U.S. patent application number 14/184063 was filed with the patent office on 2014-12-18 for hot gas seal.
The applicant listed for this patent is Stefan Dahlke, Jesse Eng, John Carl Glessner, Daniel Hofmann, Kenneth Michael Tamaddoni-Jahromi. Invention is credited to Stefan Dahlke, Jesse Eng, John Carl Glessner, Daniel Hofmann, Roland Liebe, Kenneth Michael Tamaddoni-Jahromi.
Application Number | 20140367925 14/184063 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34939549 |
Filed Date | 2014-12-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140367925 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Dahlke; Stefan ; et
al. |
December 18, 2014 |
HOT GAS SEAL
Abstract
A hot gas seal for sealing an opening in a heat shield element
or between heat shield elements of a heat shield includes a
resilient portion for providing a force which is designed such that
the hot gas seal can be held in the opening by the force and/or
that the sealing efficiency of the hot gas seal is increased by the
force. Further, a hot gas seal assembly for sealing an opening in a
heat shield element or between heat shield elements of a heat
shield against a hot gas is provided, the assembly including a
sealing body and a further sealing element which is in a solid
state at room temperature and in a high viscosity liquid state at a
temperature of the hot gas.
Inventors: |
Dahlke; Stefan; (Mulheim
a.d. Ruhr, DE) ; Eng; Jesse; (Jupiter, FL) ;
Glessner; John Carl; (Kings Mills, OH) ; Hofmann;
Daniel; (Uttenreuth, DE) ; Liebe; Roland;
(Monheim, DE) ; Tamaddoni-Jahromi; Kenneth Michael;
(Orlando, FL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Dahlke; Stefan
Eng; Jesse
Glessner; John Carl
Hofmann; Daniel
Tamaddoni-Jahromi; Kenneth Michael |
Mulheim a.d. Ruhr
Jupiter
Kings Mills
Uttenreuth
Orlando |
FL
OH
FL |
DE
US
US
DE
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
34939549 |
Appl. No.: |
14/184063 |
Filed: |
February 19, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10837006 |
Apr 30, 2004 |
8695989 |
|
|
14184063 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
277/641 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F23R 3/002 20130101;
F23R 2900/00012 20130101; F16J 15/028 20130101; F23M 5/02 20130101;
F23M 2900/05005 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
277/641 |
International
Class: |
F16J 15/02 20060101
F16J015/02 |
Claims
1. A hot gas seal for sealing an opening in a heat shield element
or between heat shield elements of a heat shield, which comprises
at least one resilient portion for providing a force which is
designed such that the hot gas seal is held in said opening by said
force and/or that the sealing efficiency of the hot gas seal is
increased by said force.
2. The hot gas seal as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at
least two leg portions which are linked by a resilient bracket
portion which forms said at least one resilient portion for
providing said force.
3. The hot gas seal as claimed in claim 2, in which the resilient
bracket portion is pre-tensioned such that the leg portions tend to
open for providing said force.
4. The hot gas seal as claimed in claim 2, in which the resilient
bracket portion is pre-tensioned such that the leg portions tend to
close for providing said force.
5. The hot gas seal as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a
metallic sealing plate which comprises at least one corrugated
portion which forms said at least one resilient portion for
providing said force.
6. The hot gas seal as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at
least one spring like portion which forms said at least one
resilient portion for providing said force.
7. The hot gas seal as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a
flexible rolled sheet which forms said at least one resilient
portion for providing said force.
8. The hot gas seal as claimed in claim 7, in which said flexible
rolled sheet has a sandwich structure comprising a soft surface on
a flexible material.
9. The hot gas seal as claimed in claim 7, in which the cross
section of said flexible rolled sheet resembles the shape of an
elliptical spiral.
10. The hot gas seal as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a
body and resilient extensions extending from the body, the
extensions forming said at least one resilient portion for
providing said force.
11. The hot gas seal as claimed in claim 10, in which the body has
a planar shape and in which the extensions protrude from at least
one side of the planar shaped body.
12. The hot gas seal as claimed in claim 10, in which the body has
a circular or elliptical cross section and in which the extensions
protrude radially from the body.
