Patent ID: 8707673

Claim:
A turbine system, comprising: a transition duct comprising an inlet, an outlet, and a duct passage extending between the inlet and the outlet and defining a longitudinal axis, a radial axis, and a tangential axis, the outlet of the transition duct offset from the inlet along the longitudinal axis, the radial axis and the tangential axis, the duct passage comprising an upstream portion and a downstream portion, the upstream portion extending from the inlet between an inlet end and an aft end, the downstream portion extending from the outlet between an outlet end and a head end; a joint coupling the aft end of the upstream portion and the head end of the downstream portion together, the joint configured to allow movement of the upstream portion and the downstream portion relative to each other about or along at least one axis, wherein the joint comprises a generally annular contact member and a generally annular socket member, the contact member movable within the socket member, the contact member connected to and axially extending from one of the aft end of the upstream portion and the head end of the downstream portion, the socket member connoted to the other of the aft end of the upstream portion and the head end of the downstream portion; and a turbine section in communication with the transition duct, the turbine section comprising a first stage bucket assembly, wherein no nozzles are disposed upstream of the first stage bucket assembly.