# US 12,215,789 B2 · Labyrinth seal and gas turbine

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- Number: US 12,215,789 B2
- Document ID: US12215789B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/909,820
- Filed: 2021-03-10
- Published: 2024-06-20
- Granted: 2025-02-04
- Earliest claimed: 2020-03-31
- Assignees: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
- Applicants: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
- Inventors: Takahiro Ando; Shoichi Shimomura; Naoya Tanabashi; Shinya Makino; Masahiro Yamamoto
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12215789B2

## CPC

- F16J 15/4472: {with axial path}
- F01D 5/20: Specially-shaped blade tips to seal space between tips and stator {(F01D5/225 takes precedence)}
- F01D 11/02: by non-contact sealings, e.g. of labyrinth type (for sealing space between rotor blade tips and stator F01D11/08)
- F01D 11/08: for sealing space between rotor blade tips and stator (specially-shaped blade tips therefor F01D5/20)
- F16J 15/447: Labyrinth packings
- F16J: PISTONS {(specially adapted for dampers F16F9/32)}; CYLINDERS; SEALINGS
- F01D: NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES (machines or engines for liquids F03; non-positive displacement pumps F04D)

## Abstract

A labyrinth seal according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes: a first structure including seal fins located at intervals in an axial direction; and a second structure opposed to the first structure, a radial gap being between each seal fin and the second structure. The second structure is such that when each seal fin is regarded as a reference, a portion of the second structure which is located downstream of the seal fin does not overlap the seal fin in the axial direction. The second structure includes an inlet wall located upstream of a most upstream one of the seal fins, a radial gap being between the inlet wall and the first structure.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A labyrinth seal comprising:
a first structure including at least three seal fins located at intervals in an axial direction; and
a second structure opposed to the first structure and including at least three step surfaces whose radial positions are different from each other, a radial gap being between each seal fin and a corresponding closest step surface, wherein:
the second structure is such that when any one of the seal fins is regarded as a reference seal fin, a portion of the second structure which is located downstream of the reference seal fin does not overlap the reference seal fin when viewed in the axial direction;
the second structure includes an inlet wall located upstream of a most upstream one of the seal fins, a radial gap being between the inlet wall and the first structure; and
an axial position of each seal fin coincides with a downstream end portion of the corresponding closest step surface.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The labyrinth seal according to claim 1, wherein:
the first structure includes an inlet surface at a portion opposed to the inlet wall; and
a radial position of the inlet surface is constant.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The labyrinth seal according to claim 2, wherein a dimension of a radial gap between the inlet wall and the inlet surface is larger than a dimension of the radial gap between each seal fin and the second structure.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The labyrinth seal according to claim 1, wherein a radial dimension of the inlet wall is not less than two thirds of a radial distance between the first structure and the second structure in a region located downstream of the inlet wall and adjacent to the inlet wall.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A gas turbine comprising the labyrinth seal according to claim 1.