Self crystalline orientation for increased compliance
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorsMichael G. McCaffrey, Eric A. Hudson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Aspects of the disclosure are directed to a seal comprising: a shoe, and at least one beam coupled to the shoe, wherein the seal includes a single crystal material with a predetermined crystalline orientation. Aspects of the disclosure are directed to a method for designing a seal, comprising: obtaining a requirement associated with at least one of: a geometrical profile of the seal, a temperature range over which the seal is to operate, a natural frequency associated with the seal, or a range of deflection associated with the seal, selecting a crystalline orientation for a single crystal material of the seal based on the requirement, and fabricating the seal based on the selected crystalline orientation.
Claims21
A seal for a rotary component of a gas turbine engine, the seal comprising:
- plural members, including a first member defining a first beam, a second member defining a second beam, and a third member defining a shoe,
- the plural members being spaced in a radial direction, the first member being disposed at a radial outer end of the seal, the second member being disposed on a radial middle of the seal, and the third member being disposed at a radial inner end of the seal;
- the plural members extending in a lengthwise direction, the first member and second member being connected at a lengthwise inner end of the seal, and the plural members being connected at a lengthwise outer end of the seal;
- wherein the seal comprises a single crystalline structure that is oriented such that a natural frequency for at least two of the plural members differs;
- wherein the orientation of the single crystalline structure provides for the natural frequency being greater than a frequency associated with a speed of the rotary component in an amount greater than a threshold.
A method for designing a seal, comprising:
- obtaining a requirement associated with at least:
- a natural frequency associated with the seal;
- selecting a crystalline orientation for a single crystal material of the seal based on the requirement;
- and
- fabricating the seal based on the selected crystalline orientation,
- wherein the crystalline orientation provides for the natural frequency being greater than a frequency associated with a speed of a rotating component in an amount that is greater than a threshold.
A gas turbine engine including a rotating component, the rotating component including a fluid seal, the seal comprising:
- plural members, including a first member defining a first beam, a second member defining a second beam, and a third member defining a shoe,
- the plural members being spaced in a radial direction, the first member being disposed at a radial outer end of the seal, the second member being disposed on a radial middle of the seal, and the third member being disposed at a radial inner end of the seal;
- the plural members extending in a lengthwise direction, the first member and second member being connected at a lengthwise inner end of the seal, and the plural members being connected at a lengthwise outer end of the seal;
- wherein the seal comprises a single crystalline structure that is oriented such that a natural frequency for at least two of the plural members differs.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.