Sealing arrangement

• US 7,360,769 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2006
• Issued: 04/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC (Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc)
• Original Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC (Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc)
• Inventors: Bennett, Stephen P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pickard; Alison K
• Application Number:
  US11/636,582
• Publication Number:
  US 20070158919A1
• Time in Patent Office: 498 Days
• Field of Search: 277/641, 277/644, 277/648, 277/649, 277/653
• US Class Current: 277/641
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 11/005 Sealing means between non relatively rotating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2240/55 Seals
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2240/80 Platforms for stationary or moving blades
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2300/604 Amorphous
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/0812 with a braided or knitted body

Abstract

A sealing arrangement, for example between adjacent nozzle guide vane platform segments (2A, 2B) in a gas turbine engine, comprises a seal (12) which extends across a gap (13) between the platform segments (2A, 2B) and engages, at opposite ends, in grooves (8A, 8B). The seal (12) comprises a web element (14) having recesses (20A, 20B) at its opposite edges, which receive sealing elements (16A, 16B). The sealing elements (16A, 16B) may comprise a braided amorphous silica yarn or other filamentary temperature-resistant material.

Claims

1. A sealing arrangement for sealing a gap between relatively movable first and second components arranged side by side with the gap between them, the arrangement comprising a groove formed in the first component which opens towards the second component, a groove formed in the second component which opens towards the first component, and a seal member which extends between the components comprising a metal web element having a first side edge thereof located in the groove in the first component, and a second side edge opposite the first side located in the groove in the second component, the web element is formed with a first recess along the first side edge and a second recess along the second side edge, and with compressible sealing elements in the form of cord or rope-like elements of temperature-resistant material located in the first and second recesses such that said temperature-resistant compressible sealing elements make sealing engagement with one side of the interior of the grooves in the first and second components and metallic material of the web element makes contact with an opposite side of the interior of the grooves.

2. A sealing arrangement as claimed in claim 1, in which each compressible sealing element is located in a respective groove with its surface partly exposed so that, in operation, the exposed surface of the element directly contacts an interior of the surface of the respective groove.

3. A sealing arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein at least one sealing element and a respective recess have cooperating shapes which cause the sealing element to be retained in the recess.

4. A sealing arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one sealing element and a respective recess have cooperating shapes which cause the at least one sealing element to be retained in the respective recess.

5. A sealing arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one sealing element is bonded into a respective recess.

6. A sealing arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one sealing element has a generally circular cross-section when uncompressed.

7. A sealing arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one sealing element has a flat surface, when uncompressed, which engages a respective groove surface.

8. A sealing arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one sealing element comprises a bundled yarn.

9. A sealing arrangement as claimed in claim 8, wherein the at least one sealing element further comprises a braided yarn.

10. A sealing arrangement as claimed in claim 9, wherein the sealing at least one element is made from a material which predominantly comprises amorphous silica yarn.

11. A sealing arrangement as claimed in claim 8, wherein the at least one sealing element is made from a material which predominantly comprises amorphous silica yarn.

12. A sealing arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one sealing element is made from a material capable of withstanding a temperature in excess of 900°

C.

13. A sealing arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the web element is made from steel strip.