Patent ID: 6318958
Filing Date: 2001-11-20
Classification: F01D,F02C

Abstract:
An air turbine starter comprising:a housing defining an inlet, an outlet, and a flow path communicating said inlet with said outlet for conveying a flow of pressurized air therebetween;a turbine disposed in said flow path and having a turbine shaft extending therefrom journaled for rotation to said housing by at least one lubricated bearing, said turbine converting the pressure energy of said pressurized air to shaft power;an output shaft journaled by said housing for transmitting said shaft power externally of said starter;a gear train coupling said turbine with said output shaft, said gear train including a one-way overrunning clutch transmitting torque to said output shaft and preventing back driving from said output shaft to said geartrain; anda seal assembly disposed between said lubricated bearing and said turbine wheel, said assembly comprising a face seal and a labyrinth seal axially spaced therefrom to define an air filled annular chamber therebetween; said labyrinth seal extending radially inward from said housing to a radially inner tip having at least one knife edge that seals against a radially outward facing surface of said turbine shaft.