Patent ID: 7600967
Filing Date: 2009-10-13
Classification: F01D,F05D

Abstract:
1. For a stator assembly for a rotary machine having an operative condition and a non-operative condition, an axis A, an annular flow path for working medium gases disposed about the axis A, an outer case outwardly of the annular flowpath for working medium gases, a supply chamber for cooling air from which a leak path for cooling air extends, an assembly of a plurality of segments that form a radially facing seal surface for bounding the working medium flow path which comprises: A. a first structure which extends inwardly from the outer case and which is adapted to extend circumferentially about and outwardly of a plurality of segments that form the radially facing seal surface for bounding the working medium flow path, to support the array of seal segments, the first structure bounding a supply chamber for cooling air, the first structure having an array of circumferentially extending segments which partially bound the supply chamber, at least two of the segments being adjacent support segments, each support segment having a radially extending wall; B. a second structure which is engaged by the first structure, which is a radially facing seal having the seal surface which extends circumferentially about the axis A to bound the working medium flow path, the seal including an array of seal segments which are circumferentially spaced leaving a circumferential gap G′ therebetween, at least two of which segments have a radially extending seal wall which extends inwardly, the seal wall extending circumferentially and being spaced from the radially extending wall of the first structure by an axial length Ls leaving an annular seal chamber therebetween for intercepting the leak path for cooling air; C. a resilient seal member that extends across the axial length Ls between the radially extending wall of the first structure and the seal wall of the seal segment to divide the seal chamber into a high pressure region and a low pressure region; D. a retainer member disposed in the low pressure region which faces radially and extends axially across the axial length Ls to bound a portion of the seal chamber, which is removably attached to the first structure of the stator assembly for locating and retaining the resilient seal member and for providing access to the chamber during assembly and disassembly of the resilient seal member; wherein the seal chamber is bounded axially on one side by the support segment and bounded axially on the other side by at least two seal segments which extend about the support and are spaced axially from the support; wherein the resilient seal member is urged radially against the retainer member and urged axially against the first structure and the second structure by pressurized cooling air of the leak path to block the flow of cooling air through the seal chamber, the retainer member being removably attached to the support structure and that is so located and constructed with respect to the seal chamber that the retainer member adapts the assembly for providing access to the seal chamber for installing, locating and enclosing the seal member under the non-operative condition of the engine and for retaining the seal member radially against cooling air pressure under the operative condition.