Methods and apparatus for assembling gas turbine engines

Abstract

A method assembling a seal assembly within a gas turbine engine. The method includes coupling a stationary stator member to a gas turbine engine including a rotating member, and coupling a primary seal assembly and a secondary seal assembly to the stationary stator member wherein the primary seal assembly includes a moveable stator member including at least one keyed slot, and at least one biasing member including at least one key. Moreover, the at least one key is slidably coupled within the at least one keyed slot to facilitate aligning the primary seal assembly and the secondary seal assembly with respect to the gas turbine engine, and the seal assembly facilitates sealing between the stationary stator member and the rotating member.

1 . A method of assembling a seal assembly within a gas turbine engine, said method comprising: 
 coupling a stationary stator member to a gas turbine engine comprising a rotating member; and    coupling a primary seal assembly and a secondary seal assembly to the stationary stator member wherein the primary seal assembly comprises a moveable stator member comprising at least one keyed slot, and at least one biasing member comprising at least one key, wherein the at least one key is slidably coupled within the at least one keyed slot to facilitate aligning the primary seal assembly and the secondary seal assembly with respect to the gas turbine engine and wherein the seal assembly facilitates sealing between the stationary stator member and the rotating member.    
   
   
       2 . A method of assembling a seal assembly in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the primary seal assembly comprises at least three biasing members, the at least three biasing members each comprise a biasing mechanism and a housing, said method further comprising coupling the housing to the stationary stator member and coupling the biasing mechanism within the housing.  
   
   
       3 . A method of assembling a seal assembly in accordance with  claim 2  wherein the moveable stator member comprises at least three keyed slots and the housing comprises at least three keys, said method further comprising slidably coupling the at least three keys within the at least three keyed slots.  
   
   
       4 . A method of assembling a seal assembly in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the secondary seal assembly comprises a piston ring seal and the moveable stator member comprises a yoke, said method further comprising coupling the piston ring seal within the yoke.  
   
   
       5 . A method of assembling a seal assembly in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said method further comprises facilitating limiting axial movement of the moveable stator member with respect to the stationary stator member and facilitating rotational alignment between the primary and secondary seal assemblies.  
   
   
       6 . A seal assembly for a gas turbine engine comprising a stationary stator member and a rotating member, said seal assembly comprising: 
 a primary seal assembly; and    a secondary seal assembly, said primary seal assembly comprising: 
 a moveable stator member comprising at least one keyed slot; and  
 at least one biasing member comprising at least one key slidably coupled within said at least one keyed slot to facilitate aligning said primary seal assembly and said secondary seal assembly with respect to the gas turbine engine.  
   
   
   
       7 . A seal assembly in accordance with  claim 6  wherein said primary seal assembly further comprises at least three biasing members, said at least three biasing members each further comprise a biasing mechanism and a housing, said biasing mechanism is contained within said housing.  
   
   
       8 . A seal assembly in accordance with  claim 7  wherein said at least one key extends substantially radially outward from said housing, said at least one key facilitates rotational alignment between said primary and secondary seal assemblies.  
   
   
       9 . A seal assembly in accordance with  claim 6  wherein said seal assembly facilitates sealing between said stationary stator member and said rotating member.  
   
   
       10 . A seal assembly in accordance with  claim 6  wherein said moveable stator member further comprises at least three keyed slots, said at least three keyed slots facilitate limiting axial and rotational movement of said moveable stator member with respect to the stationary stator member.  
   
   
       11 . A seal assembly in accordance with  claim 6  wherein said moveable stator member further comprises a sealing face comprising a plurality of teeth extending outward from said sealing face, and said sealing face further comprises an opening extending therethrough, said opening facilitates preventing contact between said moveable stator member and the rotating member.  
   
   
       12 . A seal assembly in accordance with  claim 6  wherein said secondary seal assembly comprises a piston ring seal, said moveable stator member comprises a yoke, said yoke sized to receive said piston ring seal therein.  
   
   
       13 . A gas turbine engine comprising: 
 a stationary stator member;    a rotating member; and    a seal assembly comprising a primary seal assembly and a secondary seal assembly, said primary seal assembly comprising: 
 a moveable stator member comprising at least one keyed slot; and  
 at least one biasing member comprising at least one key, wherein said at least one key is slidably coupled within said at least one keyed slot to facilitate aligning said primary seal assembly and said secondary seal assembly with respect to said gas turbine engine, said seal assembly facilitates sealing between said stationary stator member and said rotating member.  
   
   
   
       14 . A gas turbine engine in accordance with  claim 13  wherein said moveable stator member further comprises a sealing face and a plurality of teeth extending outward from said sealing face.  
   
   
       15 . A gas turbine engine in accordance with  claim 13  wherein said moveable stator member comprises an opening extending therethrough, said opening facilitates preventing contact between said rotating member and said stationary stator member.  
   
   
       16 . A seal assembly in accordance with  claim 13  wherein said secondary seal assembly comprises a piston ring seal, said moveable stator member comprises a yoke, said yoke sized to receive said piston ring seal therein.  
   
   
       17 . A gas turbine engine in accordance with  claim 13  wherein said primary seal assembly further comprises at least three biasing members, said at least three biasing members each comprise a biasing mechanism and a housing, said biasing mechanism is contained within said housing.  
   
   
       18 . A gas turbine engine in accordance with  claim 13  wherein said at least one key extends substantially radially outward from said housing.  
   
   
       19 . A gas turbine engine in accordance with  claim 13  wherein said moveable stator member further comprises at least three keyed slots, said at least three keyed slots facilitate limiting axial movement of said moveable stator member with respect to said stationary stator member.  
   
   
       20 . A gas turbine engine in accordance with  claim 13  wherein said at least one keyed slot facilitates limiting rotational movement of said moveable stator member with respect to said stationary stator member.