The Boeing Company
Seal assembly and method for reducing aircraft engine oil leakage

Abstract:

A seal assembly for a gas turbine engine employs a first seal forming an oil chamber around a bearing. The first seal is configured to maintain the oil chamber at a first pressure. A second seal forms a ventilating cavity around the oil chamber. The second seal is configured to maintain the ventilating cavity at a second pressure, the second pressure being less than the first pressure and less than an ambient pressure of a primary flow path in the engine. A pressure reducing device is coupled to the ventilating cavity. The pressure reducing device is configured to maintain the second pressure.