# US 10,371,166 B2 · Stator vane seal arrangement for a gas turbine engine > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,371,166 B2 - Document ID: US10371166B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/381,420 - Filed: 2016-12-16 - Published: 2018-06-21 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-12-16 - Assignees: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. - Applicants: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. - Inventors: Tibor Urac; Bernadette Mason - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10371166B2 ## CPC - F04D 29/542: {Bladed diffusers (fixing blades to stators F01D9/042)} - F01D 9/042: {fixing blades to stators (fixing stator-rings in the casing or to each other F01D25/246)} - F01D 11/005: {Sealing means between non relatively rotating elements} - F04D 29/083: {especially adapted for elastic fluid pumps} - F04D 29/644: {especially adapted for elastic fluid pumps} - F05D 2220/32: in gas turbines - F05D 2300/121: Aluminium - F05D 2300/43: Synthetic polymers, e.g. plastics; Rubber - F05D 2300/501: Elasticity - F04D: NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS (engine fuel-injection pumps F02M; ion pumps H01J41/12; electrodynamic pumps H02K44/02) - F01D: NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES (machines or engines for liquids F03; non-positive displacement pumps F04D) - F05D: INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS ## Abstract A seal spacer for a gas turbine engine to provide sealing between a casing wall and a stator vane of the engine. The seal spacer comprises a circumferential body having a slot defined therethrough and configured to receive the stator vane therein. The circumferential body is configured to be disposed between and space apart the engine casing wall from a head of the stator vane when the vane is inserted in the slot and the vane is inserted in the opening in the casing wall. The circumferential body includes a support positioned to be engage and provide a gap between the casing wall and the head when the seal spacer is installed therebetween, and an elastomeric seal portion positioned to engage and compressingly provide sealing the casing wall and the head when the seal spacer is installed therebetween to seal the gap. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A seal spacer for a gas turbine engine, for providing sealing between a casing wall of the engine and a stator vane inserted into a corresponding opening provided in the casing wall of the engine, the seal spacer comprising: a circumferential body having a slot defined therethrough configured to receive the stator vane therein, the circumferential body configured to be disposed between and space apart the engine casing wall from a head of the stator vane when the vane is inserted in the slot and the vane is inserted in the opening in the casing wall, the circumferential body defining a first surface adapted to sealingly engage the head of the stator vane and a second surface adapted to sealingly engage the casing wall when the vane is inserted in the slot and the vane is inserted in the opening in the casing wall, wherein the circumferential body includes a support positioned to be engaged and provide a gap between the casing wall and the head when the seal spacer is installed therebetween, and wherein the circumferential body includes an elastomeric seal portion positioned to engage and compressingly provide sealing between the casing wall and the head when the seal spacer is installed therebetween to seal the gap, and wherein the support is made of a material that is different than a material of the elastomeric seal portion, the material of the support being more resistant to compression set than the material of the elastomeric seal portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The seal spacer as defined in claim 1, wherein the support is made from one of plastic, thermoplastic or aluminum. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The seal spacer as defined in claim 1, wherein the seal portion is made from an elastomeric polymer. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The seal spacer as defined in claim 1, wherein the support is a plastomeric support portion of the circumferential body. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The seal spacer as defined in claim 1, wherein the seal portion extends laterally from the support between the casing wall and the head. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The seal spacer as defined in claim 5, wherein the seal portion extends laterally outwardly from the support. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The seal spacer as defined in claim 5, wherein the seal portion extends laterally inwardly from the support. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The seal spacer as defined in claim 1, wherein the support and the seal portion are integrally formed. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The seal spacer as defined in claim 8, wherein the support and the seal portion are comolded into a single monolithic piece. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The seal spacer as defined in claim 1, wherein the support and the seal portion are shaped to correspond to a shape of the stator vane. ### Claim 11 A stator vane assembly for a gas turbine engine, the gas turbine engine comprising an annular casing wall portion defining a duct and having a plurality of openings circumferentially defined therein, the stator vane assembly comprising: a plurality of stator vanes configured to extend across the duct, each one of the plurality of stator vanes having a head at a radially outer end thereof and configured to protrude through a respective one of the plurality of openings between the casing wall portion and the head, the head extending along a transverse direction relative to a corresponding one of the plurality of stator vanes; and a seal spacer sealingly disposed in the gap between the casing wall portion and the head of a corresponding one of the plurality of stator vanes, the seal spacer having a slot defined therethrough to receive the corresponding one of the plurality of stator vanes, the seal spacer including a support portion disposed between the casing wall and the head, the support portion being configured and sized to define a gap between the head and the casing wall portion, an elastomeric seal portion extending laterally from the support portion and being compressingly disposed between the casing wall portion and the head thereby sealing the gap, and wherein the support portion has a higher compressive strength than the seal portion. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The stator vane assembly as defined in claim 11, wherein the support portion is made from one of plastic, thermoplastic or aluminum. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The stator vane assembly as defined in claim 11, wherein the seal portion is made from an elastomeric polymer. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The stator vane assembly as defined in claim 11, wherein each one of the plurality of stator vanes comprises a neck adapted to be disposed between the casing wall portion and the head and being shaped to correspond to a shape of a corresponding one of the plurality of openings, for receiving a corresponding seal spacer. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The stator vane assembly as defined in claim 11, wherein the seal portion extends laterally outwardly from the support portion. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The stator vane assembly as defined in claim 11, wherein the seal portion extends laterally inwardly from the support portion. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The stator vane assembly as defined in claim 11, wherein the support portion and the seal portion are integrally formed. ### Claim 18 A method for sealing a gap defined between a casing wall and a head of a stator vane of a gas turbine engine, the method comprising: disposing a seal spacer within the gap, the seal spacer comprising a support portion and an elastomeric seal portion, the support portion being made from a material that is different than a material of the elastomeric seal portion, the material of the support portion being more resistant to compression set than the material of the elastomeric seal portion; sealingly contacting a first surface of the seal spacer with an inner surface of the head; and sealingly contacting a second surface of the seal spacer with an outer surface of the casing wall. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method as defined in claim 18, comprising spacing the head away from the casing wall at a predetermined distance. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method as defined in claim 18, comprising limiting a load applied to the seal portion with the support portion.