Cummins Inc.

Christopher J Shaw

Stephen David Hughes

Mark R Holden

Simon David Moore

Matthew William Edwards

Christopher Parry

George E Sandford

Karl Conlon

Nandakishore Arcot Madhusudan

Paul Ghosh

Andrew Sullivan

A turbine for a turbo-machine is proposed in which, at a gas inlet for a turbine wheel, vanes extend from a nozzle ring though slots in a shroud. The nozzle ring and shroud are relatively rotatable about a rotational axis of the turbine by at least 0.1 degrees. In use, the nozzle ring and shroud are relatively rotated to bring one side of the vane into close contact with one surface of the slot, to inhibit leakage of gas between the vane and the slot surface. For this purpose the respective surfaces of the nozzle and slot can be configured to closely conform to each other. If there is differential thermal expansion of the shroud and nozzle ring, the nozzle ring and shroud can relatively rotate, to withdraw the vane from the edge of the slot to relieve the pressure between them.

Vanes and shrouds for a turbo-machine

A turbine for a turbo-machine is proposed in which, at a gas inlet for a turbine wheel, vanes extend from a nozzle ring though slots in a shroud. The vanes are formed with a leading portion which is arranged to contact a leading portion of a corresponding slot, and a trailing portion which is shaped, when the leading portion of the vane and slot are together, to be spaced from a corresponding trailing portion of the slot with a substantially constant spacing at room temperature. The contact may be a point contact, e.g. close to the leading edge of the vane. Alternatively, the vane may include a leading surface portion which conforms closely with the shape of a corresponding leading surface portion of one of the slots.

Vane and shroud arrangements for a turbo-machine

Growing community of inventors

Huddersfield, United Kingdom

Christopher J Shaw