Hydrostatic non-contact seal with seal carrier elimination

Abstract

Aspects of the disclosure are directed to a non-contact seal assembly comprising a plurality of seal shoes arranged about a centerline in an annular array, the seal shoes including a first seal shoe extending axially along the centerline between a first shoe end and a second shoe end. The non-contact seal assembly may comprise a seal base circumscribing the annular array of the seal shoe, the seal base comprising first, second and third inner radial seal base surfaces where the third inner radial seal base surface is axially between the first and second inner radial seal base surfaces and is radially proximate the centerline with respect to the radially distal first and second inner radial seal base surfaces. The non-contact seal assembly may further comprise a plurality of spring elements, each of the spring elements radially distal from and connecting to a respective one of the seal shoes and radially proximate the third inner radial seal base surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A non-contact seal assembly, comprising:
 a plurality of seal shoes arranged about a centerline in an annular array, the seal shoes including a first seal shoe extending axially along the centerline between a first shoe end and a second shoe end;   a seal base circumscribing the annular array of the seal shoe, the seal base comprising first, second and third inner radial seal base surfaces where the third inner radial seal base surface is axially between the first and second inner radial seal base surfaces and is radially proximate the centerline with respect to the radially distal first and second inner radial seal base surfaces; and   a plurality of spring elements, each of the spring elements radially distal from and connecting to a respective one of the seal shoes and radially proximate the third inner radial seal base surface.   
     
     
         2 . The non-contact seal assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a first ring structure configured and arranged to at least one of position, support or mount to a secondary seal device axially separated from the seal base and radially adjacent to the first seal shoe at a proximate end and at a radially distal end is adjacent to and engaged with the first inner radial seal base surface. 
     
     
         3 . The non-contact seal assembly of  claim 2 , where the secondary seal device support ring radially adjacent to and engaged with the first inner radial seal base surface, where the secondary seal device support ring is radially proximate to the first inner radial seal base surface. 
     
     
         4 . The non-contact seal assembly of  claim 3 , further comprising a second ring structure that is adjacent to and engaged with the second first inner radial seal base surface, where the second ring structure ring is radially proximate to the second inner radial seal base surface. 
     
     
         5 . The non-contact seal assembly of  claim 1 , where the seal assembly comprises nickel alloy. 
     
     
         6 . The non-contact assembly of  claim 1 , where the seal assembly comprises one of cobalt alloy or aluminum. 
     
     
         7 . The non-contact seal assembly of  claim 1 , where the first seal shoe extends circumferentially, at the first shoe end, between a first shoe side and a second shoe side for a seal shoe length. 
     
     
         8 . The non-contact seal assembly of  claim 1 , where the seal shoes collectively form a substantially annular end surface at the second shoe end. 
     
     
         9 . A non-contact seal assembly, comprising:
 a plurality of seal shoes arranged about a centerline in an annular array, the seal shoes including a first seal shoe extending axially along the centerline between a first shoe end and a second shoe end;   a seal base circumscribing the annular array of the seal shoes; and   a plurality of spring elements, each of the spring elements radially between and connecting a respective one of the seal shoes with the seal base,   where the seal base comprises first, second and third inner radial seal base surfaces where the third inner radial seal base surface is axially between the first and second inner radial seal base surfaces and is radially proximate the centerline with respect to the radially distal first and second inner radial seal base surfaces; and   where each of the spring elements is radially distal from the third inner radial seal base surface.   
     
     
         10 . The non-contact seal assembly of  claim 9 , further comprising a secondary seal device support ring radially adjacent to and engaged with the first inner radial seal base surface, where the secondary seal device support ring is radially proximate to the first inner radial seal base surface. 
     
     
         11 . The non-contact seal assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising a first ring structure configured and arranged to at least one of position, support or mount to a secondary seal device axially separated from the seal base and radially adjacent to the first seal shoe at a proximate end and at a radially distal end is adjacent to and engaged with the first inner radial seal base surface. 
     
     
         12 . The non-contact seal assembly of  claim 9 , where the seal base is connected to a stator structure that is substantially cylindrical and extends circumferentially around and faces towards the centerline. 
     
     
         13 . The non-contact seal assembly of  claim 12 , where the seal assembly comprises nickel alloy. 
     
     
         14 . The non-contact assembly of  claim 12 , where the seal assembly comprises one of cobalt alloy or aluminum. 
     
     
         15 . The non-contact seal assembly of  claim 1 , where the first seal shoe extends circumferentially, at the first shoe end, between a first shoe side and a second shoe side for a seal shoe length. 
     
     
         16 . An assembly for rotational equipment with an axial centerline, the assembly comprising:
 a stator structure;   a rotor structure; and   a seal assembly configured to substantially seal an annular gap between the stator structure and the rotor structure, the seal assembly comprising a hydrostatic non-contact seal device including a plurality of seal shoes, a seal base and a plurality of spring elements;   the seal shoes arranged about a centerline in an annular array, the seal shoes sealingly engaging the rotor structure and including a first seal shoe extending axially along the centerline between a first shoe end and a second shoe end;   a plurality of spring elements, each of the spring elements radially between and connecting a respective one of the seal shoes with the seal base,   where the seal base comprises first, second and third inner radial seal base surfaces where the third inner radial seal base surface is axially between the first and second inner radial seal base surfaces and is radially proximate the centerline with respect to the radially distal first and second inner radial seal base surfaces; and   where each of the spring elements is radially distal from the third inner radial seal base surface.   
     
     
         17 . The assembly of  claim 16 , further comprising a secondary seal device support ring radially adjacent to and engaged with the first inner radial seal base surface, where the secondary seal device support ring is radially proximate to the first inner radial seal base surface. 
     
     
         18 . The assembly of  claim 17 , further comprising a first ring structure configured and arranged to at least one of position, support or mount to a secondary seal device axially separated from the seal base and radially adjacent to the first seal shoe at a proximate end and at a radially distal end is adjacent to and engaged with the first inner radial seal base surface. 
     
     
         19 . The assembly of  claim 16 , where the seal base is radially adjacent to and connected to the stator structure.