US3999883A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Variable turbomachine stator
Assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
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Filing: 1975-07-02
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Granted: 1976-12-28
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Expires: 1995-07-02
Abstract
Abstract A turbine nozzle has a row of vanes each rotatable about an axis extending spanwise of the vane. Each vane is rotated by a shaft which extends through one shroud of the stator vane stage. The free end of each vane is sealed by a flexible seal ring structure made up of overlapping flexible leaves. These leaves are fixed to the nozzle inner shroud at the downstream side of the vanes and motive fluid under pressure is admitted upstream of the vanes to the space between the leaves and the shroud so that the pressure difference across the leaves biases them into engagement with the ends of the vanes. The purpose is to seal against leakage past the vane ends without causing undue frictional resistance to varying the vane setting angle.
Inventors
- 👤 Gary E. Nordenson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 01:47
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01D; F01D17/00; F01D17/10; F01D17/12; F01D17/14; F01D17/16; F01D17/162; F05; F05D; F05D2250/00; F05D2250/20; F05D2250/24; F05D2250/241
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
210 words
A variable-setting stator vane stage for a turbomachine comprising, in combination, shroud means defined by first and second annular shrouds having between them an annular gas flow path; an annular cascade of stator vanes extending across the said flow path, each vane being pivotally mounted on the shroud means for rotation about an axis extending spanwise of the vane; and yieldable pressurized seal means mounted on one of said shrouds for rubbing engagement with the proximate end of each vane, the seal means comprising an annular row of outer flexible seal leaves disposed in contact with the vanes in the path; an annular row of inner flexible seal leaves in face-to-face contact with the outer seal leaves, the lateral margins of the leaves of the two said rows being out of register; means fixing one end of the seal leaves of both sets to the one said shroud at the lower pressure side of the stator stage, with the inner leaves extending clear of the one said shroud from the fixing means; and means for conducting gas from the flow path at the higher pressure side of the stator stage between the said one shroud and the leaves so as to bias the leaves against the ends of the vanes.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
210 words
A variable-setting stator vane stage for a turbomachine comprising, in combination, shroud means defined by first and second annular shrouds having between them an annular gas flow path; an annular cascade of stator vanes extending across the said flow path, each vane being pivotally mounted on the shroud means for rotation about an axis extending spanwise of the vane; and yieldable pressurized seal means mounted on one of said shrouds for rubbing engagement with the proximate end of each vane, the seal means comprising an annular row of outer flexible seal leaves disposed in contact with the vanes in the path; an annular row of inner flexible seal leaves in face-to-face contact with the outer seal leaves, the lateral margins of the leaves of the two said rows being out of register; means fixing one end of the seal leaves of both sets to the one said shroud at the lower pressure side of the stator stage, with the inner leaves extending clear of the one said shroud from the fixing means; and means for conducting gas from the flow path at the higher pressure side of the stator stage between the said one shroud and the leaves so as to bias the leaves against the ends of the vanes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A vane stage as recited in claim 1 in which the static pressure of the gas in the flow path decreases through the stage.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A vane stage as recited in claim 1 in which the static pressure of the gas in the flow path increases through the stage.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
221 words
A variable-setting stator vane stage for a turbomachine comprising, in combination, shroud means defined by first and second annular shrouds having between them an annular gas flow path; an annular cascade of stator vanes extending across the said flow path, each vane being pivotally mounted on the first said shroud for rotation about an axis extending spanwise of the vane; each of said vanes having a free end; and yieldable pressurized seal means mounted on the other said shroud inboard of said flow path for rubbing engagement with the free end of each vane, the seal means comprising an annular row of outer flexible seal leaves disposed in contact with the vanes; an annular row of inner flexible seal leaves in face-to-face contact with the outer seal leaves, the lateral margins of the leaves of the two said rows being out of register; means fixing one end of the seal leaves of both sets to the one said shroud at the lower pressure side of the stator stage, with the inner leaves extending clear of the one said shroud from the fixing means; and means for conducting gas from the flow path at the higher pressure side of the stator stage between the said one shroud and the leaves so as to bias the leaves against the ends of the vanes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
221 words
A variable-setting stator vane stage for a turbomachine comprising, in combination, shroud means defined by first and second annular shrouds having between them an annular gas flow path; an annular cascade of stator vanes extending across the said flow path, each vane being pivotally mounted on the first said shroud for rotation about an axis extending spanwise of the vane; each of said vanes having a free end; and yieldable pressurized seal means mounted on the other said shroud inboard of said flow path for rubbing engagement with the free end of each vane, the seal means comprising an annular row of outer flexible seal leaves disposed in contact with the vanes; an annular row of inner flexible seal leaves in face-to-face contact with the outer seal leaves, the lateral margins of the leaves of the two said rows being out of register; means fixing one end of the seal leaves of both sets to the one said shroud at the lower pressure side of the stator stage, with the inner leaves extending clear of the one said shroud from the fixing means; and means for conducting gas from the flow path at the higher pressure side of the stator stage between the said one shroud and the leaves so as to bias the leaves against the ends of the vanes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
238 words
A variable-setting stator vane stage for a turbomachine comprising, in combination, shroud means defined by first and second annular shrouds having between them an annular gas flow path; an annular cascade of stator vanes extending across the said flow path, each vane being pivotally mounted on the shroud means for rotation about an axis extending spanwise of the vane; and yieldable pressurized seal means mounted on one said shroud in said path for rubbing engagement with the proximate end of each vane, the seal means comprising an annular row of outer flexible seal leaves disposed in contact with the vanes; an annular row of inner flexible seal leaves in face-to-face contact with the outer seal leaves, the lateral margins of the leaves of the two said rows being out of register; means fixing one end of the seal leaves of both sets to the one said shroud at the lower pressure side of the stator stage, with the inner leaves extending clear of the one said shroud from the fixing means; means providing a connection between leaves of the two said rows at the free ends of the leaves constraining the leaves of the two sets to flex in unison; and means for conducting gas from the flow path at the higher pressure side of the stator stage between the said one shroud and the leaves so as to bias the leaves against the ends of the vanes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
238 words
A variable-setting stator vane stage for a turbomachine comprising, in combination, shroud means defined by first and second annular shrouds having between them an annular gas flow path; an annular cascade of stator vanes extending across the said flow path, each vane being pivotally mounted on the shroud means for rotation about an axis extending spanwise of the vane; and yieldable pressurized seal means mounted on one said shroud in said path for rubbing engagement with the proximate end of each vane, the seal means comprising an annular row of outer flexible seal leaves disposed in contact with the vanes; an annular row of inner flexible seal leaves in face-to-face contact with the outer seal leaves, the lateral margins of the leaves of the two said rows being out of register; means fixing one end of the seal leaves of both sets to the one said shroud at the lower pressure side of the stator stage, with the inner leaves extending clear of the one said shroud from the fixing means; means providing a connection between leaves of the two said rows at the free ends of the leaves constraining the leaves of the two sets to flex in unison; and means for conducting gas from the flow path at the higher pressure side of the stator stage between the said one shroud and the leaves so as to bias the leaves against the ends of the vanes.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-12-28 | 1980-06-28 | 1980-12-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-12-28 | 1984-06-28 | 1984-12-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-12-28 | 1988-06-28 | 1988-12-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |