INTER-STAGE SEAL RETAINER AND ASSEMBLY

• Main Authors: CODY, WILLIAM E, RAINOUS, EDWARD A, MCMAHAN, KEVIN W, MAUE, GREGORY P, VICKERS, EDWARD C, YEE, SHARON L, BARBER, DANIEL J
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French
• Published: 06.02.2007
• Subjects: AIR INTAKES FOR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS; BLASTING; COMBUSTION ENGINES; CONTROLLING FUEL SUPPLY IN AIR-BREATHING JET-PROPULSION PLANTS; DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS ORMACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS,CLIPS, WEDGES, JOINTS OR JOINTING; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GAS-TURBINE PLANTS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVEFUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; HEATING; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS; LIGHTING; MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAMTURBINES; NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT PUMPS; POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS; STEAM ENGINES; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL; WEAPONS

A retainer (82) which, in an exemplary embodiment of the invention, is used in a gas turbine engine inter-stage seal assembly to retain an annular seal ring flange (50) of a seal ring (48) against an annular platform flange (60) extending radially inwardly from an inner platform (30) of an annular nozzle stage (36) having nozzle vanes (26). The retainer includes a body (90) havin g a central portion (92) through which a bore (88) is formed around a bore axi s (89) and a central tab (94) extends radially outwardly from the central portion (92) with respect to the bore axis (89). First and second arms (97 and 98), respectively, extend in opposite respective first and second tangential directions (100 and 102), with respect to the bore axis (89), away from the central portion (92) and each other. Axial spacers (104) extend aftwardly fr om first and second free ends (106 and 108) of the first and second arms (97 an d 98), respectively and anti-rotation feet (105) with rounded ends (109) depen d from the first and second free ends (106 and 108) in an opposite direction from which the central tab (94) extends. A pedestal assembly (110) extends a ft from the central portion (92) and is located aft of the central tab. In the exemplary embodiment, the pedestal assembly (110) has a semi-annular cylindrical inner surface (114) circumscribed around the bore axis (89) and a semi-annular cylindrical outer surface (116) wherein the semi-annular cylindrical outer surface (116) extends between generally parallel spaced apart radially inner and outer flats (120 and 122), respectively with respec t to the bore axis (89), and the radially inner flats (120) are coplanar and the radially outer flats (122) are coplanar. Chamfers (132) are formed along the radially inner and outer flats (120 and 122), respectively. The retainer (82 ) is an integrally cast unit including the body (90), the central portion (92), t he central tab (94), the first and second arms (97 and 98), the axial spacers (104), the anti-rotation feet (105), and the pedestal assembly (110).