Turbine blade platform seal

• US 6,273,683 B1
• Filed: 02/05/1999
• Issued: 08/14/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Siemens Energy Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Westinghouse Power Corporation
• Inventors: Schiavo, Anthony L., Zagar, Thomas W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Verdier, Christopher
• Application Number:
  US09/245,816
• Time in Patent Office: 921 Days
• Field of Search: 416/190, 416/191, 416/193.A, 416/220.R, 416/145, 416/248, 416/500, 415/135, 415/136, 415/138, 415/139, 277/421, 277/422, 277/643
• US Class Current: 416/193.00A
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 11/006 Sealing the gap between rotor blades or blades and rotor
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 11/008 by spacer elements between the blades, e.g. independent interblade platforms
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 5/22 Blade-to-blade connections, e.g. for damping vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2240/80 Platforms for stationary or moving blades
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 416/50 Vibration damping features

Abstract

A rotating blade group 90 for a turbo-machine having an improved device for sealing the gap 110 between the edges 112,114 of adjacent blade platforms 96,104. The gap 110 between adjacent blades 92,100 is sealed by a seal pin 20 its central portion 110 and by a seal plate 58,60 at each of the front 54 and rear 56 portions. The seal plates 58,60 are inserted into corresponding grooves 62,64 formed in the adjacent edges 112,114 of adjoining blades 92,100 and held in place by end plates 40,42. The end of the seal plates 58,60 may be chamfered 78,80 to improve the seal against the end plate 40,42. The seal pin 20 provides the required damping between the blades 92,100 and the seal plates 58,60 provide improved sealing effectiveness.

Claims

1. A blade group in a turbo-machine comprising:

a first blade having a first platform section with a first edge;

a second blade having a second platform section with a second edge located adjacent said first edge and forming a gap therebetween;

a first groove formed in said first edge;

a second groove formed in said second edge; and

a first seal plate inserted into said first groove and said second groove and spanning a first portion of said gap;

a third groove formed in said first edge;

a fourth groove formed in said second edge;

a second seal plate inserted into said third groove and said fourth groove and spanning a second portion of said gap,

a fifth groove formed in said first edge, said fifth groove having a first end proximate a first end of said first groove and a second end proximate a first end of said third groove;

a seal pin inserted into said fifth groove, said seal pin having a first end proximate a first end of said first seal plate and a second end proximate a first end of said second seal plate, said seal pin operable to make contact with said second edge and to span a third portion of said gap.

2. The blade group of claim 1, further comprising a first end plate covering a second end of said first groove and an end of said second groove and operable to retain said first seal plate within said first groove and said second groove.

3. The blade group of claim 2, further comprising a chamfer formed on a second end of said first seal plate adjacent said first end plate.

4. The blade group of claim 2, further comprising a second end plate covering a second end of said third groove and an end of said fourth groove and operable to retain said second seal plate within said third groove and said fourth groove.

5. The blade group of claim 4, further comprising a chamfer formed on a second end of said second seal plate adjacent said second end plate.

6. The blade group of claim 1, further comprising said fifth groove being positioned so that an edge of the first end of said first seal plate contacts the first end of said seal pin along a diameter of the seal pin during the operation of the turbo-machine.

7. The blade group of claim 6, further comprising said fifth groove being positioned so that an edge of the first end of said second seal plate contacts the second end of said seal pin along a diameter of the seal pin during the operation of the turbo-machine.

8. The blade group of claim 1, further comprising an end plate covering an end of said first groove and operable to retain said first seal plate within said first groove.

9. The blade group of claim 8, further comprising a chamfer formed on an end of said first seal plate proximate said end plate.

10. The blade group of claim 1, further comprising a means for removal formed within a plane of the seal plate at an end of said first seal plate.

11. The blade group of claim 10, wherein said means for removal comprises a hook.

12. The blade group of claim 1, further comprising a means for removal formed within a plane of the seal plate at an end of each of said first and said second seal plates.

13. The blade group of claim 12, wherein said means for removal comprises a hook.

14. A blade group in a turbo-machine comprising:

a first blade having a first platform section with a first edge;

a second blade having a second platform section with a second edge located adjacent said first edge and forming a gap therebetween;

a first groove formed in said first edge;

a second groove formed in said second edge; and

a seal plate inserted into said first groove and said second groove and spanning a first portion of said gap;

a third groove formed in said first edge, said third groove having an end proximate a first end of said first groove;

a seal pin inserted into said third groove, said seal pin having a first end proximate a first end of said seal plate, said seal pin operable to make contact with said second edge and to span a second portion of said gap;

said third groove being positioned so that an edge of the first end of said seal plate contacts the first end of said seal pin along an end face of the seal pin during the operation of the turbomachine.

15. The blade group of claim 14, further comprising a hook formed in the seal plate within a plane of the seal plate proximate a second end of the seal plate.