stage shaftless compressor wherein each impeller can be driven at a different speed.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a non-contacting shaft seal formed between a rotating sealing ring (3) and a non-rotating circular sealing element (1). The sealing element (1) is spring-loaded towards the sealing ring (3). Gas is pumped into spiral grooves (6) formed in the sealing face (5) of either the sealing ring (3) or the sealing element (1) and extending from an edge thereof during rotation of the sealing ring (3) and a gap (S) is created between the sealing element (1) and the sealing ring (3) against the force of the spring. Each groove is divided into two channels by a wedge-shaped partition (7) extending from the end wall of the groove (6). During speed changes of the rotating sealing ring (3), the gap (S) is maintained by high pressure at the closed end of the channels. The partition (7) is designed to offer little resistance to gas flow in the channel.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a shaft seal (1) comprising a sealing element (14) mounted co-axially to a rotary sealing ring (10) to form a primary seal between opposed faces thereof to substantially prevent fluid flow across the primary seal. The sealing ring (10) is mounted about the shaft (2) on an inner sleeve (11). The inner sleeve is fixed to the shaft to be axially and rotationally fast. The sealing ring (10) is connected to the inner sleeve (11) by half-moon shaped locking members (12) extending through the inner sleeve (11) outwardly into the sealing ring (10). The locking members (12) lock the sealing ring (10) rotationally and axially fast on the inner sleeve (11).
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a shaft seal (1) comprising a sealing element (14) mounted co-axially to a rotary sealing ring (10) to form a primary seal between opposed faces thereof to substantially prevent fluid flow across the primary seal. The sealing element (14) is urged axially towards the rotary ring (10) by a springs (15) acting between a pusher sleeve (15) connected to the sealing element (14) and a seal housing (19). A secondary seal formed between the pusher sleeve (15) and the housing (19) by a sealing member (20) located in a channel (21) in the pusher sleeve (15).