Rotary kinetic fluid motors or pumps – Method of operation
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-18
2001-03-27
Look, Edward K. (Department: 3745)
Rotary kinetic fluid motors or pumps
Method of operation
C415S174200, C415S230000, C416S174000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06206629
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to turbine subassemblies and, more particularly, is concerned with a turbine brush seal protection device and method.
A gas turbine subassembly has a stator, a rotor and a brush seal of annular configuration attached to the stator. U.S. Pat. No. 5,613,829 to Wolfe et al., which is assigned to the same assignee as the present invention, discloses such a gas turbine subassembly.
The brush seal is generally installed before the rotor at an intermediate stage in the turbine assembling process. The brush seal surrounds the rotor after installation of the rotor. Typically, bristles of the brush seal are exposed while workers perform a variety of operations including heavy lifting in close proximity to the brush seal bristles. It is not uncommon for workers to walk inside the turbine casing and, possibly, to walk on the brush seal during installation of various turbine components. Damage to the bristles of the brush seal has been observed in turbine installations.
Though brush seals often have a coating of wax on the bristles, this does not provide adequate protection of the bristles during turbine installation. Currently, there is no known means for adequately protecting the bristles of brush seals during turbine installation. Consequently, a need exists for an innovation which will provide a solution to the aforementioned problem in the prior art without introducing any new problems in place thereof.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a turbine brush seal protection device and method designed to satisfy the aforementioned need. The turbine brush seal protection device and method of the present invention protects the brush seal bristles from damage during installation of the components of the gas turbine subassembly.
In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a turbine brush seal protection device comprises an annular substrate having an out periphery and defining a slot open at the outer periphery. The slot receives a portion of an annular brush seal of a gas turbine subassembly during installation of a gas turbine such that the annular substrate at least partially covers the annular brush seal of the gas turbine subassembly. The annular substrate at the outer periphery and within the slot thereof is removably mountable to a stationary portion of the gas turbine subassembly.
More particularly, the annular substrate in a first exemplary embodiment thereof has a substantially U-shaped configuration in cross-section and is spaced from the portion of the annular brush seal of the gas turbine subassembly such that a space exists between the annular substrate and the portion of the annular brush seal of the gas turbine subassembly. The annular substrate has a core comprised substantially of a first material and an enclosure comprised substantially of a second material and surrounding the core. The first material of the core of the annular substrate is rigid, such as metal, and the second material of the enclosure of the annular substrate is flexible, such as plastic.
The annular substrate in a second exemplary embodiment thereof has a substantially cylindrical configuration in cross-section. The annular substrate is disposed about and in contact with the portion of the annular brush seal of the gas turbine subassembly. The annular substrate is comprised substantially of an elastomer material. The slot of the annular substrate has an inner portion which substantially conforms to the shape of the portion of the annular brush seal of the gas turbine subassembly. The annular substrate in a third exemplary embodiment thereof has a substantially strip configuration in cross-section and comprised substantially of metal.
In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a turbine brush seal protection method comprises the steps of providing an annular substrate having an outer periphery and defining a slot open at the outer periphery, placing the annular substrate over a portion of an annular brush seal of a gas turbine subassembly such that the seal portion is disposed inside the slot of the annular substrate during installation of the gas turbine subassembly and the annular substrate at least partially covers the annular brush seal of the gas turbine subassembly, mounting the annular substrate at the inner periphery and within the slot thereof to a stationary portion of the gas turbine subassembly, and removing the annular substrate from the stationary portion of the gas turbine subassembly before completion of installation of the gas turbine subassembly. More particularly, the providing step includes providing the annular substrate in one of the three exemplary embodiments described above.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4781388 (1988-11-01), Wohrl et al.
patent: 5613829 (1997-03-01), Wolfe et al.
Cromer Robert Harold
Dinc Osman Saim
Reluzco George Ernest
Turnquist Norman Arnold
General Electric Company
Look Edward K.
Rodriguez Hermes
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