Interlocking knife edge seals
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorsJohn T. Pickens, Tuy Tran, Allan R. Penda
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A compressor for a turbine engine includes multiple compressor disks having rotor blades mounted about the circumference of each of the disks. A plurality of stator blades extend between the rotor blades of axially adjacent disks. A knife edge seal is supported and retained by retaining flanges extending from a rim on each disk, and contacts the stator blades to limit the recirculation of air within the compressor. A plurality of lock assemblies are spaced about the circumference of disk backbones formed in each disk, with a plurality of knife edge seals located between each lock assembly. When in the lock position the lock assemblies reduce the slack used for assembly of the final knife edge seal to prevent shifting and rotating during operation.
Claims12
A compressor comprising:
- a plurality of disks each defining a disk rim having a disk backbone and a retaining flange protruding from the disk rim, and said disks centered about a central axis;
- a plurality of knife edge seals circumferentially spaced about a circumference of the disk rims, wherein each of the plurality of knife edge seals are supported and retained by a retaining flange from each of two of said plurality of disks;
- a plurality of lock assemblies are positioned between the plurality of knife edge seals and the disk backbones;
- and
- the plurality of lock assemblies each comprise a housing and a set screw movable between a released position and a lock position to prevent circumferential movement of the plurality of knife edge seals about the disk backbones when the lock assembly is in the lock position.
A turbine engine seal comprising:
- a seal having a body defining a knife edge protruding from the body for contacting another turbine engine component;
- a first projection extending from the body in a first direction, wherein the first projection is for locating next to a first disk;
- a second projection extending from the body in a second direction, opposing the first direction, wherein the second projection is for locating next to a second disk, opposing the first disk, such that the seal is positionable between the first disk and the second disk;
- said body having distinct interlocking structure at each of two opposed circumferential ends such that said interlocking structure at a first circumferential end can interlock with mating interlocking structure at a second circumferential end of an adjacent seal;
- at least one lock assembly associated with the seal and moveable between a locked position and a released position;
- and
- the at least one lock assembly comprises a housing and a set screw movable between a released position and a lock position.
A method of assembling a compressor comprising:
- a) placing a lock assembly between a first retaining flange protruding from a first rotor disk and a second retaining flange protruding from a second rotor disk;
- b) inserting a plurality of knife edge seals circumferentially adjacent to one another between the retaining flanges, inserting each of the knife edge seals between the first retaining flange and the second retaining flange and rotating the knife edge seal relative to the first and second retaining flanges;
- c) repeating said steps a) and b) until the first rotor disk and the second rotor disk are filled;
- and
- d) locking each of the lock assemblies to prevent circumferential motion of the plurality of knife edge seals.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.