Methods and apparatus to facilitate sealing in rotary machines
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorJason Paul Mortzheim
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and seal assembly for sealing a rotary machine including a rotary component and a stationary component is provided. The method includes providing a plurality of flexible leaf plates in an opening defined between a pair of spaced walls that include an adjustable front wall and an adjustable back wall that is opposed to the front wall. The method also includes adjusting a width of the opening by axially adjusting at least one of the front and back walls with respect to a central rotational axis of the rotary component.
Claims13
A method for sealing a rotary machine including a rotary component and a stationary component, said method comprising:
- providing a plurality of flexible leaf plates in an opening defined between a pair of spaced walls that include an adjustable front wall and an adjustable back wall that is opposed to the front wall;
- adjusting a width of the opening by axially adjusting at least one of the front and back walls with respect to a central rotational axis of the rotary component such that pressurized fluid flow acting upon the plurality of flexible leaf plates controls a distance between the plurality of flexible leaf plates and the rotary component;
- and
- positioning a top wall, the front wall, the back wall, and the leaf plates within a cavity defined in the stationary component, wherein the top wall extends from the front wall to the back wall.
A seal assembly for a rotary machine including a rotary component and a stationary component, said seal assembly comprising:
- a top wall and a pair of spaced walls comprising a moveable front wall and a moveable back wall, said top wall coupling said back wall opposite said front wall such that an opening is defined therebetween;
- a plurality of flexible leaf plates disposed in said opening, said front and back walls are axially adjustable with respect to a central rotational axis of said rotary component to selectively adjust a width of said opening such that pressurized fluid flow acting upon said plurality of flexible leaf plates controls a distance between said plurality of flexible leaf plates and said rotary component, wherein said top wall, said front wall, said back wall, and said leaf plates are positioned within a cavity defined in the stationary component;
- and
- an adjustment mechanism coupled to at least one of said front wall and said back wall to selectively move at least one of said front wall and said back wall.
A rotary machine comprising:
- a stationary component fixed against rotation;
- a rotary component including an axis of rotation, said rotary component opposing said stationary component;
- and
- a seal assembly coupled to said stationary component, said seal assembly comprising:
- a top wall and a pair of spaced walls comprising a moveable front wall and a moveable back wall, said top wall coupling said back wall opposite said front wall such that an opening is defined therebetween;
- and
- a plurality of flexible leaf plates disposed in said opening, wherein said front and back walls are axially adjustable with respect to a central rotational axis of said rotary component to selectively adjust a width of said opening such that pressurized fluid flow acting upon said plurality of flexible leaf plates controls a distance between said plurality of flexible leaf plates and said rotary component, wherein said front wall, said back wall, and said leaf plates are positioned within a cavity defined in the stationary component;
- and
- an adjustment mechanism coupled to at least one of said front wall and said back wall to selectively move at least one of said front wall and said back wall.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.