Apparatus and method for providing uniform radial clearance of seals between rotating and stationary components

In a machine having rotating and stationary components formed about an axis, a seal comprising:

• an annular groove formed in said stationary component and including a pair of locating flanges about said axis and directed axially toward one another defining a slot therebetween, said seal further including about the machine axis a plurality of one-piece arcuate segments each having an arcuate seal face, a neck portion received in said slot and a pair of flanges directed axially away from one another and disposed within said groove, said flanges of said segments and said locating flanges of said grooves being radially spaced from one another;
• locating elements including a pair of pins secured to at least one of said arcuate segments at circumferentially spaced positions and projecting generally in a radial direction, said pins having threads, at least one shim about each said pin and having a predetermined radial extent, and members having threads complementary to the threads on said pins and being threaded relative to said pins to engage said shims and project said shims radially inwardly of said segment flanges a predetermined distance to engage said locating flanges and adjust the radial spacing between said locating flanges and the flanges of said segment, thereby establishing a predetermined radial clearance about and between the rotating component and the segment seal face.

In a machine having a component rotatable about an axis and a stationary component including an annular groove about said axis, said stationary component having at least one axially directed locating flange about said axis and in part defining a slot opening into said groove and a plurality of one-piece annular segments about said axis, each segment having an arcuate seal face, at least one axially directed flange for disposition in said groove, and a neck portion receivable in said slot and interconnecting said seal face and the flange of said segment, a method of compensating for deviation in radial clearance between said seal faces and the rotatable component from a predetermined, substantially uniform radial clearance therebetween, comprising the steps of:

• identifying the extent of the deviation of the locating flange of the groove from a predetermined radial location thereof about the axis;
• locating a pair of pins in each arcuate segment at circumferentially spaced positions thereabout projecting generally in a radial direction;
• disposing at least one shim about each said pin, each said shim having a predetermined radial extent;
• and
• disposing members on said pins to engage said shims and project said shims radially inwardly of said one flange of said segments a predetermined distance into engagement with said one locating flange to adjust the radial spacing between the one locating flange and the flanges of the segments, thereby establishing a substantial uniform clearance about and between the seal of the segments and the rotating component.