US3162241A

US3162241A - Seal for rotary regenerator

Info

Publication number: US3162241A
Application number: US147512A
Authority: US
Inventors: Smith Raymond
Original assignee: Continental Aviation and Engineering Corp
Current assignee: Continental Aviation and Engineering Corp
Priority date: 1961-10-25
Filing date: 1961-10-25
Publication date: 1964-12-22
Anticipated expiration: 1981-12-22

Description

Dec. 22, 1964 R. SMITH SEAL FOR ROTARY REGENERATOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 25, 1961 mvamolp Raymond Jm/fh AYTORIVEYS Dec. 22, 1964 SMITH 3,162,241

SEAL FOR ROTARY REGENERATOR Filed Oct. 25, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Raymond fimhh Dec. 22, 1964- R. SMITH SEAL FOR ROTARY REGENERATOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 25, 1961 Dec. 22, 1964 SMITH SEAL FOR ROTARY REGENERATOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 25, 1961 w aw 9v 9w A ww mm QM. 3 iv v fi u mrnm i mm: m3 3 m a xy/ kmf L 4/ /7 m. mmM/11\ i A mm mwfivbk m b {v the matrix in the colder stages.

United States Patent Ofilice 3,152,241 Patented Dec. 22, 1964 3,162,241 SEAL FOR ROTARY REGENERATOR Raymond Smith, Fraser, Mich, assignor to Continental Aviation and Engineering Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Virginia Filed Oct. 25, 1961, Ser. No. 147,512 Claims. (Cl. 165-9) This invention relates to heat exchangers and particularly to improved sealing means for a rotary regenerative type heat exchanger.

In a preferred rotary heat exchanger of the type used in turbine engines, an annular framework carrying a matrix of heat absorbent material rotates in a stationary casing. The matrix may be a drum-like annulus or a series of discs. In any event, the casing is divided radially into two sections which are, as far as possible, sealed from one another. The hot exhaust gases are directed into one of these sections and the cold compressed air is detoured through the other on its way to the combustion chamber. The matrix rotates in the paths of flow of both of these; the effect being that a large amount of heat from the exhaust gases is transferred to the compressed air. In this way, energy in the form of heat which would otherwise be lost is retained in the engine.

Efiiciency is lost in such a heat exchanger unless an effective seal is provided between the casing and the rotating matrix to minimize the intermixing of the air and the exhaust gases. Since the air has been compressed a pressure drop resulting from leakage of the air into the lower pressure exhaust represents a direct loss of the energy produced in compressing.

Such a seal must be constructed in a manner which will compensate for the distortion and warping which occurs due to the fact that the different parts of the apparatus are subjected to varying as well as intense heats during operation. Further, the seal should be constructed so that the effect of friction is minimized.

In an exchanger employing a drum matrix as discussed herein, the paths of flow of the hot gases is generally radially outwardly through the matrix. The cold air, on the other hand, flows radially inwardly through the matrix. The inner ring of the matrix then receives the hot gases as well as the heated air while the outside ring receives the cold air as Well as the gases after the heat has been substantially removed. These paths of flow then produce a hot ring and a cold ring, producing a distortion or warping in the form of an expanded inner ring. Any seal utilized must take into consideration this fact and therefor must include some thermal compensating means to overcome it.

Heretofore, attempts at providing a seal for this type of heat exchanger have not been too successful. Generally, these seals have consisted of a flexible seal projecting from the casing in contact with and acting to wipe the rotating matrix. During operation, the distortion and warping described above tends to separate the matrix and-casing more and more as the apparatus gets hotter and hotter. Thus such a seal, to be effective in the hot stages or operation, must bear too hard against Energysaved by an effective seal while the apparatus is hot is lost through increased friction while the regenerator is cold.

" '-An object of the present invention is to provide a novel seal which effectively separates the exhaust gases and air at all stages of operation through the provision of v a thermal compensating structure.

the air and gases from each other at all times during operation.

Still another object is to provide an effective sealing means which minimizes friction at all times during operation by utilizing a rolling seal.

Other objects of the invention will readily occur to those skilled in the art upon reference to the accompanying drawings showing a preferred embodiment of the present invention in which like characters refer to like parts throughout the several views and in which FIG. 1 is a perspective diagrammatic view of a structure embodying the present invention from which parts of the assembly immaterial to the understanding of the invention have been omitted.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a rotary regenerator embodying the present invention taken substantially on the line 2-2 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of a roller embodying the invention and,

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on line 55 of FIG. 4.

