Gas turbine engine with split helical piston seal
AssigneeRaytheon Technologies Corporation
InventorsColin J. Kling, David R. Lyders
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A gas turbine engine includes a rotor that has a sealing surface and a shaft that is rotatable about an engine central axis. The shaft has an annular seal channel that opens to the seal surface, and there is a split seal that is insertable into the annular seal channel for sealing against the seal surface. The split seal includes first and second end sections that are mateable to each other. The split seal has a helical shape when in a state of rest such that the first and second end sections are axially offset from each other.
Claims15
A gas turbine engine comprising:
- a rotor having a sealing surface;
- a shaft rotatable about an engine central axis, the shaft having an annular seal channel that opens to the seal surface;
- and
- a split seal that is insertable into the annular seal channel for sealing against the seal surface, the split seal including first and second end sections that are mateable to each other, the split seal having a helical shape when in a state of rest such that the first and second end sections are axially offset from each other.
A seal for a gas turbine engine, comprising:
- a split ring including first and second end sections that are mateable, the split ring having a helical shape about a central axis when in a state of rest such that the first and second end sections are axially offset from each other.
A method of assembling a split seal into a gas turbine engine, the method comprising:
- providing a split seal that includes first and second end sections that are mateable to each other, the split seal has a helical shape when in a state of rest such that the first and second end sections are axially offset from each other;
- diametrically expanding the split seal and moving the split seal over a shaft and into an annular seal channel of the shaft;
- moving the first and second end sections axially past one another;
- diametrically compressing the split seal such that the first and second end sections are axially aligned and the split seal seats on a floor of the annular seal channel;
- and
- mating the first and second end sections by moving the first and second end sections axially toward each other and into a mated state.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.