General Electric Company

United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Air Force

Vincent Marion Drerup

Harold Ray Hansel

Ching-Pang Lee

David Edwin Budinger

Larry W Plemmons

Ronald Lance Galley

John R Hess

Mariusz Pawel Staszak

Richard W Albrecht

James Anthony Ketzer

A method for assembling a gas turbine engine is provided. The method comprises coupling a first turbine nozzle within the engine, coupling a second turbine nozzle circumferentially adjacent the first turbine nozzle such that a gap is defined between the first and second turbine nozzles and providing at least one spline seal including a substantially planar body. The method also comprises forming at least one catch to extend outward from the body portion of the at least one spline seal, and inserting the at least one spline seal into a slot defined in at least one of the first and second turbine nozzles to facilitate reducing leakage through said gap, such that a portion of the at least one spline seal is received within a recess defined within the turbine nozzle slot to facilitate retaining the at least one spline seal within the turbine nozzle slot.

Methods and apparatus for assembling gas turbine engine stator assemblies

A method for assembling a gas turbine engine is provided. The method comprises coupling a first turbine nozzle within the engine, coupling a second turbine nozzle circumferentially adjacent the first turbine nozzle such that a gap is defined between the first and second turbine nozzles and providing at least one spline seal including a substantially planar body. The method also comprises forming at least one retainer tab to extend outward from the body portion of the at least one spline seal, and inserting the at least one spline seal into a slot defined in at least one of the first and second turbine nozzles to facilitate reducing leakage through the gap, such that the at least one retainer tab facilitates retaining the retainer tab within the turbine nozzle slot.

Methods and apparatus for assembling turbine engines

A method enables a nozzle assembly for a gas turbine engine rotor assembly to be fabricated. The rotor assembly includes at least two adjacent rows of rotor blades coupled together by a disk spacer arm. The method includes providing a nozzle assembly that includes at least one nozzle including a vane that extends outwardly from a radially outer side of an inner band, coupling the nozzle assembly into the rotor assembly between the two adjacent rows of rotor blades, and coupling a seal assembly that includes a backing piece to the nozzle assembly such that the backing piece is substantially parallel to the rotor assembly disk spacer arm.

Methods and apparatus to reduce seal rubbing within gas turbine engines

An air transfer assembly for a gas turbine engine is provided. The assembly transfers temperature control air from an annular plenum to an annular manifold through an air transfer tube interposed therebetween. The air transfer tube prevents temperature control air leakage even though it is permitted to slide between limits set by an air transfer bushing assembly and a manifold cup formed in the annular manifold. The air transfer bushing is removable and is installed in an aperature in an outer support. The manifold cup is formed in the annular manifold.

Air transfer bushing

An apparatus for effecting a seal between two structural components of a turbo machine or similar device comprises a leaf seal located in the space between the two components and a spring which continuously biases the leaf seal into a sealing position against the components regardless of the pressure differential across the leaf seal.

Leaf seals

The invention comprises a borescope plug for sealing a borescope inspection port on a turbine engine having a fluid flowpath and multiple casings. The borescope plug comprises a plug body having an interlocking drive interface, a plunger portion positioned for sliding coaxial movement relative to the plug body and spring means engaging both the plug body and the plunger. The spring means presses the plunger towards a fully extended position relative to the plug body. The plunger comprises a fixedly attached tip portion shaped to conform with the fluid flowpath. Key means is provided for aligning the tip to conform with the fluid flowpath and the tip is cooled with a cooling airflow.

Borescope plug

The invention comprises a boltless turbine nozzle and nozzle support assembly that includes a turbine nozzle mounting flange seated in a nozzle seat forming a part of the nozzle support. Pins are used for affixing the nozzle mounting flange to the nozzle support seat and baffles are provided for maintaining the pins in their desired locations. A retaining ring is preferrably used to retain the baffles adjacent to the pins. A pressure actuated pliable seal is affixed to the turbine nozzle adjacent to the nozzle seat in order to provide an air seal across the completed assembly.

Growing community of inventors

Cincinnati, OH, United States of America

Vincent Marion Drerup