Referring first to FIG. 1 for a general description of the regenerator, it comprises an annular matrix 10 in the form of a drum, the edges of the drum being defined by end rings 11 capped by annular retainers 12A and 12B. Gear teeth 13 are provided on the outer peripheral edge of one of the annular retainers 12A. The heat exchange portion 14 of the matrix 10 is fixed between the end rings 11 and may be of any suitable heat absorbent material known in the art such as thin corrugated sheets of metal. A bulkhead assembly 15 divides the regenerator into two sections. The regenerator housing and other structures by which the air and gas flow is directed have been omitted from FIG. 1 in order to more clearily illustrate the general arrangement of a regenerator embodying the present invention.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3 for a more detailed description of the apparatus embodying the present invention, a casing 16 cooperates with the bulkhead assembly 15 and duct work (not shown) to form passageways which direct the flow of gas and air through the regenerator. As indicated by the arrows at A in FIG. 2, air discharged from a compressor (not shown) fiows radially inwardly through the heat exchange material 14 and leaves the regenerator axially. Exhaust gases, as indicated by the arrows at B, are discharged from a turbine (not shown) and enter the regenerator axially, flowing radially outwardly through the material 14.

The casing 16 rotatably carries a drive shaft 17 by any means such as a pair of bearings 18. An extended portion 17A of the drive shaft 17 may be connected to any convenient driving means such as a turbine (not shown). The drive shaft 17 extends through a spacer tube 19 which fixes in spaced relation a pair of friction rings 20. A jam nut 21 cooperates with an annular boss 22 in the drive shaft 17 to secure the friction rings 20 and the spacer tube 19 to the shaft 17. The rings 20 and tube 19 may be prevented from rotating relative to the shaft 17 by any convenient means such as a key 23.

The bulkhead assembly 15 comprises a substantially convex partition plate 24 carrying a cylindrical housing 25 at a pair of opposite edges by any convenient means such as bolts 26. The housings 25 are adapted to enclose a roller assembly 27 to be described more fully below. A longitudinal sector is removed from each cylindrical housing 25 forming a slotted portion 28 exposing the roller assembly 27 to the inner lateral wall of the matrix 11). The partition plate 24 is secured to the casing 16 by any convenient means such as bolts 29.-

Cylindrical housings 15A, similar to the housings but preferably somewhat larger, are secured to the casing 16 by anyconvenient means such as bolts These too are constructed to enclose a roller assembly 275 like roller assembly 27 but again somewhat larger. slot 28A provided in the housing 25Av exposes each roller assembly 27A to the outer peripheral wall of the matrix I V a 4 heretofore friction had to be great ia cafififi'sate far the warping present in the hotter stages. a

It will be apparent, to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description that'thethermal compensatingv seal of the present invention is highly advantageousirr reducing leakage and friction in'rotary regenerators andvthereby increasing; the efi'iciency', of fmachineslin which it is in substantial alignment with, the slot 28 provided in of this assembly with respect Ito the othei'paits of he regenerator. N U h H ably secured to the casing-t 'l fi by any convenient means such as bearing assemblies 35 carried A geared ring 37 is positioned on the shafts to 'n'ish with the gear teeth 13 provided oh the matrix 10' by means of a spacertube SS 339 are posed on the shaft 34 between the spacer tube}? and a second spacer tube 38A,; cap element acting with the spacer tube and the spaeer tube 38Apositions the annular spacer elements substantially in alignment with thelateral edge of the 10. This assembly may be fixed to the drive shaft 314 by any means which prevents relative rotation such as a'key' 41.

plurality ofi annularly spaced radially eXteiiding slots 42 as best seen Each o i these is de signed to take a vane assembly 43.

annular grooves d8projvided each ende f thespecer The assembly 2 ezsinsases a shaft 34 m t} 53 apjscrews 36.;

Each of the spacer elements fi isjp rovidedwith a c employed. The simplicity'of structure which the present invention enablesis also an importantfadvantage.

