A tangentially cut rod packing ring is provided. The tangentially cut rod packing ring comprises a first ring formed from a plurality of segments. Each of the segments has a portion of two interfaces where each interface slidably engages an interface of an adjacent segment. One interface terminates at a leading surface. One interface has a stop surface. The leading surface is originally separated from the stop surface by a gap. As the interfaces slidably move, the gap lessens until the leading surface abuts the stop surface. The tangentially cut rod packing ring also comprises a second ring formed from a plurality of segments. The second ring has a first portion and a second portion. The first portion forms as shelf on which the first ring sits. The second portion surrounds the first ring. An elastic member in a groove on the outer surface of the second portion provides a compressive force on both the second ring and the first ring.

A piston rod seal unit. The piston rod seal unit includes a housing, a cylinder gland, and at least one floating rod seal assembly mounted in the cylinder gland, the floating rod seal assembly comprising at least one rod seal mounted onto the floating rod seal assembly.

A circumferential seal assembly suitable for forming a thin film between a rotatable runner and a sealing ring is presented. The assembly includes an annular seal housing, a rotatable runner, an annular seal ring, and a plurality of groove structures. Each groove structure includes a groove and an optional feed groove. The groove includes at least two adjoining steps defined by base walls arranged to decrease depthwise. Two adjoining base walls are disposed about a base shoulder. Each base shoulder locally redirects a longitudinal flow to form an outward radial flow in the direction of the annular seal ring. The base walls are bounded by and intersect a pair of side walls. A side wall includes side shoulders which narrows the groove widthwise and locally redirects the longitudinal flow to form a lateral flow in the direction of the other side wall. Outward and lateral flows separately or in combination enhance stiffness of a thin-film layer between the annular seal ring and the rotatable runner.

An intershaft seal assembly for use between an inner shaft and an outer shaft rotatable within a turbine engine is presented. The seal assembly includes a sealing ring, an inner ring, and a pair of end rings. The sealing ring further includes a plurality of asymmetric ring segments whereby each asymmetric ring segment further includes a vertical flange and a pair of horizontal flanges extending from the vertical flange in a non-symmetric arrangement. The non-symmetric seal geometry provides an axial force balance thereby reducing wear and increasing seal life. The sealing ring is disposed about the inner ring. The inner ring includes a plurality of ridges that engage the asymmetric ring segments so as to prevent rotation of the asymmetric ring segments with respect to the inner shaft. The end rings are disposed about the sealing ring and the inner ring. The horizontal flanges separately contact the end rings so that the vertical flange extends from and between the end rings in the direction of the outer shaft. A non-contact seal is formed between an outer sealing surface along the vertical flange and an inner sealing surface along the outer shaft.

An aspirating face seal assembly for a turbo-machine including a rotor assembly having a first radially extending portion defining a rotor surface is disclosed. The aspirating face seal assembly includes a seal body including a second radially extending portion defining a bearing surface and having a plurality of return channels. The second radially extending portion is disposed in the turbo-machine such that the bearing surface is disposed facing the rotor surface. The aspirating face seal assembly further includes an annular ring including one or more openings. The annular ring is concentrically disposed on the second radially extending portion and between the rotor surface and the second radially extending portion and configured to rotate in an event of rub between the first radially extending portion and the annular ring. A turbo-machine including the aspirating face seal assembly and a method for operating an aspirating face seal are also disclosed.

Aspects of the disclosure are directed to a seal comprising: a support ring, at least one beam coupled to the support ring, and a shoe coupled to the at least one beam, the shoe having an axial shoe face that includes a rounded edge that is configured to contact a support structure face of a support structure when the seal is subjected to a load that is equal to or greater than a first threshold.

An external combustion engine including a burner element, a heater head, a piston cylinder containing a piston, a cooler and a crankcase. The crankcase includes a crankshaft, a piston rod connected to the piston, a drive mechanism for converting the linear motion of the piston rod to rotary motion of the crankshaft and a linear cross-head bearing that is connected rigidly to the piston rod at one end and to the drive mechanism at the other end. Also the external combustion engine includes a piston clearance seal and a piston rod seal unit that has floating rod seals. The piston includes a inner dome to reduce axial heat transfer via radiation and convection.

An annular ring for sealing a flow includes an inner ring and a tab. The tab extends radially and is configured to restrict axial movement of the seal.

An annular ring for sealing a flow includes an inner ring and a tab. The tab extends radially and is configured to restrict axial movement of the seal.

Aspects of the disclosure are directed to a seal comprising: a shoe, and at least two beams coupled to the shoe, where a first width associated with the beams exceeds a second width associated with the shoe in a reference direction. Aspects of the disclosure are directed to an engine comprising: a compressor section, a turbine section, and a floating, non-contact seal that includes: a shoe, and at least two beams coupled to the shoe, where the beams extend past an edge of a flowpath surface associated with the shoe in a reference direction.