Sealing system for sealing against a non-cylindrical surface

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10519794-B2
Application number	US-201615207596-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 12, 2016
Priority date	Jul 12, 2016
Publication date	Dec 31, 2019
Grant date	Dec 31, 2019

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to a sealing system for a turbine engine including an engine component, the engine component defining an oblique sealing surface defining an annular shape. The oblique sealing surface defines an oblique angle with a centerline of the engine component. The sealing system includes a seal housing and a seal ring. The seal housing is annular and includes a groove that is defined by a first sidewall, a second sidewall, and an end wall connecting the first sidewall and the second sidewall. The seal ring is positioned at least partially within the groove in the seal housing. The seal ring defines a seal contact surface for forming a seal with the oblique sealing surface of the engine component.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A sealing system for a turbine engine comprising a combustor, the combustor comprising an inner liner having an inside surface, the inside surface defining an oblique sealing surface defining an annular shape about an axial centerline of the engine, the oblique sealing surface defining an oblique angle with the axial centerline of the turbine engine, wherein the oblique sealing surface also defines an oblique angle with the centerline of the combustor, the sealing system comprising:
a seal housing disposed radially inward of the inner liner, wherein the seal housing is annular about the axial centerline of the turbine engine and includes a groove that is defined by a first sidewall, a second sidewall, and an end wall connecting the first sidewall and the second sidewall, wherein the end wall opposes the oblique sealing surface, wherein the first sidewall and the second sidewall are parallel, and wherein the first sidewall and the second sidewall define an oblique angular relationship to the centerline of the combustor;
a sealing system first end coupled to the seal housing;
a sealing system second and connected to a structural member and disposed radially inward of a turbine nozzle; and
a seal ring positioned at least partially within the groove in the seal housing, wherein the seal ring acts upon the inside surface, and wherein the seal ring defines a seal contact surface for forming a seal with the oblique sealing surface of the combustor.

2. The sealing system as in claim 1 , wherein the seal contact surface is an elongated flat surface parallel to the oblique sealing surface.

3. The sealing system as in claim 1 , wherein the end wall defines an oblique angular relationship to the centerline of the combustor.

4. The sealing system as in claim 1 , wherein the seal contact surface comprises a wear-resistant coating.

5. The sealing system as in claim 1 , wherein the seal ring further comprises a second surface contacting the first sidewall.

6. The sealing system as in claim 1 , wherein the seal ring defines a split at a circumference of the seal ring.

7. The sealing system as in claim 6 , wherein the seal ring is mechanically sprung to contact the oblique sealing surface.

8. The sealing system as in claim 1 , further comprising:
a spring positioned between the seal housing and the seal ring.

9. A combustion chamber defining a centerline, including a structural member and a turbine nozzle, wherein the turbine nozzle includes an inner band defining a curved portion, the combustion chamber comprising:
a liner having an inside surface, the inside surface defining an oblique sealing surface, the oblique sealing surface defining an annular shape about an axial centerline of a turbine engine and an oblique angle with the axial centerline of the turbine engine;
a seal housing disposed radially inward of the inside surface, wherein the seal housing is annular about the axial centerline of the turbine engine and includes a groove that is defined by a first sidewall, a second sidewall, and an end wall connecting the first sidewall and the second sidewall, wherein the first sidewall and the second sidewall are parallel, and wherein the first sidewall and the second sidewall define an oblique angular relationship to the centerline of the combustion chamber; and
a seal ring positioned at least partially within the groove in the seal housing, wherein the seal ring is positioned at least partially between the seal housing and the oblique sealing surface, wherein the seal ring acts upon the inside surface, and wherein the seal ring defines a seal contact surface for forming a seal with the oblique sealing surface of the liner.

10. The combustion chamber as in claim 9 , further comprising:
a spring, positioned between the seal housing and the seal ring.

11. The combustion chamber as in claim 9 , wherein the seal housing further comprises:
a first end; and
a second end, wherein the end wall of the seal housing is attached to the first end, wherein the structural member of the combustion chamber is attached to the second end, and wherein the first end positions the seal housing proximate to the liner.

12. The combustion chamber of claim 11 , wherein the first end comprises a first material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion and the second end comprises a second material having a second coefficient of thermal expansion.

13. The combustion chamber as in claim 9 , wherein the seal ring is split at the circumference of the seal ring and is mechanically sprung to contact the oblique sealing surface.

14. The combustion chamber as in claim 9 , wherein the oblique sealing surface further defines an oblique angle with the centerline of the combustion chamber.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Corsmeier Donald Michael
• Yeager Donald Scott

Classifications

• F01D11/003 Primary

  by packing rings; Mechanical seals · CPC title

• F05D2240/35

  Combustors or associated equipment · CPC title

• F23R3/60

  Support structures; Attaching or mounting means · CPC title

• F23R2900/00012

  Details of sealing devices · CPC title

• F23R3/002

  Wall structures (F23R3/02 and F23R3/007 take precedence) · CPC title