It will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that 1 while only one preferred form of the invention hasbeen elements 39. Rings 49 retainedin the groo'yes of I adjacent spacer entrants 39 pass thi' ough the slots and to retain the individual vane seals 46 in the slots 42; v V

Each; of the roller assemblies 27 and 2 7A a're construct'ed substantially in the; manner, described above;

except that theassernbly 27A is preferably larger as heretofore indicated;

In operation the friction rings 20 frictionall'y contact the end rings 11 to rot-atablydrive the. matrix 1 0,lal-

though it is apparent that any one or more ofthe

rciller v assemblies

27 and 27A; could be drivin-gly connected to a V y source of power and used to rotate the matrix 10 without. I theneed forthe friction ringsZO. This rotationaliforceis transmitted to the

roller assemblies

27 and 27A by the geared retainer 12A and the geared rings 37. The springs which will take place in the as therege'neratorf V jecomesh'eated. The wave spring'di is designedto'fapply I tension to each individual vane element 46.; enabling it to extend or retract Where warping oridistorti'on occurs.

friction especiallyin the colder stages offopera'tionwhe e 44 and'ASnrge the vane as'sernbliesAB into rolling con f The rings49 bind the vane seals 46'together sufiiciently;

:tomaintain a line contact with the, niatrix l ti at all tiniest f 1 v The rolling contactoffthe seals'ininimizes' theaeifect of a illustrated and described} various changes and 'rr'iodifiatio'ns in constniction may be hadWithout-departing froth the spirit of the invention or near the scope of the appended claims.

lclaiffii 1'. In regenerative heat ieliaiig apparatus i) a g, f f .m 5 a matrix ofheat absorbeht material ro'tat'ably carried at said arising; r 1

fans for partiti'onifigsaid easing into at least two 7 sect1oiis,-

'- (d) rollers rotatabiy carried in said easing inte'inidiate v said seetibns;

(a) aaiagzmeaas disposed at and series in sailing eoii'taetwithsaid mitt-iii, (ff cnqf said rollers comprising," 7 I a shaft rotatablysecured to said easing,

a spacer tube carr ied ateachend of said shaft; aplu'rality of axially aligned taniiillarspacer a6, merits disposed between said 'spa'ceitubes add 7 i fiiced to'said shaft torrdtatidii therewith, Y theeiids of; said spacer elements being ismidea y w in-any aligiied annular grooves, v I 'retai'niiig "rifig's c ed in "aid annular gr do'v'e's of adjacentspaereleiiieiits aiid v v saidfspacer ele'in nts being provided with a plufalityof a lig dnar'iiiul aily' spaced radially eit- I tending slots, afid- (a) said sealing means being cairiea in said slots and each of said sealiil'g means comprising a pl'ufality of s'r'ib'st'initially rectangular.- vane eleriiefits car'rie'd in each of said slots,

"vane ele'iiieiits' in registry with said grooves pro- 7 iiitled in said spacf element s, v said 'rtairierrin'g s being reeeived by said vane e'lenierit grooves whereby'said vane elements are retained in said slots, and v means urging each of said vane elements outwardly whereby said individual vane elements will be urged into ebritactwith said matrix and said re- 1 taiiiing rings will bind; adjacent vane'elemeiits togeth'rfisufi'ieieh tlyto maintain a line contact witli'said'matrixi" I a 2. In a regenerative heat exchange apparatus I v (a) a casing.

'a 'matrix of "Bear absorbent material rotatably' carriedin said-casing, Y ,t (0) means for partitioning said casing into at leastitwo section's, V v a 1 (a!) rollersrotatably carried in said casing-intermediate 7 said sections,; (e) se'aling means contact with said matriir,

dispos d insaid rollers in sealing 10?) @5611" said rollers beingprovided plurality:

' of annularlyfspacd;radiallyjextending slots and aj Of axiallispaced a XiallYi aligned retainer rings passin'g th'rough 's 1d slots", g 3

5(3) s'a'id' sealing rnean's being" Carrie insaid slots and.

' e'achjofsai d sealing means cornpi ising a pluralit miles I greet/{es being proviae'a in the lateral edges or said y ofv he elements carried in each ofsaid V a 'ai' it h n t dges" extending radially with-fres'peetttof said.

grooves being provided in said edges and receiving said retainer rings whereby said vane elements are retained in said slots, and

means carried in said slots and urging said vane elements radially outwardly.

