초록 ▼

A dovetail seal assembly for sealing a gap between a bucket dovetail and a rotor. The dovetail seal assembly may include a sealing slot positioned about the dovetail, a high-pressure supply hole in communication with the sealing slot, and a deformable seal positioned about the sealing slot and into

A dovetail seal assembly for sealing a gap between a bucket dovetail and a rotor. The dovetail seal assembly may include a sealing slot positioned about the dovetail, a high-pressure supply hole in communication with the sealing slot, and a deformable seal positioned about the sealing slot and into the gap.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A dovetail seal assembly for sealing a gap between a bucket dovetail and a rotor, comprising: a sealing slot positioned in a radial plane about the dovetail;a deformable seal positioned in a radial plane about the sealing slot and into the gap; anda high-pressure supply hole in communication with

1. A dovetail seal assembly for sealing a gap between a bucket dovetail and a rotor, comprising: a sealing slot positioned in a radial plane about the dovetail;a deformable seal positioned in a radial plane about the sealing slot and into the gap; anda high-pressure supply hole in communication with the sealing slot such that the high-pressure pressure supply hole supplies an inward compressive force on the deformable seal that counteracts a centrifugal load force due to rotation and forces the deformable seal towards the rotor and into the gap. 2. The dovetail seal assembly of claim 1, further comprising a high-pressure supply chamber positioned between the sealing slot and the high-pressure supply hole. 3. The dovetail seal assembly of claim 1, wherein the sealing slot extends about a perimeter of a tab of the dovetail in whole or in part. 4. The dovetail seal assembly of claim 3, wherein the sealing slot comprises a variable depth about the perimeter of the tab of the dovetail in whole or in part. 5. The dovetail seal assembly of claim 1, wherein the high-pressure supply hole communicates with a high-pressure side of the dovetail. 6. The dovetail seal assembly of claim 1, wherein the deformable seal comprises a metallic, a ceramic, or a hybrid seal. 7. The dovetail seal assembly of claim 1, wherein the deformable seal comprises a substantially square cross-section. 8. The dovetail seal assembly of claim 1, wherein the deformable seal comprises a substantially circular cross-section. 9. The dovetail seal assembly of claim 1, wherein a high-pressure fluid creates the inward compressive force. 10. A dovetail seal assembly for sealing a gap between a bucket dovetail and a rotor, comprising: a sealing slot positioned in a radial plane about the dovetail;a supply chamber positioned in a radial plane about the sealing slot;a supply hole in communication with the supply chamber and a high pressure side of the dovetail; anda deformable seal positioned in a radial plane about the sealing slot and forced into the gap via an inward compressive force way of high-pressure air passing from the high-pressure side of the dovetail into the supply hole, wherein the compressive force counteracts a centrifugal load force due to rotation and forces the deformable seal towards the rotor and into the gap. 11. The dovetail seal assembly of claim 10, wherein the sealing slot extends about a perimeter of a tab of the dovetail in whole or in part. 12. The dovetail seal assembly of claim 11, wherein the sealing slot comprises a variable depth about the perimeter of the tab of the dovetail in whole or in part. 13. The dovetail seal assembly of claim 10, wherein the deformable seal comprises a metallic, a ceramic, or a hybrid seal. 14. The dovetail seal assembly of claim 10, wherein the deformable seal comprises a substantially square cross-section. 15. The dovetail seal assembly of claim 10, wherein the deformable seal comprises a substantially circular cross-section. 16. A method of sealing a gap between a bucket dovetail and a rotor, comprising: positioning a deformable seal within a sealing slot of the dovetail;forcing high-pressure fluid through the dovetail;providing an inward compressive force on the deformable seal that counteracts a centrifugal load force due to rotation; andforcing the deformable seal towards the rotor and into the gap with the high-pressure fluid. 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising machining the sealing slot into the dovetail. 18. The method of claim 16, further comprising machining a supply hole into the dovetail. 19. The method of claim 16, further comprising sealing the gap with the deformable seal in whole or in part.