13. The hot gas seal as claimed in claim 10, in which the
extensions have a bristle like shape.
14. The hot gas seal as claimed in claim 10, in which the
extensions have a wedge like shape.
15. The hot gas seal as claimed in claim 10, in which the
extensions have a coil like shape.
16. The hot gas seal as claimed in claim 10, in which the
extensions have a serpentine like shape.
17. The hot gas seal as claimed in claim 12, in which the body
and/or the extensions are surrounded by a cloth seal.
18. The hot gas seal as claimed in claim 1, in which the at least
one resilient portion is pre-tensioned.
19. Hot gas seal assembly for sealing an opening in a heat shield
element or between heat shield elements of a heat shield against a
hot gas, comprising a sealing body and at least one further sealing
element which is in a solid state at room temperature and in a high
viscosity liquid state at the temperature of the hot gas.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a divisional application of U.S.
non-provisional application Ser. No. 10/837,006 filed Apr. 30,
2004, and claims the benefit thereof. All of the applications are
incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a hot gas seal and a hot
gas seal assembly.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Walls of high temperature gas reactors, e.g. the walls of
turbine combustion chambers, need to be shielded by a suitable
thermal shielding against attack of the hot gas. The thermal
shielding can be achieved by providing a hot gas resistant liner,
which usually comprises a number of shield elements covering a wall
to be shielded. The heat shield elements can e.g. be implemented in
form of ceramic heat shield elements (CHS elements) or in form of
suitable metallic heat shield elements. To allow for thermal
expansion when being exposed to the hot gas, the heat shield
elements are arranged such that gaps are left between neighboring
heat shield elements. In order to prevent hot gas from passing
through these gaps from the hot gas side of a heat shield, e.g. to
a carrier structure to which the heat shield elements are fixed,
gaps would need purging with air to avoid overheating. This air is
costly leakage.
[0004] In EP 1 302 723 A1 it is proposed to seal gaps between heat
shield elements with sealing elements to prevent hot gas from
passing the gaps.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide an
improved hot gas seal.
[0006] It is a further object of the present invention to provide
an improved hot gas seal assembly.
[0007] The first object is solved by a hot gas seal as claimed in
claim 1, the second object is solved by a hot gas seal assembly as
claimed in claim 28.
[0008] An inventive hot gas seal for sealing an opening, e.g. a gap
or hole, in a heat shield element or between heat shield elements
of a heat shield or a liner comprises at least one resilient
portion for providing a force which is designed such that the hot
gas seal can be held in said opening by said force and/or that the
sealing efficiency of the hot gas seal is increased by said force.
Thus, further means for holding the seal in place and/or for
increasing the sealing efficiency are not necessary. The invention
is particularly useful if the design of said resilient portion is
such that the force provides a holding action and increases the
sealing efficiency, at the same time.
[0009] In a first embodiment of the inventive hot gas seal, the at
least one resilient portion may form a leg portion of a clamp.
Preferably, two resilient portions are provided, each forming a leg
portion of a clamp.
[0010] In a second embodiment of the inventive hot gas seal, at
least two leg portions are provided which are linked by a resilient
bracket portion which forms said at least one resilient portion for
providing said force. The leg portions do therefore not necessarily
need to be resilient themselves. In a further development of this
embodiment, the resilient bracket portion is pre-tensioned for
providing said force. The pre-tension may be chosen such that the
leg portions tend to open or, alternatively, such that the leg
portions tend to close. The pre-tension can be used to assure a
secure fixing of the hot gas seal to a liner and/or to provide a
tight sealing by pressing the leg portions against a wall of a
liner.
[0011] In a third embodiment, a metallic sealing plate comprising
at least one corrugated portion is provided. The at least one
corrugated portion forms said at least one resilient portion for
providing said force.
[0012] In a fourth embodiment, the hot gas seal comprises at least
one spring like portion which forms said at least one resilient
portion for providing said force. By setting the spring parameters
of the spring like portion, it is possible to adjust the force
provided by the spring like portion.
