Turbine Spline Seal Retention via Axial Offset Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sealing assemblies in turbines face challenges in providing sufficient sealing between adjacent rotating blade stages due to difficulties in assembling and positioning spline seals without damaging them, leading to misalignment or removal during assembly processes.
Innovation Solution
The sealing assembly incorporates spline seal slots on opposing slash faces of sealing members, allowing for insertion and retention of spline seals in an axially offset position and subsequent axial alignment, with retaining seats to secure the seals in place, facilitating proper assembly without additional tools or parts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional sealing assembly methods are used, then sealing between adjacent rotating blade stages is achieved, but spline seals are difficult to assemble without damage and may be removed or mis-positioned during assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing member is pre-positioned in an axially offset position before the spline seal is installed. This preliminary positioning allows the spline seal to be inserted into the slot without the sealing member interfering with the installation process, thereby preventing damage during assembly while ensuring proper sealing configuration is ready in advance
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing member is divided into functionally distinct regions: a first region with a first slot for receiving the spline seal, and a second region with a second slot for retaining the spline seal. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each region's function - the first region facilitates easy installation while the second region ensures secure retention, resolving the contradiction between assembly ease and sealing reliability
2Manufacturing precision
If sealing members are adjusted during assembly to ensure proper positioning, then sealing between adjacent sealing members is improved, but the spline seals may be damaged, removed, or incorrectly positioned
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing member is positioned in an axially offset position before the spline seal is installed, allowing precise positioning to be established in advance. This preliminary positioning action ensures that when the spline seal is subsequently installed, the sealing member is already correctly positioned, eliminating the need for adjustments that could damage the spline seal
Solution Approach 2:
The axially offset position acts as an intermediary state during assembly. This intermediate positioning allows the spline seal to be installed without direct contact with the sealing member's primary sealing surface, preventing damage while still enabling precise final positioning through the offset mechanism
3Reliability
If disassembly is performed to replace or repair damaged spline seals, then sealing reliability is maintained, but assembly time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing member is segmented into a first region with an insertion slot and a second region with a retention slot. This segmentation allows the spline seal to be independently accessed and replaced - the insertion slot enables removal of the old seal while the retention slot maintains proper positioning, facilitating easy repair without compromising sealing reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The spline seal is extracted as a separate, independently replaceable component through the first slot. This extraction design allows the spline seal to be removed and replaced without disturbing the sealing member's position or structure, making repair simple while maintaining the integrity and reliability of the sealing assembly
Data Source
AI summary
A sealing assembly includes a plurality of sealing members configured to be located circumferentially adjacent one another between adjacent rotating blade stages in a turbine. The sealing members include axially extending sealing portions having spline seal slots defined in opposing slash faces thereof. The slots are structured to allow insertion of a spline seal into facing slots on adjacent sealing members when the sealing members are in an axially offset position, and to retain the spline seal in the facing slots when the sealing members are moved to an operative axial position. The slots may include spline seal-retaining seats therein to properly position and retain the spline seal. The sealing members allow easy assembly of the sealing assembly with proper positioning of the spline seal, and without damaging the spline seal or adjacent structure. A method assembling the sealing assembly is also disclosed.