Labyrinth seal structure for gas turbine engine

Claim 2

A labyrinth sealing structure for use in a gas turbine engine to provide a fluid pressure differential between segregated compartments or sections of the engine comprising spaced rotating and stationary members having facing surfaces, a sealing structure comprising one of said facing surfaces defined by one of said members and having a plurality of spaced annular grooves recessed in said one member and opening in said one facing surface, the other of said members defined by the second of said facing surfaces which is spaced from said first facing surface, annular seal rings supportably received in said grooves and having portions projecting normally beyond said first facing surface, seal elements secured to said projecting portions, spaced annular lands defined adjacent said second facing surface for engagement by said seal elements, and means for releasably retaining said seal rings in said annular grooves.

Claim 3

The labyrinth sealing structure according to claim 1 wherein said seal ring retaining means comprises circumaxially spaced elongated fasteners each of which extends through aligned openings in said seal rings and said one member, which fasteners are located adjacent said first facing surface and oriented parallel thereto.

Claim 4

The labyrinth sealing structure according to claim 2 wherein each of said seal rings includes two seal elements, the first mentioned seal element located adjacent the end of the projecting portion of said seal ring, and another seal element intermediate the end of said projecting portion and said first facing surface, both said seal elements arranged parallel to one another and to said first facing surface.

Claim 5

A labyrinth sealing structure for use in a gas turbine engine to provide a fluid pressure differential between segregated compartments or sections of the engine comprising spaced rotating and stationary members having facing surfaces, a sealing structure comprising one of said facing surfaces defined by one of said members and having a plurality of spaced annular grooves recessed in said one member and opening in said one facing surface, the other of said members defined by the second of said facing surfaces which is spaced from said first facing surface, annular rings supportably received in said grooves and having portions projecting normally beyond said first surface, seating surfaces on each of said projecting portions, spaced annular seal elements adjacent said facing annular surface for engagement with said seating surfaces respectively, and means for releasably retaining said rings in said annular grooves.

Claim 6

A labyrinth sealing structure for use in a gas turbine engine to provide a fluid pressure differential between segregated compartments or sections of the engine comprising spaced rotating and stationary members having facing surfaces, a sealing structure comprising one of said facing surfaces defined by one of said members and having a plurality of spaced annular grooves recessed in said one member and opening in said one facing surface, the other of said members defined by the second of said facing surfaces which is spaced from said first facing surface, annular rings supportably received in said grooves and having portions projecting normally beyond said first surface, seating surfaces on each of said projecting portions, spaced annular seal elements adjacent said facing annular surface for engagement with said seating surfaces respectively, and means for releasably retaining said rings in said annular grooves.

Claim 7

The labyrinth sealing structure according to claim 4 wherein said retaining means for said rings comprises circumaxially spaced elongated fasteners each of which extends through aligned openings in said rings and said one member, which fasteners are located adjacent said first facing surface and oriented parallel thereto.

Claim 8

The labyrinth sealing structure according to claim 5 wherein each of said rings includes two spaced land type seating surfaces, the first above mentioned seating surface located adjacent the end of the projecting portion of said ring, and another land intermediate the end of said projecting portion and said first facing surface, both said lands oriented normal to said first facing surface.

Claim 9

A labyrinth sealing structure for use in a gas turbine engine to provide a fluid pressure differential between segregated compartments or sections of the engine, having a longitudinal axis, comprising rotating and stationary members, spaced axially to present facing, radial surfaces, each of said facing surfaces defining a plurality of spaced annular grooves concentric about said axis, rings supportably received in said grooves and having portions projecting normally beyond said facing surfaces, certain of said projecting rings portions having circumferential seating surfaces defined thereon, and radially extending seal ring elements carried by other of said projecting ring portions for engagement with said seating surfaces, and means for releasably axially retaining said rings in said grooves.

Claim 10

A labyrinth sealing structure for use in a gas turbine engine to provide a fluid pressure differential between segregated compartments or sections of the engine, having a longitudinal axis, comprising rotating and stationary members, spaced axially to present facing, radial surfaces, each of said facing surfaces defining a plurality of spaced annular grooves concentric about said axis, rings supportably received in said grooves and having portions projecting normally beyond said facing surfaces, certain of said projecting rings portions having circumferential seating surfaces defined thereon, and radially extending seal ring elements carried by other of said projecting ring portions for engagement with said seating surfaces, and means for releasably axially retaining said rings in said grooves.

Claim 11

The labyrinth sealing structure according to claim 7 wherein said ring retaining means comprises circumaxially spaced elongated fasteners each of which extends through aligned openings in certain of said rings and said stationary member.

Claim 12

The labyrinth sealing structure according to claim 8 wherein said ring retaining means further includes circumaxially spaced elongated fasteners extending through aligned openings in said other rings and said rotating member.

Claim 13

The labyrinth sealing structure according to claim 9 wherein said certain rings each defines two spaced circumferential seating surface lands, and wherein said other rings carry two radially extending seal ring elements for engagement with said seating surface lands.