US 6,659,472 B2 · Seal for gas turbine nozzle and shroud interface

Abstract

In a gas turbine including a nozzle retaining ring having a first annular axially sealing surface and a shroud segment having an axial registering second surface. To minimize or prevent leakage flow between the retaining ring and shroud segments, a generally U-shaped seal having reversely folded U-shaped marginal portions is received in a cavity formed in the second surface. At operating conditions, the marginal portions seal against the base of the cavity and the first surface of the retaining ring to prevent leakage flow past the retaining ring/shroud segment interface. To install the seal, the seal body is first compressed and maintained in a compressed state by applying one or more wraps about the seal body and an epoxy is used to secure the seal when compressed in the cavity. At operating temperatures, the retention means releases the seal to engage marginal portions against opposite sealing surfaces of the shroud segments and retaining ring.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A gas turbine comprising:

a turbine nozzle retaining ring having a generally axially facing first surface;
a shroud segment having a second surface in axial opposition to said first surface;
one of said first and second surfaces defining a cavity opening generally axially toward another of said first and second surfaces;
a flexible seal in said cavity including a seal body having a first, generally U-shaped portion in cross-section and a pair of reversely extending, generally U-shaped marginal portions in cross-section along opposite sides of said U-shaped portion, said marginal portions in sealing engagement with an interior surface of the cavity in said one surface and said another of said first and second surfaces, respectively;
and
means for releasably retaining said seal body in said cavity in a compressed state such that said seal body lies wholly within said cavity, said retaining means enabling release of said seal body from said compressed state in response to turbine operating conditions.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Seal for gas turbine nozzle and shroud interface

Life of this patent

Seal for gas turbine nozzle and shroud interface

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16