Claims
- 1. A seal assembly comprising;
- a first component adapted to rotate about an axis and including means defining a radially extending annular surface disposed about said axis of rotation;
- a second component interconnected to said first component and adapted to rotate therewith at the same speed about the same axis of rotation, said second component comprising wall means adjacent said annular surface, said wall means defining a substantially frusto-conical surface coaxial with said annular surface defining an annular seal compartment therebetween; and
- a free length of flexible wire rope, said flexible wire rope comprising a plurality of wire filaments twisted together, said rope disposed in said annular compartment and extending once substantially completely around said compartment in substantially continuous contact with both said annular surface and said frusto-conical surface, wherein during rotation of said seal assembly said wire rope is pressed into sealing relationship against said annular and frusto-conical surfaces by centrifugal forces.
- 2. The seal assembly according to claim 1 wherein said flexible wire rope comprises a plurality of wire bundles twisted together, each bundle comprising a plurality of wire filaments twisted together.
- 3. The seal assembly according to claim 1 wherein said first component is a gas turbine engine rotor.
- 4. The seal assembly according to claim 1 wherein said first component is a rotor comprising a disk having an axially facing surface and axially and radially extending lugs uniformly circumferentially spaced about the periphery of said disk defining axially extending blade root slots therebetween through said disk, each of said lugs having an end face forming a portion of said disk axially facing surface, said rotor including a plurality of rotor blades, each blade having a root disposed within a respective one of said slots, each root having an axially facing end surface substantially flush with said end faces of said lugs wherein said lug end faces and blade root end surfaces define said annular surface of said seal compartment against which said wire rope seals during rotation of said rotor.
Government Interests
The Government has rights in the invention pursuant to Contract No. F33657-82-C-0003 awarded by the Department of the Air Force.
US Referenced Citations (11)