1. Technical Field
This disclosure relates generally to a turbine engine and, more particularly, to an assembly for sealing a gap between components of a turbine engine.
2. Background Information
Various types of seals are known in the art for sealing a gap between components of a turbine engine. A piston seal, for example, may seal a gap between a blade outer air seal (BOAS) and an outer platform of a guide vane arrangement. A typical piston seal, however, may permit leakage between the blade outer air seal and the outer platform during engine operation.
There is a need in the art for an improved seal for a turbine engine.
According to an aspect of the invention, an assembly for a turbine engine is provided that includes a turbine engine first component, a turbine engine second component, a turbine engine third component, a seal carrier, a seal land and a seal element. The first, second and third components are arranged along an axis, and the first component houses at least a portion of the third component. The seal carrier is connected to the first component, and includes a groove surface and a groove. A first portion of the seal carrier at least partially seals a gap between a second portion of the seal carrier and the second component. The seal land is connected to the third component, and includes a seal land surface. The seal element extends radially into the groove, and at least partially seals a gap between the seal carrier and the seal land. The seal element is axially engaged with the groove surface and radially engaged with the seal land surface.
According to another aspect of the invention, an assembly for a turbine engine is provided that includes a case, a turbine engine component, a guide vane arrangement, a seal carrier, a seal land and a seal element. The case, the turbine engine component and the guide vane arrangement are arranged along an axis. The case houses at least a portion of the guide vane arrangement. The seal carrier is connected to the case, and includes a groove surface that at least partially defines a groove. A portion of the seal carrier sealingly engages the turbine engine component. The seal land is connected to the guide vane arrangement, and includes a seal land surface. The seal element extends radially into the groove, and at least partially seals a gap between the seal carrier and the seal land. The seal element is axially engaged with the groove surface and radially engaged with the seal land surface.
According to still another aspect of the invention, an assembly for a turbine engine is provided that includes a case, a turbine engine component, a guide vane arrangement, a seal carrier, a seal land, a first seal element and a second seal element. The case, the turbine engine component and the guide vane arrangement are arranged along an axis. The case houses at least a portion of the guide vane arrangement. The seal carrier is connected to the case, and includes a groove surface that at least partially defines a groove. The seal land is connected to the guide vane arrangement, and includes a seal land surface. The first seal element extends radially into the groove, and at least partially seals a gap between the seal carrier and the seal land. The seal element is axially engaged with the groove surface and radially engaged with the seal land surface. The second seal element is sealingly engaged between a portion of the seal carrier and the turbine engine component.
The first portion of the seal carrier may be located radially within and/or axially overlap the second component.
The first portion of the seal carrier may radially engage the second component.
The second component may include a first surface. The first portion of the seal carrier may extend radially outward to a second surface, which may axially overlap the first surface. A control gap may be defined radially between the first surface and the second surface.
The assembly may include a second seal element, which may be radially engaged between the second component and the first portion of the seal carrier.
The second seal element may be configured as or otherwise include an annular seal device.
The seal carrier may include one or more retainers, which may axially locate the second seal element relative to the portion of the seal carrier.
The seal carrier may include a base and a flange. The base may include the second portion of the seal carrier and the groove surface. The flange may extend axially from the base. The flange may also or alternatively include the first portion of the seal carrier.
The seal carrier may include a base that extends radially inwards from the first component to an inner side. The groove may extend radially into the base from the inner side.
The seal carrier may include a base and/or a cantilevered leg that connects to the base to the first component. The base and the cantilevered leg may define a channel. The base may define the groove. The channel may extend axially into the seal carrier to the cantilevered leg, and radially within the seal carrier between the base and the cantilevered leg.
The seal carrier may be attached to the first component. The seal carrier, for example, may be mechanically fastened to (e.g., press fit into) and/or bonded (e.g., welded, brazes and/or adhered) to the first component. Alternatively, the seal carrier may be formed integral with the first component.
The seal land may be attached to the third component. The seal land, for example, may be mechanically fastened to (e.g., press fit into) and/or bonded (e.g., welded, brazes and/or adhered) to the second component. Alternatively, the seal land may be formed integral with the third component.
The seal element may be configured as or otherwise include a piston seal.
The first component may be configured as or otherwise include a turbine engine case. The third component may be configured as or otherwise include a guide vane arrangement that includes an outer platform. The seal land may be connected to the outer platform.
The second component may be configured as or otherwise include a blade outer air seal.
The assembly may include a turbine engine case that is attached to the first component and houses at least a portion of the second component. A first plenum may extend radially between the first component and the third component. A second plenum may extend radially between the turbine engine case and the second component. The seal carrier may include one or more passages that direct air between the first plenum and the second plenum. In addition or alternatively, the first component may include one or more passages that direct air between the first plenum and the second plenum.