[0013] In a fifth embodiment, the hot gas seal comprises a tubular
sealing body which comprises a resilient core which forms said at
least one resilient portion for providing said force. The resilient
core may comprise a spring element which may, e.g., have a spiral
shaped cross section, a cross section which has the shape of an
elliptical spiral, or an omega shaped cross section. As an
alternative to forming the resilient core by a spring element, it
is possible to provide at least one gas tight and gas filled space
inside of the tubular sealing body. The gas filled space forms the
resilient core of the tubular sealing body, i.e. the sealing body
acts similar to a gas spring. The spring force provided by the gas
depends on the gas temperature and the gas pressure inside the gas
tight space at a reference temperature. By suitably setting the gas
pressure at the reference temperature, the resilient properties of
the seal may be set.
[0014] In a sixth embodiment, the hot gas seal comprises a flexible
rolled sheet which forms said at least one resilient portion for
providing said force. The flexible rolled sheet may have a sandwich
structure comprising a soft, compliant or flexible surface on a
flexible material. In a further development of the fifth
embodiment, the cross section of said flexible rolled sheet may
resemble the shape of an elliptical spiral.
[0015] In a seventh embodiment, the hot gas seal comprises a body
and a number of resilient extensions extending from the body. In
the seventh embodiment, the extensions form said at least one
resilient portion for providing said force. The body may have a
planar shape. The extensions then protrude from at least one side
of the planar shaped body. As an alternative, the body may have a
circular or elliptical cross section. The extensions then protrude
radially from the body. The extensions may e.g. have a bristle like
shape, a wedge like shape, a coil like shape, or a serpentine like
shape. Preferably, the body and/or the extensions are surrounded by
a cloth seal.
[0016] In the inventive hot gas seal, said at least one resilient
portion is preferably pre-tensioned for providing said force.
[0017] An inventive hot gas seal assembly for sealing an opening,
e.g. a gap or a hole, in a heat shield element or between heat
shield elements of a heat shield or liner against a hot gas,
comprises a sealing body and at least one further sealing element
which is in a solid state at room temperature and in a high
viscosity liquid state at the temperature of the hot gas. During
installation of the hot gas seal assembly, the further sealing
element is solid. During operation of the heat shielded structure,
i.e. when hot gas is present, the further sealing element melts,
and the inventive sealing assembly provides a tight seal of the
opening.
[0018] Further features, properties, and advantages of the present
invention are described hereinafter with reference to the
accompanying drawings, by means of detailed embodiments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] FIG. 1 shows a first example of a first embodiment of the
inventive hot gas seal.
[0020] FIG. 2 shows a second example of the first embodiment of the
inventive hot gas seal.
[0021] FIG. 3 shows a third example of the first embodiment of the
inventive hot gas seal.
[0022] FIG. 4 shows a fourth example of the first embodiment of the
inventive hot gas seal.
[0023] FIG. 5 shows a first example of a second embodiment of the
inventive hot gas seal.
[0024] FIG. 6 shows a second example of the second embodiment of
the inventive hot gas seal.
[0025] FIG. 7 shows a third example of the second embodiment of the
inventive hot gas seal.
[0026] FIG. 8 shows an example of a third embodiment of the
inventive hot gas seal.
[0027] FIG. 9 shows an example of a fourth embodiment of the
inventive hot gas seal.
[0028] FIG. 10 shows a first example of a fifth embodiment of the
inventive hot gas seal.
[0029] FIG. 11 shows a second example of the fifth embodiment of
the inventive hot gas seal.
[0030] FIG. 12 shows an example of a usage of a hot gas seal
according to the fifth embodiment.
[0031] FIG. 13 shows a third example of the fifth embodiment of the
inventive hot gas seal.
[0032] FIG. 14 shows a first example of a sixth embodiment of the
inventive hot gas seal.
[0033] FIG. 15 shows a second example of the sixth embodiment of
the inventive hot gas seal.
[0034] FIG. 16 shows a third example of the sixth embodiment of the
inventive hot gas seal.
[0035] FIG. 17 shows a first example of a seventh embodiment of the
inventive hot gas seal.
[0036] FIG. 18 shows a second example of the seventh embodiment of
the inventive hot gas seal.
[0037] FIG. 19 shows a third example of the seventh embodiment of
the inventive hot gas seal.
[0038] FIG. 20 shows a fourth example of the seventh embodiment of
the inventive hot gas seal.
[0039] FIG. 21 shows a fifth example of the seventh embodiment of
the inventive hot gas seal.
[0040] FIG. 22 shows an embodiment of the inventive hot gas seal
assembly.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0041] A first embodiment of the present hot gas seal will now be
described with reference to FIGS. 1-4. The first example of the
first embodiment of the inventive hot gas seal is shown in FIG. 1.
The figure shows a first heat shield element 1, a second heat
shield element 3, and a hot gas seal 5. Each heat shield element 1,
3 comprises a projection 2, 4 which projects towards the respective
other heat shield element 1, 3. The heat shield elements 1, 3 are
arranged such that the projections 2, 4 are located adjacent to
each other. The first heat shield element 1 further comprises a
wall portion 6 which forms, together with the respective projection
2, a space for accommodating therein the hot gas seal 5, and for
receiving the projection 4 of the second heat shield element 3.
When the hot gas seal 5 is accommodated in the opening, a resilient
leg portion 7 is clamped between the projection 4 of the second
heat shield element 3 and the wall portion 6 of the first heat
shield element 1. Thus, the leg portion 7 exerts, by means of a
spring force, a pressure to the projection 4 which presses this
projection 4 onto the projection 2 of the first heat shield element
1.
[0042] A second example of the first embodiment is shown in FIG. 2.
Like FIG. 1, FIG. 2 shows a first heat shield element 11, a second
heat shield element 13, and a hot gas shield 15. The first heat
shield element 11 and the second heat shield element 13 are
arranged such that a gap 12 is left between them. The hot gas seal
15 comprises two leg portions 17, 18 and a sealing portion 19
linking both leg portions 17, 18. The leg portions 17, 18 are
resilient and provide a spring force urging the leg portions 17, 18
towards the heat shield elements 11, 13. By said spring force, the
hot gas seal 15 is held in place to seal the gap 12. The sealing
portion 19 can be shielded against the hot gas by an additional
shield element 16 arranged between the sealing portion 19 and the
end faces 11a, 13a of the shield elements 11, 13 such that the
sealing portion 19 and the leg portions 17, 18 are protected
against the hot gas. The hot gas seal 15, in particular the sealing
portion 19 of the hot gas seal 15, may be fixed, e.g. screwed, to a
carrier structure 14 carrying the heat shield elements 11, 13. In
this example, the hot gas seal 15 is located completely under the
heat shield elements 11, 13 so that it is well protected against
the hot gas.
[0043] A third example of the first embodiment is shown in FIG. 3.
The hot gas seal 25 of FIG. 3 is very similar to the hot gas seal
15 shown in FIG. 2. It comprises a first resilient leg portion 27,
a second resilient leg portion 28, and a sealing portion 29 linking
both leg portions 27, 28. Like the hot gas seal 15 in FIG. 2, the
hot gas seal 25 seals a gap 22 between two heat shield elements 21,
23. Across the hot gas seal 25, a pressure gradient is build up to
increase the sealing pressure pressing each leg portion 27, 28
against the respective heat shield element 21, 23. To achieve this,
the pressure p acting on the leg portions 27, 28 for pressing them
towards the heat shield elements 21, 23 is set to be higher than
the pressure P.sub.0 of the hot gas the gap 22 between the heat
shield elements 21, 23.
[0044] A fourth example of the first embodiment of the inventive
hot gas seal is shown in FIG. 4. The hot gas seal 30 comprises a
first holding portion 35 and a second holding portion 36. The
holding portions 35, 36 are linked by a sealing portion 39. The
sealing portion 39 forms a loop projecting into a gap 32 between
two heat shield elements 31, 33. The section of the sealing portion
39 which projects furthest into gap 32 is surrounded by a shielding
material 34 to provide a shielding from the high temperatures of
the hot gas. Suitable shielding materials are ceramic materials or
metallic materials, e.g. ceramic or metallic cloths.
[0045] The holding portions 35, 36 each comprise a leg portion 37a,
38a, which can be used together with central sections 37b, 38b of
the hot gas sealing portion 39 to clamp the hot gas seal 35 to the
heat shield elements 31, 33. The sealing is provided by a
pre-tension of the hot gas seal, e.g. by a pre-tension of the leg
sections 37a, 37b and/or the central sections 38a, 38b.
[0046] The first sample of the second embodiment is shown in FIG.
5. The Figure shows a first heat shield element 41 and a second
heat shield element 43 between which a gap 42 is formed. The gap 42
is sealed by a hot gas seal 45 which comprises a first leg portion
47 and a second leg portion 48. Both leg portions 47, 48 are linked
by a resilient bracket portion 46 which is pre-tensioned such that
the leg portions 47, 48 tend to open. When being inserted into the
gap 42, therefore, the legs 47, 48 are urged against the walls of
the heat shield elements 41, 43 for providing the sealing action.
In order to secure the hot gas seal 45 against loss, the leg
portion 47 is longer than the leg portion 48 and comprises a
holding section 49 by which it is fixed in a recess 44 of a carrier
structure 40 for carrying the heat shield elements 41, 43.
[0047] A second example of the hot gas seal according to the second
embodiment is shown in FIG. 6. Like the seal 45 in FIG. 5, the seal
55 in FIG. 6 is arranged in a gap 52 between two heat shield
elements 51, 53. The hot gas seal 55 comprises a first leg portion
57 and a second leg portion 58, which are linked by a pre-tensioned
bracket portion 56. The pre-tension, like in the example shown in
FIG. 5, is such that the legs 57, 58 tend to open. The sealing
action is provided by the spring force which is exerted by the
bracket portion 56 and transmitted to the surfaces of the heat
shield elements 51, 53 through the leg portions 57, 58. Further,
the hot gas seal 55 comprises a fixing section 59, which allows the
hot gas seal 55 to be fixed e.g. screwed, to carrier structure 50
for carrying the heat shield elements 51, 53.
[0048] A third example of the second embodiment is shown in FIG. 7.
In FIG. 7, a first heat shield element 71, a second heat shield
element 73, and a third heat shield element 74 are shown. In a gap
72 between the first heat shield element 71 and the second heat
shield element 73, a hot gas seal 75 is disposed. The hot gas seal
75 according to the third example of the second embodiment
comprises two parts, a holding part 76 and a shielding part 77. In
FIG. 7, both parts are shown in cross section. They extend through
a major part of the gap 72 in a direction perpendicular to the
cross section.
[0049] The shielding part 77 of the hot gas seal 75 is made of a
bent metal sheet which is bent such that the center section 77a of
the metal sheet forms a closed loop in cross section and that the
peripheral sections 77b, 77c of the metal sheet are folded back
onto each other. The folded back peripheral sections 77b, 77c are
fixed to a rod 78 which extends through a major part of the gap 72
in a direction perpendicular to the cross section.
[0050] The holding part 76 of the hot gas seal is also made of a
bent metal sheet. The metal sheet is bent such that the central
section 76a of it forms a loop and that its peripheral sections
76b, 76c are substantially parallel to each other with leaving a
gap there between. The central section 76a of the holding part 76
is pre-tensioned such that the peripheral sections 76b, 76c tend to
open.
[0051] When the hot gas seal 75 is placed in the gap 72 between the
heat shield elements 72 and 73, the peripheral sections 77b, 77c of
the shielding part 77 are inserted into the holding part 76 such
that the rod 78 extends through the tubular space formed by the
central section 76a of the holding part 76. Then, the holding part
76 is inserted into the gap 72 while pressing the peripheral
sections 76b, 76c against the pre-tension together, thereby fixing
the shielding part 77 in the holding part 76. After being inserted
into the gap 72, an opening movement of the peripheral sections
7ab, 76c of the holding part 76 due to the pre-tension is
restricted by the heat shield elements 71, 73. Therefore, the
spring force provided by the central section 76a of the holding
part 76 provides for a tight sealing of the gap 72. In the example
shown in FIG. 7, a ceramic or metallic hot gas part 79 that
provides shielding from the high temperatures of the hot gas is
provided around the central section 77a of the shielding part
77.
