Sundstrand Corporation

Steve Heitz

Jack R Shekleton

Robert W Smith

Difficulties in accommodating thermal growth in a combustor for providing hot gases of combustor to drive, for example, a turbine wheel (10) are avoided in a combustor construction, including a housing (36) defining a combustion chamber having a relatively narrow inlet (38), an enlarged combustion area (42) and a relatively narrow outlet (40) opposite of the inlet (38). A fuel injector (46) is disposed in the inlet (38) for injecting fuel (50) at least into the combustion area (42) and a plenum case (56) surrounds the housing (36) in generally spaced relation. The plenum case (56) is adapted to be connected to a source (62) of oxidant under pressure and is in fluid communication with the inlet (38) to provide oxidant thereto to support combustion of fuel in the combustion area (42). A conduit (44) extends from the outlet (40) to be connected to a turbine nozzle (16) and a diaphragm (122) is interposed and sealingly engages both the housing (36) and the plenum case (56) near the outlet (40). A first labyrinth seal (116) is located on one side of the diaphragm (122) and between the housing (36) and the plenum case (56) while a second labyrinth seal (104) is located on the other side of the diaphragm (122) and is disposed between the plenum case (56) and the conduit (44).

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Rockford, IL, United States of America

Steve Heitz