Turbine engine sealing arrangement

• US 8,534,995 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2009
• Issued: 09/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rtx Corporation
• Original Assignee: United Technologies Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: McCaffrey, Michael G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Everhart, Caridad
• Application Number:
  US12/398,990
• Publication Number:
  US 20100226760A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,657 Days
• Field of Search: 415/173.1, 415/173.3, 415/174.2, 415/196, 415/197, 416/191, 416/198, 416/198.R, 277/416
• US Class Current: 415/173.1
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 11/08 for sealing space between rotor blade tips and stator specially-shaped blade tips therefor F01D5/20
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 11/22 by mechanically actuating the stator or rotor components, e.g. moving shroud sections relative to the rotor
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 5/225 by shrouding
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2230/60 Assembly methods
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2300/6033 Ceramic matrix composites [CMC]

Abstract

An example turbine engine sealing arrangement includes a blade array rotatable about an axis. The blade array has a plurality of blades extending radially from the axis. A control ring is circumferentially disposed about the blade array. A plurality of tiles are secured relative to the control ring and configured to establish an axially extending seal with one of the blades.

Claims

1. A turbine engine sealing arrangement, comprising:

a blade array rotatable about an axis, the blade array having a plurality of blades extending radially from the axis;

a control ring circumferentially disposed about the blade array; and

a plurality of tiles secured relative to the control ring, the plurality of tiles together establishing an axially extending seal with one of the plurality of blades as the one of the blades is rotated relative to the plurality of tiles from a circumferential end portion of the plurality of tiles to an opposing circumferential end portion of the plurality of tiles, wherein each of the plurality of tiles is separate and distinct from other tiles within the plurality of tiles, wherein the plurality of tiles comprises at least one inner tile and at least two outer tiles, the at least one inner tile configured to be secured relative to the control ring axially between opposing ones of the at least two outer tiles.

2. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the plurality of tiles comprise ceramic tiles that are separate and distinct from the control ring.

3. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the plurality of tiles are separately slidingly engageable with the control ring.

4. The arrangement of claim 1, including a plurality of clips circumferentially disposed about the axis and configured to hold the plurality of tiles relative to the control ring.

5. The arrangement of claim 1, including a vane structure that limits axial movement of the plurality of tiles relative to the control ring, wherein the plurality of tiles are axially biased toward an upstream direction of the engine.

6. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the plurality of blades is not directly connected to any of the plurality of tiles.

7. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the axially extending seal is entirely radially aligned.

8. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the axially extending seal extends further in an axial direction than in a circumferential direction.

9. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein a continuous sealing interface associated with the one of the plurality of blades extends from a portion of a first tile of the plurality of tiles to a portion of a second tile of the plurality of tiles, the first tile axially spaced from the second tile.

10. The arrangement of claim 9, wherein the first tile and the second tile are arranged in one of a plurality of axially extending rows of tiles that are circumferentially disposed about the blade array, wherein a tile interface between the first tile and the second tile is axially offset relative to a tile interface in another of the axially extending rows.

11. The arrangement of claim 9, wherein the first tile contacts the second tile.

12. The arrangement of claim 1, including a seal plate at axially extending interface between each of the plurality of tiles and the control ring.

13. The arrangement of claim 12, wherein the seal plate comprises a cobalt alloy.

14. A turbine engine cladding arrangement, comprising:

a first tile mountable to a control ring of a turbine engine; and

a second tile mountable to the control ring, wherein the first tile is configured to be positioned axially adjacent to the second tile in the turbine engine, and the first tile and the second tile together provide a portion of a sealing interface with a blade of the turbine engine as the blade is rotated relative to the first tile and the second tile, wherein the first tile is positioned axially between the second tile and a third tile.

15. The arrangement of claim 14, wherein at least one of the first tile or the second tile is axially smaller than the blade.

16. The arrangement of claim 14, wherein at least one of the first tile or the second tile comprises a ceramic material.

17. The sealing arrangement of claim 14, wherein at least one of the first tile and the control ring establishes a groove operative to slidingly receive a corresponding extension from the other of the first tile and the control ring, and at least one of the second tile and the control ring establishes a groove operative to slidingly receive a corresponding extension from the other of the first tile and the control ring.

18. The sealing arrangement of claim 14, wherein the second tile comprises a radially extending portion configured to limit axial movement of the second tile relative to the control ring.

19. The arrangement of claim 14, wherein the first tile is positioned upstream from the second tile relative a direction of flow through the turbine engine.

20. The arrangement of claim 14, wherein the sealing interface extends from the first tile to the second tile.

21. The arrangement of claim 14, wherein the sealing interface extends further in an axial direction than in a circumferential direction.