[0052] An example of the third embodiment is shown in FIG. 8. The
heat shield elements 61, 63 shown in FIG. 8 comprise front surfaces
64, 66 which face each other. Between the front surfaces 64, 66 a
gap 62 is formed. Further, recesses 67, 68 are formed in each front
surface 64, 66. The hot gas seal 65 has a plate like shape which,
in FIG. 8, is shown in cross-section. Its center section 65a is
corrugated, while its outer sections 65b, 65c are substantially
flat. When being disposed in the gap 62 between the heat shield
elements 61, 63, the outer sections 65b, 65c are placed in the
recesses 67, 68. The corrugated center section 65a then urges the
outer sections 65b, 65c away from each other. Thus, it presses the
outer sections 65b, 65c into the recesses 67, 68 and, as a
consequence, provides a holding and sealing action.
[0053] An example of the fourth embodiment of the inventive hot gas
seal is shown in FIG. 9. The figure shows a heat shield element 81
and a carrier structure 83 in which a notch 82 is formed. Between a
bottom section 84 and an opening of the notch 82, a narrow section
86 of the notch 82 is formed. A hot gas seal 85 is provided in the
notch. The hot gas seal 85 comprises a plate like portion 85a which
extends through the bottom section 84 of the notch 82, a sheet like
portion 85b which protrudes from the notch 82 in the direction of
the heat shield element 81, and a spring like portion 85c linking
the plate like portion 85a and the sheet like portion 85b.
[0054] The spring like portion 85c is made from a spring loaded
metal. It allows for thermal movement of the heat shield element 81
while still maintaining the sealing. Although the spring like
portion 85c is, in the example shown in FIG. 9, formed integrally
with the hot gas seal 85 it may as well be a separate part.
[0055] The plate like portion 85a of the hot gas seal 85 is
captured in the bottom part 84 of the notch 82, thus holding the
hot gas seal 85 in place. This way of holding the hot gas seal 85
in place provides the advantage of increased serviceability.
[0056] A first example of the fifth embodiment of the inventive hot
gas seal is shown in FIG. 10. The hot gas seal 90 is made from a
tubular cloth 92 which increases the sealing efficiency by
providing a soft, compliant or flexible surface which can be
pressed against e.g. walls of heat shield elements. The cloth 92
may be made from a suitable ceramic, metallic, or other material
which can be exposed to the hot gas. Inside of tubular cloth 92, an
omega shaped spring 94 is arranged which provides a spring force
for pressing the outer surface of the tubular cloth 92 e.g. towards
the walls of heat shield elements. The omega shaped spring 94 is
preferably made of metal. As an alternative, an E-shaped spring may
be used instead of the omega shaped spring, as well.
[0057] A second example of the fifth embodiment is shown in FIG.
11. Like in the first example, the hot gas seal 100 comprises a
tubular cloth 102. In the present example, the interior of the
tubular cloth 102 forms a gas tight and gas filled interior space
104. The gas tight sealing of the interior space 104 of the tubular
cloth 102 may be provided by a suitable coating of its inner wall.
When the hot gas seal 100 is exposed to the hot gas, the gas inside
the gas tight interior space 104 heats up and, as a consequence,
expands, and thereby increases the force by which the soft,
compliant or flexible surface is pressed against e.g. the walls of
heat shield elements. As an alternative, the interior space may as
well be filled with a liquid or a solid that either expands or
evaporates and increases the force by which the soft, compliant or
flexible surface is pressed against e.g. the walls of heat shield
elements.
[0058] An example of the use of a hot gas seal 90, as shown in FIG.
10, or a hot gas seal 100, as shown in FIG. 11, is shown in FIG.
12. FIG. 12 shows a first heat shield element 111 and a second heat
shield element 113, which are arranged such that a gap 112 is left
there between. In the heat shield elements 111, 113, recesses 117,
119 are formed. A hot gas seal 90, as shown in FIG. 10, or a hot
gas seal 100, as shown in FIG. 11, is disposed in each recess 117,
119. In addition, a sealing plate 114 is present, which is partly
disposed in the first recess 117 and partly disposed in the second
recess 119. The sealing plate 114 is pressed against the upper
walls 115, 116 of the recesses 117, 119 by the hot gas seals 90,
thus providing good sealing.
