Patent ID: 8562292

Claim:
A nozzle assembly for a steam turbine comprising: at least one nozzle airfoil including an integral outer sidewall; an inner ring and an outer ring wherein the at least one nozzle airfoil extends essentially radially between the inner ring and the outer ring; an inner surface of the outer ring having a mechanical fit connection with an outer surface the outer sidewall restraining axial motion of the at least one nozzle airfoil; the outer ring having a mechanical fit connection with an upstream face of the outer sidewall restraining radial motion of the at least one nozzle airfoil; and the at least one nozzle airfoil pinned to the inner ring with a plurality of fasteners; and wherein the mechanical fit connection between the outer ring and the outer sidewall comprising one of: a radially inward male projection disposed along an inner radial surface of the outer ring, complimentary to a radially inwardly extending female recess disposed on an outer radial surface of the outer sidewall; and a radially outward extending female recess disposed along an inner radial surface of the outer ring, complimentary to a radially outward male projection disposed along an outer surface of the outer sidewall, and further wherein the mechanical fit connection between the outer ring and the outer sidewall further comprising one of: a male projection extending axially downstream disposed on an axially downstream surface of the outer ring, and a complimentary axially extending female recess disposed on an upstream surface of the outer sidewall; and a female recess extending axially upstream disposed on an axially downstream surface of the outer ring, and a complimentary axial male projection disposed on an upstream surface of the outer sidewall.