Patent ID: 8905408
Filing Date: 2014-12-09
Classification: F01D,F02C,F05D,F16J

Abstract:
1. A windback device for a circumferential seal interposed between a lubricant side and a gas side comprising: (a) an annular collar at one end of an annular fluid seal housing, said annular fluid seal housing at another end having an annular seal, said annular collar having an opening therethrough whereby said opening is sized to receive a rotatable runner without contact, said annular seal sized to surround and to engage with or without contact said rotatable runner to form a seal; (b) at least one channel defining at least one inclined thread, said at least one inclined thread separately extending from an inner face of said annular collar toward said rotatable runner and oriented along said inner face at a pitch angle with respect to rotation of said rotatable runner, said at least one inclined thread overlapping itself or another said inclined thread at least partially about a circumference of said annular collar, said at least one inclined thread assists a lubricant away from said annular seal; (c) a plurality of inclined baffles separately disposed along an outer circumferential surface of said rotatable runner, said inclined baffles interposed at least partially between said rotatable runner and said at least one inclined thread and overlapping said at least one inclined thread, each said inclined baffle oriented at a baffle angle with respect to rotation of said rotatable runner, each said inclined baffle has a first end and a second end, each said inclined baffle separated from said at least one inclined thread by a radial clearance, said inclined baffles assist said lubricant away from said annular seal; and (d) a plurality of inclined grooves separately disposed along said outer circumferential surface of said rotatable runner, said inclined grooves interposed at least partially between said rotatable runner and said annular seal and overlapping said annular ring, said annular seal is a ring-shaped element which contacts and is movable with respect to said annular fluid seal housing, each said inclined groove has an inlet end and an outlet end, each said inclined groove oriented at a groove angle with respect to rotation of said rotatable runner, said inclined grooves communicate a gas to an interface between said annular seal and said rotatable runner when said rotatable runner rotates so as to form said seal; wherein said groove angle is not equal to said baffle angle.