초록 ▼

A stator assembly 46 for an axial flow rotary machine 10 is disclosed. Various construction details which increase the efficiency of the machine are developed. In one embodiment, the machine includes a circumferentially continuous structural outer case and a circumferentially continuous inner case w

A stator assembly 46 for an axial flow rotary machine 10 is disclosed. Various construction details which increase the efficiency of the machine are developed. In one embodiment, the machine includes a circumferentially continuous structural outer case and a circumferentially continuous inner case which is a pressure vessel for the working medium flow path.

대표청구항 ▼

An axial flow, rotary machine having a flow path for working medium gases extending through the machine and a stator assembly which extends circumferentially about the flow path to bound the working medium flow path, the stator assembly including arrays of stator vanes which extend inwardly and arra

An axial flow, rotary machine having a flow path for working medium gases extending through the machine and a stator assembly which extends circumferentially about the flow path to bound the working medium flow path, the stator assembly including arrays of stator vanes which extend inwardly and arrays of outer air seals, which comprises: a structural outer case which extends axially and circumferentially about the axis of the machine, the outer case being circumferentially continuous and having an upstream end and an downstream end which are attached to adjacent structure of the stator assembly, an inwardly extending element adjacent to one of the ends of the outer case which adapts the outer case to engage an inner case, a first cooling air cavity adjacent to the element which is in flow communication with a source of cooling air; and, a non-structural inner case which is circumferentially continuous and extends axially with respect to the outer case and is spaced radially inwardly from the outer case leaving a second cooling air cavity therebetween, the inner case having a first end and a second end, the first end being fixed to the element of the outer case, the second end in the installed, non-operative condition being spaced axially from the outer case and being spaced radially inwardly from the outer case, and being free to move radially and axially at least a minimum amount with respect to the outer case; wherein the cooling air from the first cavity and from the second cavity cool the inner case and the outer case at the location of joinder between the cases to decrease non-uniformities in temperature between the outer case and inner case to decrease relative thermal growth therebetween and resulting thermal stresses, wherein the downstream end of the inner case is free to move axially and radially with respect to the outer case to accommodate differences in thermal growth and stresses that result from the circumferentially continuous nature of the case, and wherein the circumferentially continuous inner case is a pressure vessel for the working medium gases and makes possible supplying cooling air from a source of cooling air at a pressure which is less than the maximum pressure of the working medium gases adjacent the inner case which decreases the difference in pressure between the spent cooling gases and the gas path while avoiding the need to supply the cooling air at pressures above the gas path pressure at all locations.