FLUIDIC SEAL FOR SEGMENTED NOZZLE DIAPHRAGM

• US 3,728,041 A
• Filed: 10/04/1971
• Issued: 04/17/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Richard Edward Bertelson
• Original Assignee: Richard Edward Bertelson
• Inventors: Bertelson, Richard Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Raduazo, Henry F.
• Application Number:
  US05/186,044
• Time in Patent Office: 561 Days
• Field of Search: 415/189,190,191,216,217,172 277/199
• US Class Current: 415/189
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 11/005 Sealing means between non relatively rotating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 25/246 Fastening of diaphragms or stator-rings
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 9/042 fixing blades to stators fixing stator-rings in the casing or to each other F01D25/246
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2240/55 Seals
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2250/11 triangular
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2250/75 given by its similarity to a letter, e.g. T-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/60 Efficient propulsion technologies, e.g. for aircraft

Abstract

In a gas turbine engine, fluidic sealing is provided between the segments of a nozzle diaphragm in a manner that enables both the individual nozzle segments and the seal members to be brought together for joinder from directions that are generally radial in respect to the nozzle axis, thereby permitting assembly in areas where axial movement of the component parts is limited. The invention herein described was made in the course of or under a contract or subcontract thereunder (or grant) with the Department of the Army.

Claims

1. In a radially segmented cylindrical flow confining apparatus, a fluidic seal arrangement between adjacent arcuate segments comprises:

at least one pair of cavities extending in opposing directions into adjacent arcuate segments from the segment interface wherein each cavity includes a wall which is inclined to the segment interface at an angle not less than the angle of intersection of the plane of insertion for an adjacent arcuate segment with that interface and a seal member disposed within the opposing cavities for sealing engagement with the inclined walls of the opposing cavities so as to allow unobstructed insertion and withdrawal of the segments and seal members in nominally radial directions to the assembly axis.

2. The devices of claim 1 wherein the cylindrical flow confining apparatus includes a segmented nozzle assembly having inner and outer annular bands with a plurality of circumferentially spaced partitions disposed therebetween.

3. The seal arrangement of claim 2 wherein the seal member includes a pair of intersecting substantially planar seal elements and wherein each cavity includes a slot for receiving a seal element and the inclined wall of each slot intersects the segment interface at a radially outward directed vertex with each slot having sufficient clearance to permit radial translation of the seals as a function of thermal growth of the nozzle assembly without distorting the seal member.

4. The seal arrangement of claim 2 wherein each nozzle segment is of equal arc length and any section orthogonal to the nozzle axis and through the dihedral angle formed by the intersection of the planes of the inclined walls of opposing slots intersects an angle equal to 360* divided by the total number of nozzle segments.

5. In a radially segmented cylindrical flow confining apparatus, a fluidic seal arrangement between adjacent arcuate segments comprises:

at least one pair of cavities extending in opposing directions into adjacent segments from the segment interface wherein each cavity includes a wall which is inclined to the segment interface at an angle not less than the angle of intersection of the plane of insertion of that nozzle segment with that interface and a seal member disposed within the opposing cavities for sealing engagement with the inclined walls of the opposing cavities so as to allow unobstructed insertion and withdrawal of the segments and seal members in nominally radial directions to the assembly axis.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the cylindrical flow confining apparatus includes a segmented nozzle assembly having inner and outer annular bands with a plurality of circumferentially spaced partitions disposed therebetween.

7. The seal arrangement of claim 6 wherein the seal member includes a pair of intersecting, substantially planar seal elements and wherein each cavity includes a slot for receiving a seal element and the inclined wall of each slot intersects the segment interface at a radially inward directed vertex with each slot having sufficient clearance to permit radial translation of the seals as a function of thermal growth of the nozzle assembly without distorting the seal member.

8. The seal arrangement of claim 6 wherein each nozzle segment is of equal arc length and any section orthogonal to the nozzle axis and through the dihedral angle formed by the interception of the inclined walls of opposing slots intercepts an angle equal to 360* divided by the total number of nozzle segments.