General Electric Company

Steven Kirgiss

Donald Michael Corsmeier

Bernard James Renggli

Anthony Michael Gunasekera

Dale Szul

Andrew Keppeler

In some embodiments, apparatuses are provided herein useful to sealing a gap, such as a gap between a gas turbine engine nozzle flap and sidewall. An apparatus for sealing such a gap may be a plunger seal that includes a plunger, a retaining element, a guide pin, and a biasing element. The plunger includes a sealing edge and an actuating edge having at least one recess and an opening formed therein. The biasing element and a portion of the guide pin are nested in the recess. The retaining element anchor the plunger to the retaining element. The retaining element also anchors the plunger seal to the housing When installed in a gap, the housing engages the flap and the plunger engages the sidewall. The biasing element is under compression and urges the guide pin into the actuating edge to urge the plunger toward the sidewall and seal the gap.

Plunger seal apparatus and sealing method

Apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to sealing a dynamic gap between a moveable flap and a sidewall. The apparatus may be a seal assembly that includes a spring body, a clip coupled to a distal end of the spring body, and a wear shoe coupled to the clip. The spring body includes a flap arm adjacent the flap and a wall arm adjacent the sidewall. The flap arm and the wall arm bias away from one another when under compression in the gap. A distal end of the wall arm includes a first knuckle and a second knuckle that are pivotally coupled to the clip to create a hinge feature. The wear shoe is pivotally coupled to the clip to create another hinge feature. A distal end of the flap arm includes a skirt that is received by the clip seal an interior space of the spring body.

Growing community of inventors

Fairfield, OH, United States of America

Steven Kirgiss