Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Richard M Zeek

Albert H Bell, Iii

A regenerator cross arm seal structure for a rotary regenerator of a gas turbine engine includes a cross arm seal extending diametrically of a matrix of the rotating regenerator which includes a center bore therein for a drive bushing and spindle; the seal having a leaf spring on one surface thereof that is engageable with an engine block support platform to seal between the engine block and one surface of a seal platform that supports a cross arm wear face with a hub section cooled by leakage of air through the center bore and the seal wear face including a material with low friction and good wear characteristics when operating at elevated temperatures between 1000.degree. F. to 1500.degree. F. (523.degree. C. to 800.degree. C.) and wherein the cooling effect of air leakage through the hub is counteracted by hot gas circulation through hot gas passages in the wear surface at the hub section thereof sized to allow pressure drop from the hot gas sides of the matrix to the cold gas side thereof to pump hot gas across the inboard seal assembly hub section to maintain it within a desired elevated temperature range for maintaining low friction and reduced wear thereon.

Regenerator seal hub gas passages

A regenerator seal assembly for use in a rotary regenerator includes a two-stage seal with a peripheral rim seal having a seal leaf turned inside out so that the free end of the leaf is of a smaller radius of curvature than the fixed end of the leaf and wherein the outer peripheral rim seal is made up of a plurality of straight leaf segments formed on chord lines along the outer circumference of the seal assembly with each straight leaf segment being joined by a mitered joint so that the free end of each such leaf segment is deflected without formation of waviness of wrinkles in the seal assembly.

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Farmington, MI, United States of America

Richard M Zeek