Leaf Spring Sealing Assembly to Prevent Locking Protrusion Detachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gas turbines face challenges in preventing gas inflow and outflow between components due to inadequate sealing, leading to reduced efficiency and potential component failure.
Innovation Solution
A leaf spring with a curved body section, locking protrusions, and detachment-prevention protrusions is inserted between sealing members to enhance sealing performance by ensuring the locking protrusions remain engaged, even under compression, thereby preventing gas leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a simple sealing member insertion structure is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the sealing reliability deteriorates due to inadequate prevention of gas inflow and outflow
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing member is divided into functional segments: a locking protrusion for engagement, a detachment-prevention protrusion for securing, and a curved body section for compression. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function, improving sealing reliability without significantly increasing overall complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The locking protrusion is pre-formed on the sealing member before installation. During assembly, this protrusion automatically engages with the locking groove, performing the locking action in advance before the sealing member is fully compressed, ensuring immediate sealing effectiveness
2Reliability
If the sealing member is compressed to ensure sealing, then the sealing performance is improved, but the locking protrusion may detach from the locking groove due to compression forces
Solution Approach 1:
The detachment-prevention protrusion is designed to counteract the detaching force generated during compression before the locking protrusion can disengage. This preliminary anti-action prevents the instability from occurring in the first place, maintaining locking engagement even under compression
Solution Approach 2:
The detachment-prevention protrusion acts as an intermediary element between the sealing member and the locking groove. It provides additional contact and support during compression, mediating the forces to prevent the locking protrusion from detaching while allowing the sealing member to be properly compressed
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution significantly improves sealing performance between gas turbine components, enhancing the overall efficiency and reliability of the gas turbine operation by maintaining the locking protrusions in place during assembly and operation.
Implementation Method 1
a curved body section; a locking protrusion protruding in one direction at an end of the body section to be inserted into the locking groove of the sealing member
Data Source
AI summary
A leaf spring inserted between a sealing member installed between various components of a gas turbine to prevent an inflow and outflow of gases and a mating sealing member, and a sealing assembly including the same are proposed. The leaf spring includes a curved body section, a locking protrusion protruding in one direction at an end of the body section so as to be fitted into the locking groove of the sealing member, and a detachment-prevention protrusion protruding in a direction opposite to the locking protrusion and configured to comes into contact with one surface of the mating sealing member and prevent the locking protrusion from being detached from the locking groove when the body section is compressed by the sealing member and the mating sealing member.