Seal ring for gas turbine engines

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9708922-B1
Application number	US-201615162082-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	May 23, 2016
Priority date	May 23, 2016
Publication date	Jul 18, 2017
Grant date	Jul 18, 2017

Abstract

A seal assembly includes a first component, a second component, a first seal, a first shelf, a second shelf, and a second seal. The second component is adjacent to the first component and forms a cavity between the first and second components. The first seal spans the cavity. The first shelf extends axially from the first component and is located between the first seal and a hot gas path. The second shelf extends axially from the second component and is located between the first shelf and the hot gas path; the second shelf together with the first shelf forms a flow channel. The second seal conforms to the first shelf, sealing the flow channel.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A seal assembly comprising:
a first component;
a second component adjacent to the first component forming a cavity between the first and second components;
a first seal spanning the cavity;
a first shelf extending axially from the first component and located between the first seal and a hot gas path;
a second shelf extending axially from the second component and located between the first shelf and the hot gas path, together with the first shelf forming a flow channel; and
a second seal comprising:
a first arm that engages a radially inner side of the first shelf and a radially outer side of the second shelf, wherein the first shelf and the second shelf deform the arm causing the arm to conform to the first shelf and the second shelf, sealing the flow channel.

2. The seal assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first seal is a w-seal, wherein the first component is a blade outer air seal, and wherein the second component is a vane.

3. The seal assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second seal has a cross sectional shape selected from the group consisting of a C shape and an omega shape.

4. The seal assembly of claim 1 and further comprising:
a third shelf extending from the second component and located between the first shelf and the first seal, together with the first shelf and second shelf forming the flow channel.

5. The seal assembly of claim 1 and further comprising:
a third shelf extending from the second component and located between the first shelf and the first seal, together with the first shelf and the second shelf forming the flow channel
a second arm of the second seal that engages a radially outer side of the first shelf and a radially inner side of the third shelf, which deform the arm causing the arm to conform to the first shelf and the third shelf, sealing the flow channel.

6. The seal assembly of claim 1 further comprising:
a circumferential split forming a circumferential gap between ends of the second seal; and
a bridge connected to the second seal and spanning the circumferential gap.

7. The seal assembly of claim 6 , wherein the bridge is secured to a first end of the second seal and free to move relative to a second end of the second seal.

8. The seal assembly of claim 7 , wherein a cross section of the bridge is complementary to a cross section of the second seal.

9. The seal assembly of claim 6 , wherein the bridge nests within the second seal.

10. The seal assembly of claim 1 and further comprising:
a first end of the second seal having a first end cross section;
a second end of the second seal having a second end cross section that is smaller than the first end cross section wherein the second end is nested in the first end.

11. The seal assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the first shelf and the second shelf extend in opposite directions;
the first shelf and the second shelf axially overlap; and
the first shelf is radially spaced from the second shelf.

12. The seal assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second seal further comprises:
a second arm, wherein the second arm engages a radially outer side of the first shelf and a radially inner portion of the first seal, sealing the flow channel.

13. A method of forming a seal, the method comprising:
sealing a cavity formed between a first and second component using a first seal;
forming a flow channel with a first shelf and a second shelf that are located between the first seal and a hot gas path; and
sealing the flow channel by conforming a second seal to the first shelf and the second shelf.

14. The method of claim 13 and further comprising:
forming a circumferential gap between a first end and a second end of the second seal; and
bridging the circumferential gap with a bridge.

15. The method of claim 13 and further comprising:
deforming the second seal so that it conforms to the first shelf.

16. The method of claim 13 and further comprising:
forming the flow channel with the first shelf, the second shelf, and a third shelf.

17. A deformable annular seal within a gas turbine engine, the seal comprising:
a base forming a first arcuate portion;
a first arm extending outward from the base to form a second arcuate portion and then turning inward to form a third arcuate portion before terminating; and
a second arm extending outward from the base to form a flat portion, then turning inward to form a fourth arcuate portion, then turning toward the base to form a fifth arcuate portion before terminating.

18. The deformable annular seal of claim 17 , wherein:
the first arcuate portion has an axis that is approximately perpendicular to axes of the second arcuate portion and third curved portion; and
the second arcuate portion is convex and the third arcuate portion is concave.

19. The deformable annular seal of claim 17 , wherein the base is configured to plastically deform to conform to a component and to seal a flow channel.

20. The deformable annular seal of claim 19 , wherein the first arm and the second arm are configured to plastically deform and conform to the component and seal the flow channel.

Assignees

• United Technologies Corp

Inventors

• Davis Timothy M
• Rogers Mark J
• Lutjen Paul M
• Tyler Jr Terence P
• Bruskotter Michael J

Classifications

• F05D2240/55

  Seals · CPC title

• F05D2300/50

  Intrinsic material properties or characteristics · CPC title

• F16J15/024

  the packing being locally weakened in order to increase elasticity · CPC title

• F01D11/005 Primary

  Sealing means between non relatively rotating elements · CPC title

• F16J15/44

  Free-space packings · CPC title