3. In a regenerative heat exchange apparatus (a) a casing,

(b) an annular matrix rotatably carried in said casing and having inner and outer peripheral walls,

(c) means for rotating said matrix,

(0.) a partition plate secured to said casing dividing said easing into two sections,

(e) substantially cylindrical housings carried at op posite edges of said partition plate and each of said cylindrical housings being provided with an elongated radially extending slot disposed closely adjacent said inner peripheral wall of said matrix,

(f) a roller member rotatably secured to said casing and carried in each of said housings,

(g) each of said roller members being provided with a plurality of radially extending annularly spaced slots,

(/1) a vane assembly carried in each of said roller member slots,

(i) each of said vane assemblies comprising a plurality of vane elements, retaining means carried by said roller member and resiliently securing adjacent vane elements one to the other and means resiliently urging said vane elements radially outwardly.

4. The heat exchanger apparatus as defined in claim 3 and in which said retaining means comprises a plurality of retainer rings, said Vane elements being substantially rectangular, slots being provided in the lateral edges of said vane elements, and said retaining rings passing through the slots of adjacent vane elements whereby to allow each of said vane elements to be independently urged by said urging means While at the same time maintaining substantial line contact between said vane elements and said matrix.

5. The heat exchanger apparatus as defined in claim 3 and in which said urging means comprises a wave spring and a seat spring, said springs being disposed in said roller whereby said wave spring acts to urge each of said vane elements outwardly.

6. The heat exchanger apparatus as defined in claim 3 and in which said rotating means comprises a drive shaft adapted for connection with a source of power, said drive shaft being rotatably carried in said casing, friction rings carried in spaced relation on said drive shaft, means for preventing relative rotational movement between said drive shaft and said friction rings, said matrix comprising a pair of annular retainers, said friction rings being disposed in frictional contact with said annular retainers whereby r0- tational force applied to said drive shaft is transmitted to said matrix.

7. In a heat exchanger apparatus having a casing providing at least two sections and a matrix rotating in said sections, a sealing means engaging said matrix to seal one section from the other and comprising (a) a roller adapted to be rotatably carried in said casing closely adjacent said matrix,

(b) said roller being provided with a plurality of annularly spaced radially extending slots,

(0) a plurality of vane elements carried in each of said slots,

(d retaining means carried by said roller and resiliently securing adjacent vane elements one to the other, and

(e) means resiliently urging said vane elements radially outwardly into contact with said matrix.

8. The sealing means as defined in claim 7 and in which said retaining means comprises (a) a plurality of axially spaced rings carried by said roller,

(b) slots being provided on the adjacent edges of each pair of said vane elements, and

(c) each of said slots of adjacent vane elements receiving one of said rings.

9. The sealing means as defined in claim 7 and in which said roller comprises (a) a plurality of axially aligned annular spacer elements,

(b) said slots being provided in said spacer elements.

10. The sealing means as defined in claim 9 and in which said retaining means comprises (a) a plurality of axially spaced rings carried by said annular spacer elements,

(b) slots being provided on the adjacent edges of each pair of adjacent vane elements,

(6) each of said slots of adjacent vane elements receiving one of said rings.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,603,437 Winquist Oct. 19, 1926 1,964,492 Yandell June 26, 1934 2,915,297 Lange Dec. 1, 1959 3,057,604 Bubniak et a1. Oct. 9, 1962

Claims

7. IN A HEAT EXCHANGER APPARATUS HAVING A CASING PROVIDING AT LEAST TWO SECTIONS AND A MATRIX ROTATING IN SAID SECTIONS, A SEALING MEANS ENGAGING SAID MATRIX TO SEAL ONE SECTION FROM THE OTHER AND COMPRISING (A) A ROLLER ADAPTED TO BE ROTATABLY CARRIED IN SAID CASING CLOSELY ADJACENT SAID MATRIX, (B) SAID ROLLER BEING PROVIDED WITH A PLURALITY OF ANNULARLY SPACED RADIALLY EXTENDING SLOTS, (C) A PLURALITY OF VANE ELEMENTS CARRIED IN EACH OF SAID SLOTS, (D) RETAINING MEANS CARRIED BY SAID ROLLER AND RESILIENTLY SECURING ADJACENT VANE ELEMENTS ONE TO THE OTHER,AND (E) MEANS RESILIENTLY URGING SAID VANE ELEMENTS RADIALLY OUTWARDLY INTO CONTACT WITH SAID MATRIX.