Innovative Technology, Inc.

Anthony F Mitola

William P Sanders

The invention pertains to a method and apparatus for minimizing the leakage of working fluid through the fluid leakage path of a turbine seal. The invention may be described in general terms as producing from rotary motion of the working fluid a region of lowered pressure in the working fluid in a portion of the leakage path adjacent a high pressure side of a sealing ring of the seal. This function may be performed by producing and shedding vortices in the working fluid at one or more points about the circumference of the sealing ring. This function may be accomplished by providing a sealing ring having a tooth portion provided in one or more tooth segments, portions of one or more trailing edges of the tooth segments extending outward in a common direction.

Method and apparatus for minimizing leakage in turbine seals

A rubbing strip is used in conjunction with the sealing strips of a seal to prevent contact between the sealing strips and a rotating member with which the sealing strips form a seal. The rubbing strip comprises a strip of material which is oriented coaxially with the sealing strips and which has a clearance with respect to the rotating member which is less than the least of the clearances provided by the sealing strips with which it is associated. The material and the cross-sectional shape of the rubbing strip may be selected in accordance with desired wear properties. The rubbing strip may be formed integrally with a sealing ring, or may be formed to be inserted into complementary receiving means on a sealing ring.

Method of servicing turbine seal

A rubbing strip is used in conjunction with the sealing strips of a seal to prevent contact between the sealing strips and a rotating member with which the sealing strips form a seal. The rubbing strip comprises a strip of material which is oriented coaxially with the sealing strips and which has a clearance with respect to the rotating member which is less than the least of the clearances provided by the sealing strips with which it is associated. The material and the cross-sectional shape of the rubbing strip may be selected in accordance with desired wear properties. The rubbing strip may be formed integrally with a sealing ring, or may be formed to be inserted into a complementary receiving recess on a sealing ring.

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Clifton Park, NY, United States of America

Anthony F Mitola