The foregoing features and the operation of the invention will become more apparent in light of the following description and the accompanying drawings.
Each of the engine sections 28, 29A, 29B, 31A and 31B includes a respective rotor 36-40. Each of the rotors 36-40 includes a plurality of rotor blades arranged circumferentially around and connected to (e.g., formed integral with or attached to) one or more respective rotor disks. The fan rotor 36 is connected to a gear train 42; e.g., an epicyclic gear train. The gear train 42 and the LPC rotor 37 are connected to and driven by the LPT rotor 40 through a low speed shaft 44. The HPC rotor 38 is connected to and driven by the HPT rotor 39 through a high speed shaft 46. The low and high speed shafts 44 and 46 are rotatably supported by a plurality of bearings 48. Each of the bearings 48 is connected to the engine housing 34 by at least one stator such as, for example, an annular support strut.
Air enters the engine 20 through the airflow inlet 24, and is directed through the fan section 28 and into an annular core gas path 50 and an annular bypass gas path 52. The air within the core gas path 50 may be referred to as “core air”. The air within the bypass gas path 52 may be referred to as “bypass air”. The core air is directed through the engine sections 29-31 and exits the engine 20 through the airflow exhaust 26. Within the combustor section 30, fuel is injected into and mixed with the core air and ignited to provide forward engine thrust. The bypass air is directed through the bypass gas path 52 and out of the engine 20 to provide additional forward engine thrust, or reverse thrust via a thrust reverser.
The engine housing 34 includes a turbine engine upstream case 62, a turbine engine downstream case 63 and a turbine engine intermediate case 64. The upstream case 62 may be configured to house at least a portion of the HPT rotor 39 of
The downstream case 63 may be configured to house at least a portion of the LPT rotor 40 of
The intermediate case 64 is configured to house at least a portion of the guide vane arrangement 58. The intermediate case 64 extends circumferentially around the axis 22. The intermediate case 64 includes a tubular body 80, an upstream flange 82 (e.g., an annular flange), and a downstream flange 84 (e.g., an annular flange). The body 80 extends along the axis 22 between a body upstream end 86 and a body downstream end 88. The upstream flange 82 extends radially out from the body 80 at the upstream end 86. The upstream flange 82 may be fastened to the flange 68 with one or more fasteners (not shown), which attaches the intermediate case 64 to the upstream case 62. The downstream flange 84 extends radially out from the body 80 at the downstream end 88. The downstream flange 84 may be fastened to the flange 74 with one or more fasteners (see
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The seal carrier 128 includes a base 134, a flange 136 and one or more locating tabs 138. The base 134 extends circumferentially around the axis 22, and is connected to the body 80. The base 134 extends radially inwards from the body 80 and a base outer side 140 to a base inner side 142. The base 134 extends axially between a base upstream end 144 and a base downstream end 146. The base 134 includes one or more groove surfaces 148-150 that define a groove 152 (e.g., an annular channel or notch) in the seal carrier 128. The groove surfaces include an upstream side groove surface 148, a downstream side groove surface 149, and an end groove surface 150. The groove 152 extends radially into the base 134 from the base inner side 142 to the end groove surface 150. The groove 152 extends axially within the base 134 between the opposing side groove surfaces 148 and 149.
The flange 136 extends circumferentially around the axis 22. The flange 136 extends axially from the downstream end 146 to a downstream flange end 154. The flange 136 extends radially between a flange inner surface 156 and a flange outer surface 158 (e.g., an annular surface), which axially overlaps the BOAS surface 94. The outer surface 158 may radially and sealingly engage (e.g., contact) the BOAS surface 94. Alternatively, a control gap may be defined radially between the flange outer surface 158 and the BOAS surface 94. The term “control gap” may describe a gap that is sized to permit a relatively small degree of axial, radial and/or lateral movement between two elements (e.g., the flange 136 and the BOAS base 90), while reducing (e.g., minimizing) gas leakage between the elements. The control gap, for example, may have a radial height between about 0.000 inches and about 0.010 inches. In this manner, the flange 136 at least partially seals a gap between the base 134 and the blade outer air seal 56.
The locating tabs 138 are arranged circumferentially around the axis 22. The locating tabs 138 are connected to the base 134 at the base downstream end 146. The locating tabs 138 may axially engage the BOAS mount 96 to axially locate the blade outer air seal 56 within the engine 20.
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The seal land 130 circumscribes the outer platform 102 at the outer platform downstream end 112. The seal land 130 may be mechanically fastened and/or bonded to the outer platform 102. Alternatively, the seal land 130 may include a plurality of (e.g., circumferential) segments, each of which is formed integral with a respective one of the outer platform segments 126.
