Laminated finger seal with ceramic composition

A ceramic seal for sealing between two structures that may experience relative radial and axial motion comprising:

• a plurality of annular ceramic diaphragm members having an inner diameter portion and an outer diameter portion wherein said inner diameter portion is segmented and said outer diameter portion is generally continuous;
• said inner diameter portion having a plurality of radially extending finger elements defining an inner circumference and generally uniformly spaced apart having a gap formed therebetween;
• said ceramic diaphragm members laminated together and fastened along said outer diameter portion wherein adjacent ceramic diaphragm members are oriented such that said finger elements of one ceramic diaphragm member block said gaps of a second ceramic diaphragm member;
• and
• said ceramic diaphragm members disposed between a pair of spacers fixedly attached for attachment to a structure.

A ceramic seal for air sealing between a housing and a combustor liner comprising:

• a plurality of annular ceramic diaphragm members having an inner diameter portion and an outer diameter portion wherein said inner diameter portion is generally continuous and said outer diameter portion is segmented;
• said outer diameter portion having a plurality of radially extending finger elements defining an outer circumference, wherein said finger elements having a foot portion at an outermost end for sealing engagement with a combustor liner, and generally uniformly spaced apart having a gap formed therebetween wherein said outer diameter portion having at a terminus end of said gaps a keyhole formed therein;
• said ceramic diaphragm members laminated together and fastened along said inner diameter portion wherein adjacent ceramic diaphragm members are oriented such that said finger elements of one ceramic diaphragm member block said gaps of a second ceramic diaphragm member;
• and
• said ceramic diaphragm members disposed between a pair of spacers and the combination fixidly attached between a pair of end plates for attachment to a housing.

A ceramic seal for fluid sealing between a housing and a rotatable shaft comprising:

• a plurality of annular ceramic diaphragm members having an inner diameter portion and an outer diameter portion wherein said inner diameter portion is segmented and said outer diameter portion is generally continuous;
• said inner diameter portion having a plurality of radially extending finger elements defining an inner circumference, wherein said finger elements having a foot portion at an outermost end for sealing engagement with a rotatable shaft, and generally uniformly spaced apart having a gap formed therebetween wherein said inner diameter portion having at a terminus end of said gaps a keyhole formed therein;
• said ceramic diaphragm members laminated together and fastened along said outer diameter portion wherein adjacent ceramic diaphragm members are oriented such that said finger elements of one ceramic diaphragm member block said gaps of a second ceramic diaphragm member;
• and
• said ceramic diaphragm members disposed between a pair of spacers and the combination fixedly attached between a pair of end plates for attachment to a housing.

A method for fabrication of a ceramic seal for sealing between two structures that experience relative radial and axial motion, the steps comprising:

• preparing thin ceramic sheets of a ceramic material using a high shear roll compaction process;
• cutting by use of a laser a plurality of annular ceramic diaphragm members and further cutting a plurality of finger elements and a plurality of apertures defined therein resulting in a rolled edge on the finger;
• laminating a plurality of ceramic diaphragm members having a generally continuous diameter portion and a segmented diameter portion;
• orienting the ceramic diaphragm members such that the segmented diameter portion comprising a plurality of radial extending finger elements having a gap formed therebetween have the finger elements of one ceramic diaphragm member covering the gaps of an adjacent ceramic diaphragm member;
• and
• assembling the ceramic diaphragm members between a pair of spacers and attaching the assembly between a pair of endplates to form an annular seal.

A method for fabricating of a ceramic seal for sealing between two structures that experience relative radial and axial motion, the steps comprising:

• preparing thin ceramic sheets of a ceramic material;
• cutting by use of a laser a plurality of ceramic diaphragm segments and further cutting a plurality of finger elements and a plurality of apertures defined therein;
• laminating a plurality of ceramic diaphragm segments end to end by bonding using a ceramic cement thereby forming a plurality of annular ceramic diaphragm members;
• laminating a plurality of ceramic diaphragm members having a generally continuous diameter portion and a segment diameter portion;
• orienting the ceramic diaphragm members such that the segmented diameter portion comprising a plurality of radial extending finger elements having a gap formed therebetween have the finger elements of one ceramic diaphragm member covering the gaps of an adjacent ceramic diaphragm member;
• and
• assembling the annular ceramic diaphragm members between a pair of spacers and attaching the assembly between a pair of endplates to form an annular seal.