Flexible interstage turbine spacer

Claim 2

An interstage spacer for a multi-stage turbine comprising a hollow disk disposed intermediate turbine stages, said disk including an axially extending flange portion at its outer diameter which abuts the adjacent turbine stages, said flange portion extending radially inward at a point intermediate the ends thereof to form flexible bellows means for absorbing axial growth of the turbine stages, said spacer further including a neck portion extending radially inward from the flexible bellows means and flaring into a hub portion at the inside diameter of the spacer.

Claim 3

The interstage spacer of claim 1 wherein the flange further includes a plurality of axially spaced radially outward extending labyrinth teeth.

Claim 4

The interstage spacer of claim 2 wherein the flexible bellows means is disposed intermediate the innermost labyrinth teeth.

Claim 5

The interstage spacer of claim 1 wherein the outer ends of the flange are tapered to form rabbet teeth in sealing engagement with respective end sealing plates mounted on the adjacent turbine stages.

Claim 6

The interstage spacer of claim 1 further comprising a ring coupler disposed intermediate the turbine stages having a pair of radially outward extending flanges at opposite ends of its inside diameter said flanges adapted to be bolted to the hub of respective adjacent turbine stages.

Claim 7

An interstage spacer for a multi-stage turbine comprising: a hollow disk disposed intermediate turbine stages said disk including an axially extending flange portion at its outside diameter the ends of which are tapered to form rabbet teeth in sealing engagement with respective end sealing plates mounted on the adjacent turbine stages, said flange having a plurality of axially spaced radially outward extending labyrinth teeth in rotating and sealing engagement with a seal runner formed integral with a gas accelerator and wherein the spacer extends radially inward from the flange portion at a point intermediate the innermost labyrinth teeth to form a flexible bellows the lower portion of which extends further radially inward to form a tapered neck which flares into a hub at the inside diameter of the spacer, and a ring coupler disposed intermediate the turbine stages radially inward from the hollow disk having a pair of radially outward extending flanges at opposite ends of its inside diameter adapted to be bolted to the hub of the respective adjacent disks.

Claim 8

An interstage spacer for a multi-stage turbine comprising: a hollow disk disposed intermediate turbine stages said disk including an axially extending flange portion at its outside diameter the ends of which are tapered to form rabbet teeth in sealing engagement with respective end sealing plates mounted on the adjacent turbine stages, said flange having a plurality of axially spaced radially outward extending labyrinth teeth in rotating and sealing engagement with a seal runner formed integral with a gas accelerator and wherein the spacer extends radially inward from the flange portion at a point intermediate the innermost labyrinth teeth to form a flexible bellows the lower portion of which extends further radially inward to form a tapered neck which flares into a hub at the inside diameter of the spacer, and a ring coupler disposed intermediate the turbine stages radially inward from the hollow disk having a pair of radially outward extending flanges at opposite ends of its inside diameter adapted to be bolted to the hub of the respective adjacent disks.