Gas turbine engine seal installation protection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016369642-A1
Application number	US-201514745593-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 22, 2015
Priority date	Jun 22, 2015
Publication date	Dec 22, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A seal assembly for a gas turbine engine includes a primary seal that includes an inner face that has a protrusion configured to seal relative to a seal land. The protrusion provided on segmented shoes is circumferentially spaced from one another by gaps. The shoes are positioned in a relaxed state. A removable material encases the protrusion with the shoes in the relaxed state.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A seal assembly for a gas turbine engine comprising:
a primary seal that includes an inner face having a protrusion configured to seal relative to a seal land, the protrusion provided on segmented shoes circumferentially spaced from one another by gaps, the shoes positioned in a relaxed state; and a removable material encasing the protrusion with the shoes in the relaxed state.

2 . The seal assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the inner face includes multiple axially spaced protrusions, the removable material encasing the protrusions.

3 . The seal assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the removable material is one of a plastic or a wax.

4 . The seal assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the gaps are free from the removable material.

5 . The seal assembly according to claim 1 , comprising a carrier supporting the primary seal, the primary seal arranged axially between a secondary seal and a plate.

6 . The seal assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the primary seal includes an outer structure, a slot that radially separates outer and inner beams from one another, a first cut radially separates the outer structure and outer beam, and a second cut radially separates the inner beam and the shoes.

7 . The seal assembly according to claim 6 , wherein the first and second cuts are joined at the gap, adjacent hooks provide lateral faces that provide the gap.

8 . A method of manufacturing a seal assembly comprising the steps of:
providing a seal having circumferentially segmented shoes separated by gaps, and protrusions provided on an inner face of the seal; and encasing the protrusions with a removable material with the shoes positioned in a relaxed state.

9 . The method according to claim 8 , comprising the step masking the seal to prevent the removable material from penetrating the gaps prior to the encasing step.

10 . The method according to claim 8 , comprising the step of removing the removable material from the gaps subsequent to the encasing step and prior to a seal installation step.

11 . The method according to claim 8 , wherein the removable material is one of a plastic or a wax.

12 . The method according to claim 8 , wherein the seal includes a carrier supporting a primary seal, the primary seal arranged axially between a secondary seal and a plate, the primary seal provides the shoes.

13 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein the primary seal includes an outer structure, a slot that radially separates outer and inner beams from one another, a first cut radially separates the outer structure and outer beam, and a second cut radially separates the inner beam and the shoes.

14 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein the first and second cuts are joined at the gap, adjacent hooks provide lateral faces that provide the gap.

15 . A gas turbine engine seal arrangement comprising:
a fixed structure; a rotatable structure having a seal land configured to rotate relative to the fixed structure; and a seal assembly includes a primary seal that includes an inner face having a protrusion configured to seal relative to a seal land, the protrusion provided on segmented shoes circumferentially spaced from one another by gaps, the shoes positioned in a relaxed state; and a removable material encasing the protrusion with the shoes in the relaxed state, the removable material adjacent to the seal land.

16 . The seal arrangement according to claim 15 , wherein the inner face includes multiple axially spaced protrusions, the removable material encasing the protrusions.

17 . The seal arrangement according to claim 16 , wherein the removable material is one of a plastic or a wax.

18 . The seal arrangement according to claim 15 , wherein the gaps are free from the removable material.

19 . The seal arrangement according to claim 15 , comprising a carrier supporting the primary seal, the primary seal arranged axially between a secondary seal and a plate.

20 . The seal arrangement according to claim 15 , wherein the primary seal includes an outer structure, a slot that radially separates outer and inner beams from one another, a first cut radially separates the outer structure and outer beam, and a second cut radially separates the inner beam and the shoes, the first and second cuts are joined at the gap, adjacent hooks provide lateral faces that provide the gap.

Assignees

• United Technologies Corp

Inventors

• Himes Jason D

Classifications

• F01D11/003 Primary

  by packing rings; Mechanical seals · CPC title

• F05D2300/43

  Synthetic polymers, e.g. plastics; Rubber · CPC title

• F01D11/001

  for sealing space between stator blade and rotor · CPC title

• F05D2220/32

  in gas turbines · CPC title