[0059] A third example of the fifth embodiment is shown in FIG. 13.
In the present example, the cross section of the hot gas seal 120
resembles a half circle with a flat side 124 and an arcuate side
126. The flat side 124 is pressed against a carrier structure 125
carrying heat shield elements 121, 123 of a heat shield. Inside the
hot gas seal 120, either a spring, as in the first example of the
fifth embodiment, or a gas filing, as in the second example of the
fifth embodiment, may be provided.
[0060] A first example of the sixth embodiment of the inventive hot
gas seal is shown in FIG. 14. The hot gas seal 130 is made from a
metal sheet 132 which is rolled up so as to have a spiral cross
section. The spiral cross section provides a spring force for
providing holding and sealing. The rolled metal sheet 132 may be
surrounded by tubular cloth made from metal or ceramics.
[0061] A second example of the sixth embodiment is shown in FIG.
15. The hot gas seal 140 shown in FIG. 15 is made, like the hot gas
seal 130 shown in FIG. 14, from a rolled metal sheet 142 so as to
have a spiral cross section. However, the rolled metal sheet 142 is
laminated with a soft, compliant or flexible surface 144 made from
e.g. TBC, metallic cloth or ceramic cloth. The soft, compliant or
flexible surface 144 provides for a better sealing when contacting
e.g. the walls of heat shield elements.
[0062] A third example of the sixth embodiment is shown in FIG. 16.
In this example, the spiral cross section of the rolled metal sheet
152 forming the hot gas seal 150 has an elliptic shape to optimize
the direction in which the force provided by the rolled up metal
sheet 152 is acting.
[0063] A first example of the seventh embodiment of the inventive
hot gas seal is shown in FIG. 17. The Fig. shows a first heat
shield element 161 and a second heat shield element 163. The heat
shield elements 161, 163 are fixed to a carrier structure 164 such
that a gap 162 is left between them. Between the carrier structure
164 and the heat shield elements 161, 163 hot gas seals 165, 166
are arranged. The seals 165, 166 each comprise a metal plate 165a,
166a which is fixed to the carrier structure 164. Spring loaded
metal strips 165b, 166b extend from each metal plate 165a, 166a
which is oriented such that the metal strips 165b, 166b project
towards the heat shield elements 161, 163. Due to the spring load,
the metal strips 165b, 166b are pressed against the lower surfaces
167, 168 of the heat shield elements 161, 163, thereby providing
the sealing. A hot gas seal as described with reference the FIG. 17
can have a long sealing length. Further, compared to brush seals,
no flow between individual metal strips occurs.
[0064] A second example of the seventh embodiment of the inventive
hot gas seal is shown in FIG. 18. The seal 190 shown in FIG. 18 is
a so-called brush seal. The brush seal 190 is rope shaped and has a
center core 191 which provides support for sealing bristles 193
extending radially from the core 191.
[0065] Instead of sealing bristles 193, flexible sealing wedges
194, as in the brush seal 191a shown in FIG. 19, flexible sealing
serpentines 195, as in the brush seal 191b shown in FIG. 20, or
flexible sealing coils 196, as in the brush seal 191c shown in FIG.
21, may be provided.
[0066] An embodiment of the inventive hot gas seal assembly is
shown in FIG. 22. The figure shows a first heat shield element 201
and a second heat shield element 203 which are arranged such that a
gap 202 is left between them. In front surfaces 204 205 of the heat
shield elements 201, 203, recesses 206, 207 are formed. In the gap
202, a seal 208, which may by e.g. a ceramic seal, a metallic seal,
or a cloth seal, is disposed. The seal 208 extends partly into each
recess 206, 207. In the inventive sealing assembly, the recesses
206, 207 are partly filled with a solid material 209 which has a
melting point lower than the temperature of the hot gas. During
installation of the hot gas seal assembly, the solid material 209
is disposed in the recesses 206, 207. When, during operation, the
solid material 209 is exposed to the hot gas, it melts and forms a
closed join with the seal 208 due to its high viscosity. The melted
solid 209 then provides, together with the seal 208, an excellent
sealing.
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