Transition piece side sealing element and turbine assembly containing such seal

Abstract

The gas-path leakage seal is provided for generally sealing a gas-path leakage-gap between spaced-apart first and second members of a turbine. The seal includes an elongated seal member having an elongated, imperforate, and flexible first portion and a rigid second portion that defines a mounting bracket. The first portion has first and second surfaces and raised longitudinal edges that extend a generally identical distance above the first surface and generally the aforesaid identical distance below the second surface. A cloth layer having a thickness generally equal to or slightly greater than the aforesaid identical distance is superimposed on the second surface between the raised edges.

1 . A turbine seal comprising an elongated seal member having a length and having opposing first and second ends bounding said length, an elongated, imperforate, and flexible first portion, and a rigid second portion lengthwise adjoining said first portion, wherein said first portion is lengthwise disposed between said first end and said second portion, wherein said second portion is lengthwise disposed between said first portion and said second end, wherein said flexible first portion includes a shim-layer assemblage having opposing first and second surfaces and having two longitudinally extending raised edge regions, wherein each of said raised edge regions extends a generally identical distance above said first surface and each of said raised edge regions extends generally said identical distance below said second surface; and wherein said flexible first portion further includes a cloth layer assemblage having a thickness generally equal to or slightly greater than said identical distance and superimposed on said second surface between said raised edge regions, and wherein said second portion defines a mounting bracket.  
     
     
         2 . The turbine seal of  claim 1 , wherein said shim-layer assemblage has a first thickness and includes at least first and second metal strips, wherein said second portion has a second thickness and comprises a metal plate, and wherein said second thickness is at least five times greater than said first thickness.  
     
     
         3 . The turbine seal of  claim 1 , wherein said second portion includes a generally right-angle bend, and wherein said mounting bracket is an angled mounting bracket.  
     
     
         4 . The turbine seal of  claim 1 , wherein said cloth layer assemblage is mechanically secured to said shim-layer assemblage.  
     
     
         5 . The turbine seal of  claim 4 , wherein said cloth layer assemblage is spot welded to said shim-layer assemblage.  
     
     
         6 . The turbine seal of  claim 4 , wherein said second portion is mechanically secured to corresponding sections of said shim-layer and cloth layer assemblages of said first portion.  
     
     
         7 . The turbine seal of  claim 1 , wherein said raised edge regions are generally mirror images of each other.  
     
     
         8 . The turbine seal of  claim 1 , wherein each of said raised edge regions has a first portion disposed at said identical distance above said first surface, wherein each of said raised edge regions has a second portion disposed at said identical distance below said second surface, and wherein each of said raised edge regions has a connecting portion joining together said first and second portions, and wherein in said cross section said connecting portion has a curved shape.  
     
     
         9 . A turbine assembly comprising: 
 a) a first turbine member having a first surface groove;    b) a second turbine member proximate and spaced apart from said first turbine member so as to define a fluid-path leakage gap therebetween, said second turbine member having a second surface groove facing and generally aligned with said first surface groove; and    c) a turbine seal including an elongated turbine seal member having a length and having opposing first and second ends bounding said length, an elongated, imperforate, and flexible first portion, and a rigid second portion lengthwise adjoining said first portion, wherein said first portion is lengthwise disposed between said first end and said second portion, wherein said second portion is lengthwise disposed between said first portion and said second end,    wherein said flexible first portion includes a shim-layer assemblage having opposing first and second surfaces and having two longitudinally extending raised edge regions, wherein each of said raised edge regions extends a generally identical distance above said first surface and each of said raised edge regions extends generally said identical distance below said second surface; and    wherein said flexible first portion further includes a cloth layer assemblage having a thickness generally equal to or slightly greater than said identical distance and superimposed on said second surface between said raised edge regions,    wherein said second portion defines a mounting bracket, and    wherein said turbine seal member is disposed in said gap with said first edge engaged in said first surface groove and with said second edge engaged in said second surface groove.    
     
     
         10 . The turbine assembly of  claim 9 , wherein said shim-layer assemblage has a first thickness and includes at least first and second metal strips, wherein said second portion has a second thickness and comprises a metal plate, and wherein said second thickness is at least five times greater than said first thickness.  
     
     
         11 . The turbine assembly of  claim 9 , wherein said second portion includes a generally right-angle bend, and wherein said mounting bracket is an angled mounting bracket.  
     
     
         12 . The turbine assembly of  claim 9 , wherein said cloth layer assemblage is mechanically secured to said shim-layer assemblage.  
     
     
         13 . The turbine assembly of  claim 12 , wherein said cloth layer assemblage is spot welded to said shim-layer assemblage.  
     
     
         14 . The turbine assembly of  claim 12 , wherein said second portion is mechanically secured to corresponding sections of said shim-layer and cloth layer assemblages of said first portion.  
     
     
         15 . The turbine assembly of  claim 9 , also including a third turbine member, and wherein said mounting bracket defined by said second portion is secured to said third turbine member.  
     
     
         16 . The turbine assembly of  claim 15 , wherein said second portion includes a generally right-angle bend, and wherein said mounting bracket is an angled mounting bracket.  
     
     
         17 . The turbine assembly of  claim 16 , wherein said turbine assembly is a power-system gas turbine assembly, wherein said first and second turbine members are circumferentially-adjacent transition pieces of said gas turbine assembly, and wherein said third turbine member is a first stage nozzle of said gas turbine assembly.  
     
     
         18 . The turbine assembly of  claim 16 , further comprising a mounting block for securing the mounting bracket to the third turbine member, the mounting block having a bolt hole and the third turbine member having a threaded bolt hole for receiving a common bolt to secure the mounting block to the third turbine member.  
     
     
         19 . The turbine assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the mounting block includes first and second slots, the right-angle bend of the second portion engaging one of said slots to secure the seal member to the third turbine member.  
     
     
         20 . The turbine assembly of  claim 9 , wherein each of said raised edge regions has a first portion disposed at said identical distance above said first surface, wherein each of said raised edge regions has a second portion disposed at said identical distance below said second surface, and wherein each of said raised edge regions has a connecting portion joining together said first and second portions, and wherein in said cross section said connecting portion has a curved shape.