US3733146A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Gas seal rotatable support structure
Assignee: RTX Corp
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Filing: 1971-04-07
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Granted: 1973-05-15
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Expires: 1991-04-07
Abstract
Abstract A toroidal structure which is lenticular in cross section and rotatable in a gas turbine environment is disclosed. The structure is described as a support member for the rotating component of a seal assembly in a high temperature application, such as a turbine rotor. The structure is radially supported by a pair of adjacent turbine disks and comprises a pair of curved plates which cooperate during rotation to cause a low net stress in the plates. The outer plate has a raised ridge along each of its circumferential edges and correspondingly the inner plate has a butt face along each of its circumferential edges. During rotation of the lenticular structure, the ridge edges tend to draw closer together and the butt face edges tend to spread apart and since the inner plate edges are restrained by the outer plate ridges, a transfer of axial loads between the plates occurs, resulting in a reduction in the net stress in the structure.
Inventors
- 👤 S Smith
- 👤 P Voyer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 07:50
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01D; F01D5/00; F01D5/02; F01D5/06; F01D11/00; F01D11/001
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
167 words
In a gas turbine engine having an axial centerline, a rotatable gas seal support structure having a toroidal shape which is lenticular in cross section, the structure comprising: a curved annular outer shell which is unpenetrated by bolt holes and has a raised ridge along each of its circular end surfaces and is symmetrically disposed about the axis so that during rotation of the structure about the axis, the center of the outer shell tends to move away from the axis and the distance of separation between the two ridges along the axis tends to decrease; and a curved annular inner shell which is unpenetrated by bolt holes and has a butt face along each of its circular edge surfaces and is positioned between the raised ridges of the outer shell so that during rotation of the structure the center of the inner shell tends to move away from the axis and the distance of separation between the two buTt faces along the axis tends to increase.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
167 words
In a gas turbine engine having an axial centerline, a rotatable gas seal support structure having a toroidal shape which is lenticular in cross section, the structure comprising: a curved annular outer shell which is unpenetrated by bolt holes and has a raised ridge along each of its circular end surfaces and is symmetrically disposed about the axis so that during rotation of the structure about the axis, the center of the outer shell tends to move away from the axis and the distance of separation between the two ridges along the axis tends to decrease; and a curved annular inner shell which is unpenetrated by bolt holes and has a butt face along each of its circular edge surfaces and is positioned between the raised ridges of the outer shell so that during rotation of the structure the center of the inner shell tends to move away from the axis and the distance of separation between the two buTt faces along the axis tends to increase.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The invention according to claim 1 including means attached to one of the adjacent turbine wheels for preventing relative rotational motion between the turbine wheel and the double annular shell.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
The invention according to claim 1 wherein the curved outer shell supports a knife edge member of a seal, the knife edge cooperating with a land member of the seal which is attached to a stationary member of the gas turbine.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
146 words
In a gas turbine engine having a pair of adjacent, rotatable, blade retaining, wheels with each wheel having an axially extending and a radially extending containing surface symmetrically disposed about the centerline axis of the engine, a rotatable gas seal support structure having a toroidal shape which is lenticular in cross section, the structure comprising an outer annular shell which is curved concavely from the axial centerline and has two circular end surfaces, and an inner annular shell which is curved convexly from the axial centerline and has two circular edge surfaces, the inner of said edge surfaces being held in axial restraint by a corresponding outer end surfaces, the two annular shells being axially and radially contained by the support surfaces of the pair of wheels, the shells having no holes therethrough to accommodate axial load bearing attachment means between the structure and the wheels.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
146 words
In a gas turbine engine having a pair of adjacent, rotatable, blade retaining, wheels with each wheel having an axially extending and a radially extending containing surface symmetrically disposed about the centerline axis of the engine, a rotatable gas seal support structure having a toroidal shape which is lenticular in cross section, the structure comprising an outer annular shell which is curved concavely from the axial centerline and has two circular end surfaces, and an inner annular shell which is curved convexly from the axial centerline and has two circular edge surfaces, the inner of said edge surfaces being held in axial restraint by a corresponding outer end surfaces, the two annular shells being axially and radially contained by the support surfaces of the pair of wheels, the shells having no holes therethrough to accommodate axial load bearing attachment means between the structure and the wheels.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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US3528751A
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-05-14 | 1976-11-13 | 1977-05-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-05-14 | 1980-11-13 | 1981-05-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-05-14 | 1984-11-13 | 1985-05-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |