Cloth seal for turbo-machinery
The present invention provides a cloth seal for use with turbine components. The cloth seal may include a number of cloth layers, a shim positioned between the cloth layers, and an end seal positioned at an end of the cloth layers so as to block a leakage flow path through at least one of the cloth layers.
1. A cloth seal for insertion within two slots of adjacent turbine components, comprising:
a plurality of cloth layers;
a shim positioned between the plurality of cloth layers;
first and second sides extending along a length of the cloth seal, each configured to be positioned within a respective one of the two slots of the adjacent turbine components;
first and second side flanges, each of said side flanges extending along a respective one of the first and second sides; and
an end seal positioned at an end of the plurality of cloth layers, extending substantially along a width of the cloth seal, and configured to span a gap between the adjacent turbine components and to block a leakage flow path through at least one of the plurality of cloth layers.
2. The cloth seal of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of cloth layers comprises an upper cloth layer and a lower cloth layer and wherein the end seal blocks the leakage flow path through the lower cloth layer.
3. The cloth seal of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of end seals.
4. The cloth seal of claim 3 , wherein at least one of the plurality of end seals is different from at least one other of the plurality of end seals.
5. The cloth seal of claim 1 , wherein the end seal comprises an end flange seal.
6. The cloth seal of claim 5 , wherein the end flange seal extends from the shim.
7. The cloth seal of claim 5 , wherein the end flange seal extends into an end gap.
8. The cloth seal of claim 5 , wherein the end flange seal comprises a substantially curved shape.
9. The cloth seal of claim 5 , wherein the end flange seal comprises a substantially flat shape.
10. The cloth seal of claim 5 , further comprising a plurality of shims and wherein each of the plurality of shims comprises the end flange seal thereon.
11. The cloth seal of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of shims comprises a first shim with an upwardly bend end seal flange and a second shim with a downwardly bend end seal flange.
12. The cloth seal of claim 1 , wherein the end seal comprises an end shim seal.
13. The cloth seal of claim 1 , wherein the end seal comprises a clip seal.
14. The cloth seal of claim 1 , wherein the end seal comprises a substantially compliant seal.
15. The cloth seal of claim 14 , wherein the substantially compliant seal comprises a C-seal.
16. The cloth seal of claim 1 , wherein the end seal comprises a high temperature sealant applied to at least one of the plurality of cloth layers.
17. A cloth seal for insertion within two slots of adjacent turbine components, comprising:
a plurality of cloth layers;
a shim positioned between the plurality of cloth layers;
first and second sides extending along a length of the cloth seal, each configured to be positioned within a respective one of the two slots of the adjacent turbine components;
first and second side sealing means, each of said side sealing means extending along a respective one of the first and second sides; and
end sealing means positioned at an end of the plurality of cloth layers, extending substantially along a width of the cloth seal, and configured to span a gap between the adjacent turbine components and to block a leakage flow path through at least one of the plurality of cloth layers.
18. The cloth seal of claim 17 , wherein the plurality of cloth layers comprises an upper cloth layer and a lower cloth layer and wherein the end sealing means block the leakage flow path through the lower cloth layer.
19. The cloth seal of claim 17 , further comprising a plurality of end sealing means.
20. A cloth seal for insertion within two slots of adjacent turbine components, comprising:
an upper cloth layer;
a lower cloth layer;
a shim positioned between the upper cloth layer and the lower cloth layer;
first and second sides extending along a length of the cloth seal, each configured to be positioned within a respective one of the two slots of the adjacent turbine components;
first and second side flange seals, each of said side flange seals extending along a respective one of the first and second sides; and
one or more end flange seals positioned at an end of the upper cloth layer and the lower cloth layer, extending substantially along a width of the cloth seal, and configured to span a gap between the adjacent turbine components and to block a leakage flow path therethrough.