Seal for a flow machine

Claim 2

Flow machine sealing arrangement for the clearance space between a rotor and stator of a flow machine such as an axial flow turbine, compressor, blower, charger or the like, said sealing arrangement separating high and/low pressure chambers and comprising a pair of axially spaced sealing points defining narrow flow path points between the stator and rotor, said sealing points being formed by a pair of radially outwardly protruding sections carried on the outer circumference of the rotor, and auxiliary blade means distributed around the circumference of the rotor and extending radially outwardly of the rotor axis, said auxiliary blade means being disposed between the pair of sealing points and including means for generating turbulent flow in response to relative rotation of the stator and rotor to thereby improve the sealing in the region of the sealing points, wherein the auxiliary blade means extend radially outwardly of the outer circumference of the rotor and are configured to induce an axial flow in the direction of the high pressure chamber, and wherein the auxiliary blades are selected in a number that increases with the size of the rotor diameter.

Claim 3

Flow machine sealing arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the dimensions of the auxiliary blade means are selected to be smaller than those of the sealing points, with respect to the outside diameter and the distance to the stator.

Claim 4

Flow machine sealing arrangement for the clearance space between a rotor and stator of a flow machine such as an axial flow turbine, compressor, blower, charger or the like, said sealing arrangement separating high and/low pressure chambers and comprising a pair of axially spaced sealing points defining narrow flow path points between the stator and rotor, said sealing points being formed by a pair of radially outwardly protruding sections carried on the outer circumference of the rotor, and auxiliary blade means distributed around the circumference of the rotor and extending radially outwardly of the rotor axis, said auxiliary blade means being disposed between the pair of sealing points and including means for generating turbulent flow in response to relative rotation of the stator and rotor to thereby improve the sealing in the region of the sealing point, wherein the auxiliary blade means extend radially outwardly of the outer circumference of the rotor and are configured to induce an axial flow in the direction of the high pressure chamber, and wherein the angle of attack of the auxiliary blade means is selected to be larger with an increasing rotational speed.

Claim 5

Flow machine sealing arrangement for the clearance space between a rotor and stator of a flow machine such as an axial flow turbine, compressor, blower, charger or the like, said sealing arrangement separating high and/low pressure chambers and comprising a pair of axially spaced sealing points defining narrow flow path points between the stator and rotor, said sealing points being formed by a pair of radially outwardly protruding sections carried on the outer circumference of the rotor, and auxiliary blade means distributed around the circumference of the rotor and extending radially outwardly of the rotor axis, said auxiliary blade means being disposed between the pair of sealing points and including means for generating turbulent flow in response to relative rotation of the stator and rotor to thereby improve the sealing in the region of the sealing point, wherein the auxiliary blade means extend radially outwardly of the outer circumference of the rotor and are configured to induce an axial flow in the direction of the high pressure chamber, and wherein the angle of attack of the auxiliary blade means is selected to be larger with an increasing rotational speed.

Claim 6

Flow machine sealing arrangement for the clearance space between a rotor and stator of a flow machine such as an axial flow turbine, compressor, blower, charger or the like, said sealing arrangement separating high and/low pressure chambers and comprising a pair of axially spaced sealing points defining narrow flow path points between the stator and rotor, said sealing points being formed by a pair of radially outwardly protruding sections carried on the outer circumference of the rotor, and auxiliary blade means distributed around the circumference of the rotor and extending radially outwardly of the rotor axis, said auxiliary blade means being disposed between the pair of sealing points and including means for generating turbulent flow in response to relative rotation of the stator and rotor to thereby improve the sealing in the region of the sealing points, wherein said auxiliary blades extend radially outwards from the rotor axis through an opening located intermediate said sealing points to a circumferential swirling chamber intermediate the sealing points.

Claim 7

Flow machine sealing arrangement for the clearance space between a rotor and stator of a flow machine such as an axial flow turbine, compressor, blower, charger or the like, said sealing arrangement separating high and/low pressure chambers and comprising a pair of axially spaced sealing points defining narrow flow path points between the stator and rotor, said sealing points being formed by a pair of radially outwardly protruding sections carried on the outer circumference of the rotor, and auxiliary blade means distributed around the circumference of the rotor and extending radially outwardly of the rotor axis, said auxiliary blade means being disposed between the pair of sealing points and including means for generating turbulent flow in response to relative rotation of the stator and rotor to thereby improve the sealing in the region of the sealing points, wherein said auxiliary blades extend radially outwards from the rotor axis through an opening located intermediate said sealing points to a circumferential swirling chamber intermediate the sealing points.

Claim 8

Flow machine sealing arrangement according to claim 4, wherein said auxiliary blade means are inclined relative to radii extending outwards of the rotor axis.

Claim 9

Flow machine sealing arrangement according to claim 4, wherein the pair of sealing points are disposed on the rotor axially intermediate main rotor blade stages carried by the rotor.

Claim 10

Flow machine sealing arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the dimensions of the auxiliary blade means are selected to be smaller than those of the sealing points, with respect to the outside diameter and the distance to the stator.

Claim 11

Flow machine sealing arrangement according to claim 7, wherein said auxiliary blade means are configured to induce an axial flow in the direction of the high pressure chamber.

Claim 12

Flow machine sealing arrangement for the clearance space between a rotor and stator of a flow machine such as an axial flow turbine, compressor, blower, charger or the like, said sealing arrangement separating high and/low pressure chambers and comprising a pair of axially spaced sealing points defining narrow flow path points between the stator and rotor, said sealing points being formed by a pair of radially outwardly protruding sections carried on the outer circumference of the rotor, and auxiliary blade means distributed around the circumference of the rotor and extending radially outwardly of the rotor axis, said auxiliary blade means being disposed between the pair of sealing points and including means for generating turbulent flow in response to relative rotation of the stator and rotor to thereby improve the sealing in the region of the sealing points, wherein the pair of sealing points are disposed on the rotor axially intermediate main rotor blade stages carried by the rotor.

Claim 13

Flow machine sealing arrangement for the clearance space between a rotor and stator of a flow machine such as an axial flow turbine, compressor, blower, charger or the like, said sealing arrangement separating high and/low pressure chambers and comprising a pair of axially spaced sealing points defining narrow flow path points between the stator and rotor, said sealing points being formed by a pair of radially outwardly protruding sections carried on the outer circumference of the rotor, and auxiliary blade means distributed around the circumference of the rotor and extending radially outwardly of the rotor axis, said auxiliary blade means being disposed between the pair of sealing points and including means for generating turbulent flow in response to relative rotation of the stator and rotor to thereby improve the sealing in the region of the sealing points, wherein the pair of sealing points are disposed on the rotor axially intermediate main rotor blade stages carried by the rotor.

Claim 14

Flow machine sealing arrangement according to claim 9, wherein said rotor further carries a plurality of main rotor blades, and wherein said auxiliary blade means are mounted at the rotor independently and separate from the main rotor blades.