IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,655,489
Granted Patent B2
US 10,655,489 · App. 15/862,520 · Granted May 19, 2020

Systems and methods for assembling flow path components

Inventors: Neelesh Nandkumar Sarawate (Niskayuna, NY); Christopher Edward Wolfe (Niskayuna, NY); Victor John Morgan (Simpsonville, SC); Jason Ray Gregg (Greenville, SC)
Assignee: General Electric Company
F01D11/005F01D9/041F05D2220/32F05D2230/60F05D2240/12F05D2240/55F05D2240/80
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,655,489
App. No.
15/862,520
Granted
May 19, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

An assembly for a turbomachine and a method for assembling a plurality of flow path components are presented. The assembly includes a plurality of flow path components disposed adjacent to one another, each flow path component having a forward surface, an aft surface, a pressure side surface, and a suction side surface. A seal channel is defined by the pressure side surface and the suction side surface of adjacent flow path components. The seal channel has an open forward end proximate to the forward surfaces and at least two rear ends proximate to the aft surfaces. The assembly includes a plurality of seal layers disposed within the seal channel such that one or more seal layers extend from the open forward end to a rear end and one or more other seal layers extend from the open forward end to another rear end.

Claims (28)

1. An assembly of a turbomachine, comprising:

a plurality of flow path components disposed adjacent to one another, each flow path component of the plurality of flow path components having a forward surface, an aft surface, a pressure side surface, and a suction side surface;

a seal channel defined by the pressure side surface of a flow path component of the plurality of flow path components and the suction side surface of an adjacent flow path component of the plurality of flow path components and extending from the forward surfaces to the aft surfaces of the flow path components; wherein the seal channel has an open forward end proximate to the forward surfaces and at least two rear ends proximate to the aft surfaces of the flow path components; and

a plurality of seal layers disposed within the seal channel such that one or more seal layers of the plurality of seal layers extend from the open forward end to a rear end of the at least two rear ends and one or more other seal layers of the plurality of seal layers extend from the open forward end to another rear end of the at least two rear ends, wherein the one or more seal layers have a plastic deformation lower than a plastic deformation of the one or more other seal layers.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the seal channel extends from the open forward end and splits into at least two rear sections terminating at the at least two rear ends.

3. The assembly of claim 2 , wherein the at least two rear sections diverge at an angle of at least 1 degree.

4. The assembly of claim 3 , wherein the angle is in a range from about 3 degrees to about 90 degrees.

5. The assembly of claim 2 , wherein at least one rear section of the at least two rear sections has a thickness less than a thickness of the seal channel at the open forward end.

6. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of seal layers substantially conforms to the seal channel.

7. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the one or more seal layers has an oxidation resistance higher than an oxidation resistance of the one or more other seal layers.

8. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the one or more seal layers has a thickness greater than a thickness of the one or more other seal layers.

9. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein each seal layer of the plurality of seal layers has a thickness in a range from about 0.1 millimeter to about 1 millimeter.

10. A method for assembling a plurality of flow path components, comprising:

disposing the plurality of flow path components adjacent to each other, each flow path component of the plurality of flow path components having a forward surface, an aft surface, a pressure side surface, and a suction side surface, such that a seal channel is defined by the pressure side surface of a flow path component of the plurality of flow path components and the suction side surface of an adjacent flow path component of the plurality of flow path components, which extends from the forward surfaces to the aft surfaces of the flow path components and wherein the seal channel has an open forward end proximate to the forward surfaces and at least two rear ends proximate to the aft surfaces of the flow path components; and

disposing a plurality of seal layers into the seal channel by:

inserting one or more seal layers of the plurality of seal layers into the seal channel through the open forward end to dispose the one or more seal layers extending from the open forward end to a rear end of the at least two rear ends; and

inserting one or more other seal layers of the plurality of layers into the seal channel through the open forward end to dispose the one or more other seal layers extending from the open forward end to another rear end of the at least two rear ends, wherein the one or more seal layers have a plastic deformation lower than a plastic deformation of the one or more other seal layers.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the seal channel extends from the open forward end and splits into at least two rear sections terminating at the at least two rear ends.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the at least two rear sections diverge at an angle of at least 1 degree.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the one or more seal layers has an oxidation resistance higher than an oxidation resistance of the one or more other seal layers.

14. The assembly of claim 10 , wherein the one or more seal layers has a thickness greater than a thickness of the one or more other seal layers.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the step of disposing comprises subsequently inserting the one or more seal layers and the one or more other seal layers.

16. An assembly of a turbomachine, comprising:

a plurality of flow path components disposed adjacent to one another, each flow path component of the plurality of flow path components having a forward surface, an aft surface, a pressure side surface, and a suction side surface;

a seal channel defined by the pressure side surface of a flow path component of the plurality of flow path components and the suction side surface of an adjacent flow path component of the plurality of flow path components and extending from the forward surfaces to the aft surfaces of the flow path components; wherein the seal channel has an open forward end proximate to the forward surfaces and at least two rear ends proximate to the aft surfaces of the flow path components; and

a plurality of seal layers disposed within the seal channel such that one or more seal layers of the plurality of seal layers extend from the open forward end to a rear end of the at least two rear ends and one or more other seal layers of the plurality of seal layers extend from the open forward end to another rear end of the at least two rear ends, wherein a seal layer of the one or more seal layers of the plurality of seal layers comprises a discontinuity configured to guide the one or more other seal layers of the plurality of seal layers into one of the at least two rear ends, wherein the one or more seal layers have an oxidation resistance higher than an oxidation resistance of the one or more other seal layers.

17. The assembly of claim 16 , wherein the discontinuity comprises at least one of a gap, a cut, a bump, and an external feature.

18. The assembly of claim 16 , wherein the discontinuity comprises a bump.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 17, 2023
From: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
To: GE INFRASTRUCTURE TECHNOLOGY LLC
Reel/Frame 065727/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 5, 2018
From: SARAWATE, NEELESH NANDKUMAR; WOLFE, CHRISTOPHER EDWARD; MORGAN, VICTOR JOHN; GREGG, JASON RAY
To: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
Reel/Frame 044541/0251 →
Continuity (1)
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