# US 7,407,370 B2 · Axial and circumferential seal for stacked rotor and/or stator assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,407,370 B2 - Document ID: US7407370B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/270,925 - Filed: 2005-11-11 - Published: 2007-05-17 - Granted: 2008-08-05 - Earliest claimed: 2005-11-11 - Assignees: General Electric Company - Inventors: Robert James Bracken; John Thomas Murphy; Stephen Swan; Jeffrey Robert Simkins; Clement Gazzillo - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7407370B2 ## CPC - F01D 5/026: {Shaft to shaft connections} - F01D 5/06: Rotors for more than one axial stage, e.g. of drum or multiple disc type; Details thereof, e.g. shafts, shaft connections {(F01D5/022, F01D5/023 take precedence)} - F01D 5/34: Rotor-blade aggregates of unitary construction {, e.g. formed of sheet laminae; (discs formed of sheet laminae F01D5/028; ceramic materials F01D5/284, composite materials F01D5/282)} - F01D 11/00: Preventing or minimising internal leakage of working-fluid, e.g. between stages (sealings in general F16J {; sealing arrangements for transition ducts of combustor cans F01D9/023}) - F01D 11/003: {by packing rings; Mechanical seals} - F01D 11/005: {Sealing means between non relatively rotating elements} - F02C 7/28: Arrangement of seals - F01D: NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES (machines or engines for liquids F03; non-positive displacement pumps F04D) - F02C: GAS-TURBINE PLANTS; AIR INTAKES FOR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS; CONTROLLING FUEL SUPPLY IN AIR-BREATHING JET-PROPULSION PLANTS (construction of turbines F01D; jet-propulsion plants F02K; construction of compressors or fans F04; generating combustion products of high pressure or high velocity F23R; using gas turbines in compression refrigeration plants F25B11/00) ## Abstract Disclosed herein is a rotor assembly for a steam turbine including a stacked rotor section having rotor plates. The rotor plates include a main body portion having a plate shape and a first axial face and a second axial face opposite to the first axial face. The rotor plates also include an airfoil base surface at an outer radial edge of the main body portion. The rotor plates further include buckets which extend radially outward from the airfoil base surface. And the rotor plates yet further include a seal disposed to prevent steam exposure to the first and second axial faces. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A rotor assembly for a steam turbine comprising: a stacked rotor section having rotor plates, each of the rotor plates comprising: a main body portion having a plate shape and including a first axial face and a second axial face opposite to the first axial face; an airfoil base surface at an outer radial edge of the main body portion; buckets extending radially outward from the airfoil base surface; and at least one retention hole disposed in the rotor plates between a central bore and the buckets; a seal disposed between adjacent rotor plates to prevent steam exposure to the first and second axial faces; and at least one retention bolt extending through the at least one retention hole of each rotor plate, the retention bolt capable of retaining adjacent rotor plates proximate with each other. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The rotor assembly of claim 1, wherein the seal is disposed at an intersection of adjacent airfoil base surfaces of adjacent rotor plates. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The rotor assembly of claim 2, wherein the seal is extended over an entire circumference of the intersection of the adjacent airfoil base surfaces. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The rotor assembly of claim 2, wherein the seal comprises a circumferential caulk wire seal. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The rotor assembly of claim 1, wherein the main body portion of the rotor plates comprises a first annular recess portion disposed at the first axial face and a second annular recess portion disposed at the second axial face, the first and second annular recess portions being equidistant from an axial center of the main body portion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The rotor assembly of claim 5, wherein the seal is disposed at a gap created between the first annular recess portion of a first rotor plate and the second annular recess portion of a second rotor plate disposed adjacent to the first rotor plate. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The rotor assembly of claim 6, wherein the seal is an annular shaped rope seal. ### Claim 8 A stator assembly for a steam turbine comprising a stacked stator section having stator plates, each of the stator plates comprising: a main body portion having a plate shape with a hollow center and including a first axial face and a second axial face opposite to the first axial face; an airfoil base surface near an inner radial edge of the main body portion; nozzles extending radially inward from the airfoil base surface; and a seal disposed to prevent steam exposure to the first and second axial faces. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The stator assembly of claim 8, wherein the seal is disposed at an intersection of adjacent airfoil base surfaces of adjacent stator plates. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The stator assembly of claim 9, wherein the seal is extended over an entire circumference of the intersection of the adjacent airfoil base surfaces. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The stator assembly of claim 9, wherein the seal comprises a circumferential caulk wire seal. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The stator assembly of claim 8, wherein the main body portion of the stator plates comprises a first annular recess portion disposed at the first axial face and a second annular recess portion disposed at the second axial face, the first and second annular recess portions being equidistant from an axial center of the main body portion. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The stator assembly of claim 12, wherein the seal is disposed at a gap created between the first annular recess portion of a first stator plate and the second annular recess portion of a second stator plate disposed adjacent to the first stator plate. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The stator assembly of claim 13, wherein the seal is an annular shaped rope seal. ### Claim 15 A steam turbine comprising: a stator assembly including stator plates, the stator plates including: a stator main body portion having a plate shape and including a first axial face and a second axial face opposite to the first axial face; a stator airfoil base surface near an inner radial edge of the stator main body portion; nozzles directing steam flow and extending radially inward from the stator airfoil base surface; and a stator plate seal disposed to prevent steam exposure to the first and second axial faces of the stator plates; and a rotor assembly including rotor plates, the rotor plates including: a rotor main body portion having a plate shape and including a first axial face and a second axial face opposite to the first axial face; a rotor airfoil base surface near an outer radial edge of the rotor main body portion; buckets receiving the steam flow and extending radially outward from the rotor airfoil base surface; and a rotor plate seal disposed to prevent steam exposure to the first and second axial faces of the rotor plates. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The steam turbine of claim 15, wherein the stator main body portion comprises a first annular stator recess portion disposed at the first axial face and a second annular stator recess portion disposed at the second axial face of the stator plates, the first and second annular stator recess portions being equidistant from an axial center of the stator main body portion, and the rotor main body portion comprises a first annular rotor recess portion disposed at the first axial face and a second annular rotor recess portion disposed at the second axial face of the rotor plates, the first and second annular rotor recess portions being equidistant from an axial center of the rotor main body portion. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The steam turbine of claim 16, wherein the stator plate seal comprises a circular rope seal disposed in a gap between each of the first and second annular stator recess portions of adjacent stator plates. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The steam turbine of claim 16, wherein the rotor plate seal comprises a circular rope seal disposed in a gap between each of the first and second annular rotor recess portions of adjacent rotor plates. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The steam turbine of claim 15, wherein the rotor seal comprises a circumferential caulk wire disposed at an intersection of adjacent rotor airfoil base surfaces of adjacent rotor plates, the circumferential caulk wire extending over an entire circumference of the intersection of the adjacent rotor airfoil base surfaces. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The steam turbine of claim 15, wherein the stator seal comprises a circumferential caulk wire disposed at an intersection of adjacent stator airfoil base surfaces of adjacent stator plates, the circumferential caulk wire extending over an entire circumference of the intersection of the adjacent stator airfoil base surfaces.