System for sealing a shaft

Abstract

An embodiment of the present invention takes the form of a seal that may substantially reduce cross-shank leakage between components mounted on a shaft. Embodiments of the seal may be connected to a wide variety of rotatable components including, but not limited to, compressor blades, turbine buckets, or the like.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a rotatable component comprising:
 an airfoil portion comprising a first end, an opposite second end, and suction and pressure surfaces located between the first end and the opposite second end; 
 a shank portion comprising a mount and a slot, wherein the slot is positioned near a wall and is adjacent a downstream edge of the airfoil portion; 
 a platform portion that connects the airfoil portion to the shank portion; 
   a seal comprising:
 an arm portion; and 
 a hook portion; 
 wherein the arm and hook portions are shaped to mate with the slot such that the slot restrains the movement of the seal; 
   wherein the seal is sized to substantially prevent a cooling flow from leaking through a shank pocket.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the rotatable component is located in a turbine section of an air-ingesting turbomachine. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the rotatable component is located in a compressor section of an air-ingesting turbomachine. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the seal is maintained in the slot by a pressure difference between the shank pocket and a purge flow associated with an aft end of the rotatable component. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the width of the seal comprises a range of from about 0.2 inches to about 1.0 inch. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a length of the seal comprises a range of from about 2.0 inches to about 10.0 inches. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the seal comprises a range of from about 0.1 inches to about 0.5 inches. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a shape of the hook portion includes: an arc portion, a polygon, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein a diameter of the arc portion comprises a range of from about 0.2 inches to about 1.0 inch. 
     
     
         10 . A system comprising:
 a gas turbine comprising: a compressor section and a turbine section;   a turbine bucket installed in the turbine section, wherein the turbine bucket comprises:
 an airfoil comprising a tip, a base, and suction and pressure surfaces that connected the tip and the base; 
 a shank comprising a mount and a slot, wherein the slot is positioned near a surface that is adjacent an edge of the airfoil, and an end of the slot is adjacent to a top portion of the mount; 
 a platform portion that connects the airfoil to the shank; 
   a seal comprising:
 an arm; and 
 a hook; 
 wherein the arm and hook are sized to allow insertion into the slot such that the slot secures the movement of the seal; 
   wherein the seal has a width that substantially prevents a cooling flow from leaking through a shank pocket, which is formed between the shank portion of the rotatable component and an another shank portion of an adjacent rotatable component.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the seal is maintained in the slot by a pressure difference between the shank pocket and a purge flow associated with the turbine bucket. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the width of the seal comprises a range of from about 0.2 inches to about 1.0 inch. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein a length of the seal extends from the platform to the mount. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the length of the seal comprises a range of from about 2.0 inches to about 10.0 inches. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein a thickness of the seal comprises a range of from about 0.1 inches to about 0.5 inches. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein a shape of the hook portion includes: an arc portion, a polygon, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein a diameter of the arc portion comprises a range of from about 0.2 inches to about 1.0 inch.