# US 12,760,739 B2 · Split casing including a compliant element > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,760,739 B2 - Document ID: US12760739B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 19/107,065 - Filed: 2023-10-06 - Published: 2026-03-05 - Granted: 2026-10-13 - Earliest claimed: 2022-10-07 - Assignees: Siemens Energy, Inc. - Applicants: Siemens Energy, Inc. - Inventors: David J. Peer; David Andrew Taylor; Andrew J. Ranz; Kyle Badeau - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12760739B2 ## CPC - F04D 17/125: {the casing being vertically split} - F04D 29/286: {multi-stage rotors} - F04D 29/4206: {especially adapted for elastic fluid pumps} - F05D 2300/5021: Expansivity - F04D: NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS (engine fuel-injection pumps F02M; ion pumps H01J41/12; electrodynamic pumps H02K44/02) - F05D: INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS ## Abstract A machine includes a rotor supported for rotation about a rotational axis, an outer casing having an inner bore, and an inner casing disposed within the inner bore and surrounding a portion of the rotor, the inner casing including a first joint interface. A head member is disposed within the inner bore and includes a first joint interface that engages a second joint interface to form a joint therebetween. A compliant element is formed as part of the first joint interface and arranged to allow for movement of the second joint interface along the rotational axis in response to the thermal expansion of the inner casing. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A machine comprising: a rotor supported for rotation about a rotational axis; an outer casing having an inner bore; a head member disposed within the inner bore and including a first joint interface; an inner casing disposed within the inner bore and surrounding a portion of the rotor, the inner casing including a second joint interface that engages the first joint interface to form a joint therebetween; a compliant element formed as part of the first joint interface and arranged to allow for movement of the second joint interface along the rotational axis in response to thermal expansion of the inner casing wherein the second joint interface includes a first groove that extends around a circumference of a first end of the inner casing and wherein the first joint interface includes a second groove that extends around a circumference of a first end of the head member, and further comprising a clamp member having a first leg engageable with the first groove and a second leg engageable with the second groove. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The machine of claim 1, wherein the rotor includes a plurality of centrifugal impellers arranged to define a plurality of compression stages. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The machine of claim 1, wherein the second joint interface includes a first joint face that extends around a circumference of a first end of the inner casing and the first joint interface includes a second joint face that extends around a circumference of a first end of the head member, and wherein the first joint face and the second joint face contact one another to form the joint therebetween. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The machine of claim 3, wherein the first joint face defines a first plane that is normal to the rotational axis and the second joint face defines a second plane that is normal to the rotational axis. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The machine of claim 3, wherein the compliant element includes an annular member that extends in a direction parallel to the rotational axis and defines a joint face. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The machine of claim 5, further comprising a plurality of slots formed in the annular member, each of the slots of the plurality of slots extending through the annular member. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The machine of claim 6, wherein each of the slots defines a length in a circumferential direction and a width in a direction parallel to the rotational axis, the length being between 20 and 1000 times longer than the width. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The machine of claim 6, wherein the slots are arranged in a first row and a second row that is offset a non-zero distance in a direction parallel to the rotational axis from the first row. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The machine of claim 8, wherein the slots in a first row are offset between 10 and 50 degrees from the slots in the second row. ### Claim 10 A machine comprising: a rotor supported for rotation about a rotational axis; an outer casing having an inner bore; an inner casing disposed within the inner bore and surrounding a portion of the rotor; a head member disposed within the inner bore and coupled to the inner casing to form a joint therebetween; a first joint interface formed as part of one of the inner casing and the head member, the first joint interface including a first joint face and a first groove that each extend around a portion of a circumference of the one of the inner casing and the head member; a second joint interface formed as part of the other of the inner casing and the head member, the second joint interface including a second joint face and a second groove that each extend around a portion of a circumference of the other of the inner casing and the head member; a compliant element formed as part of the second joint interface and positioned between the second joint face and the second groove, the compliant element arranged to allow movement of the one of the first joint interface and the second joint interface along the rotational axis in response to thermal expansion of the inner casing, and a clamp member having a first leg engageable with the first groove and a second leg engageable with the second groove. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The machine of claim 10, wherein the rotor includes a plurality of centrifugal impellers arranged to define a plurality of compression stages. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The machine of claim 10, wherein the first joint face defines a first plane that is normal to the rotational axis and the second joint face defines a second plane that is normal to the rotational axis. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The machine of claim 10, wherein the compliant element includes an annular member that extends in a direction parallel to the rotational axis and defines the second joint face. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The machine of claim 13, further comprising a plurality of slots formed in the annular member, each of the slots of the plurality of slots extending through the annular member. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The machine of claim 10, wherein the second joint interface is formed as part of the inner casing and the first joint interface and the compliant element are formed as part of the head member. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The machine of claim 14, wherein each of the slots defines a length in a circumferential direction and a width in a direction parallel to the rotational axis, the length being between 20 and 1000 times longer than the width, and wherein the slots are arranged in a first row and a second row that is offset a non-zero distance in a direction parallel to the rotational axis from the first row. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The machine of claim 16, wherein the slots in a first row are offset between 10 and 50 degrees from the slots in the second row.