Slidable stator seal

Claim 1

A seal structure for reducing leakage of a fluid between adjacent stationary shroud segments in a turbine comprising, a turbine casing, a blade ring disposed within said casing, an annular array of stationary blades disposed within said blade ring, said blades supported on their radially outer end by a plurality of arcuately formed outer shroud segments and on their inner ends by a plurality of arcuately formed inner shroud segments, said adjacent shroud segments defining gaps therebetween allowing dimensioned changes in said segments due to thermal causes, one end of each of said shroud segment having a slot defined by opposing radially spaced legs, said slot having an opening facing said adjacent segment, a movable seal member mounted in said slot for guided movement towards said adjacent segment, a spring means disposed within said slot for biasing said seal member into abutting sealing engagement with said adjacent segment for sealing said fluid against radial flow across said shroud and radially directed slots in said opposing legs of said segment, said sealing member having a radially enlarged portion received within said radial slots whereby, in conjunction with said spring means, said slot defined by said opposed spaced legs is sealed against axial flow therethrough.