The seal land 130 includes a base 170 and a flange 172 (e.g., an annular flange). The base 170 extends circumferentially around the axis 22, and is connected to the outer platform 102. The flange 172 extends circumferentially around the axis 22. The flange 172 extends axially from the base 170 to an upstream flange end 174. The flange 172 extends radially from a flange inner surface 176 to a seal land outer surface 178.
The seal element 132 may be configured as a piston seal with a full hoop body, or a split ring body. The seal element 132, for example, extends circumferentially around the axis 22. The seal element 132 extends axially between a seal element upstream surface 180 and a seal element downstream surface 182. The seal element 132 extends radially between a seal element inner surface 184 and a seal element outer surface 186. The present invention, however, is not limited to any particular seal element types or configurations.
The seal element 132 at least partially seals a gap between the seal carrier 128 and the seal land 130. The seal element 132, for example, extends radially into the groove 152. The seal element 132 axially and sealingly engages the downstream side groove surface 149. The seal element 132 radially and sealingly engages the seal land outer surface 178.
During turbine engine 20 operation, the outer platform 102 may be subject to relatively high temperatures, whereas the intermediate case 64 may be subject to relatively low temperatures. This temperature differential may cause disproportional thermal growth between the outer platform 102 and the intermediate case 64, which may cause the seal land 130 to move axially and/or radially relative to the seal carrier 128. The seal element 132, however, may at least partially accommodate such movement by sliding radially against the downstream side groove surface 149 and/or sliding axially against the seal land outer surface 178.
The seal carrier 128 may also be subject to a different temperature and/or thermal growth rate than the intermediate case 64. However, by attaching (e.g., press fitting) the seal carrier 128 to the intermediate case 64, the seal carrier 128 may grow relative to the intermediate case 64 without causing significant internal stresses in the seal carrier 128 and/or the intermediate case 64. Similarly, by having a low profile (e.g., radial height), the seal land 130 mitigates thermal induced stress and distortions. In addition, by attaching (e.g., bonding) the seal land 130 to the outer platform 102, the seal land 130 may grow relative to the outer platform 102 without causing significant internal stresses in the seal land 130 and/or the outer platform 102.
In addition to the foregoing, the cooling air between the flange 172 and the outer platform 102 may reduce the temperature of the flange 172, which may in turn reduce the temperature of the seal element 132. The assembly 54 therefore may utilize a seal element with a relatively low maximum operating temperature, which may enable the seal element 132 to be manufactured with relatively inexpensive materials and/or relatively inexpensive manufacturing techniques (e.g., formed from wire or bar stock rather than milling from a forging or casting).
The cantilevered leg 196 may increase a length of a thermal path between the base 134 and the intermediate case 64, which may reduce the temperature differential between the base 134 and the seal land 130. The cantilevered leg 196 therefore may reduce thermally induced movement between the base 134 and the seal land 130. In addition, the cantilevered leg 196 may also permit slight radial movement between the base 134 and the intermediate case 64.
One or more components of the assembly 54 may have various configurations other than those described above. One or more of the components 56, 58 and 62-64, for example, may each be configured as a duct, an annular strut, an adjustable guide vane arrangement or any other type of turbine engine component. A portion of the base 134 or any other part of the seal carrier 128 may define the outer surface 158. One or more of the seal elements 132 and 190 may each be configured from a plurality of segments, which are arranged circumferentially around the axis 22. The present invention therefore is not limited to any particular assembly components types and/or configurations.
The terms “upstream”, “downstream”, “inner” and “outer” are used to orientate the components of the assembly 54 described above relative to the turbine engine 20 and its axis 22. A person of skill in the art will recognize, however, one or more of these components may be utilized in other orientations than those described above. For example, the seal assembly may be arranged at the upstream end of the guide vane arrangement 58, located within the inner platform 100, etc. The present invention therefore is not limited to any particular assembly spatial orientations.
The assembly 54 may be included in various turbine engine sections and/or turbine engines other than that described above. The assembly, for example, may be included in a geared turbine engine where a gear train connects one or more shafts to one or more rotors in a fan section, a compressor section and/or any other engine section. Alternatively, the assembly may be included in a turbine engine configured without a gear train. The assembly may be included in a geared or non-geared turbine engine configured with a single spool, with two spools (e.g., see
While various embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many more embodiments and implementations are possible within the scope of the invention. For example, the present invention as described herein includes several aspects and embodiments that include particular features. Although these features may be described individually, it is within the scope of the present invention that some or all of these features may be combined within any one of the aspects and remain within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the present invention is not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents.
This application claims priority to PCT Patent Appln. No. PCT/US14/27075 filed Mar. 14, 2014, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Appln. No. 61/783,404 filed Mar. 14, 2013, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/US2014/027075 | 3/14/2014 | WO | 00 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
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WO2014/152209 | 9/25/2014 | WO | A |
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