Sundstrand Corporation

Derek P Harris

Stacey H Light

The clearance between a seal assembly 46 and a turbine wheel 14 in a turbine engine of the type having a radial outflow compressor 24 and a radial inflow turbine wheel 14 may be minimized by utilizing a diaphragm assembly 76 as part of the seal assembly 46 and which is formed of multiple pieces in the form of concentric rings 78, 80. In addition, the thermal stress in the rings 78 and 80 will be considerably less than in a single ring as used in existing designs. This greatly extends the useful life of the seal plate assembly before the onset of cracking and other kinds of mechanical failure.

Seal plate with concentrate annular segments for a gas turbine engine

The clearance between a seal assembly 48 and a turbine wheel 16 in an engine of the type having a radial outflow compressor 24 and a radial inflow turbine 16 is minimized by forming the seal assembly 48 in part out of a plurality of segments 74 disposed in a circular array and which are relatively movable but sealed to each other. The thermal stress in the segments 74 will be less than in a single ring resulting in an extended life before the onset of cracking and eventual mechanical failure.

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San Diego, CA, United States of America

Derek P Harris