Patent ID: 8317465

Claim:
A turbine engine comprising a vortex protrusion disposed upon a component that rotates during operation of the turbine engine; wherein the vortex protrusion includes an outer surface that is configured to induce a vortex flow pattern as the component rotates during operation; wherein: the turbine engine includes a rotor blade that includes a shank, an airfoil mounted to the shank, a tip shroud supported by an outer radial end of the airfoil, and a seal rail extending approximately radially from the tip shroud; the vortex protrusion is attached to one of the outer radial face of the tip shroud and the radially aligned face of the seal rail; and the vortex protrusion is positioned such that the induced vortex flow pattern deters leakage of working fluid from an upstream side of the seal rail to a downstream side of the seal rail; the turbine engine comprises at least one of an upstream vortex protrusion and a downstream vortex protrusion; the upstream vortex protrusion comprises a vortex protrusion that is attached upstream of the seal rail and includes a forward edge, an inboard edge, a rearward edge, and an outboard edge, with the upstream vortex protrusion being attached along at least one of the forward edge and the inboard edge, and with the rearward edge being twisted in relation to the forward edge; and the downstream vortex protrusion comprises a vortex protrusion that is attached downstream of the seal rail and includes a forward edge, an inner edge, a rearward edge, and an outer edge, with the downstream vortex protrusion being attached along the inner edge, and with the rearward edge being twisted in relation to the forward edge.