Abstract: A seal assembly provided between a hot gas path and a disc cavity in a turbine engine includes an annular outer wing member extending from an axially facing side of a rotor structure toward an adjacent non-rotating vane assembly, and a plurality of fins extending radially inwardly from the outer wing member and extending toward the adjacent non-rotating vane assembly. The fins are arranged such that a space having a component in a circumferential direction is defined between adjacent fins. Rotation of the fins during operation of the engine effects a pumping of purge air from the disc cavity toward the hot gas path to assist in limiting hot working gas leakage from the hot gas path to the disc cavity by forcing the hot working gas away from the seal assembly.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a supply of cooling fluid, a rotatable shaft, structure defining at least one bypass passage in fluid communication with the supply of cooling fluid for supplying cooling fluid from the supply of cooling fluid, and metering structure located at an outlet of the at least one bypass passage. The metering structure includes at least one flow passageway extending therethrough at an angle to a central axis of the engine for permitting cooling fluid in the bypass passage to pass into a turbine rim cavity. The cooling fluid flowing out of the flow passageway has a velocity component in a direction tangential to the circumferential direction in the same direction as a rotation direction of the shaft.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a pre-swirl structure. Inner and outer wall structures of the pre-swirl structure define a flow passage in which swirl members are located. The swirl members include a leading edge and a circumferentially offset trailing edge. Cooling fluid exits the flow passage with a velocity component in a direction tangential to the circumferential direction, wherein a swirl ratio defined as the velocity component in the direction tangential to the circumferential direction of the cooling fluid to a velocity component of a rotating shaft in the direction tangential to the circumferential direction is greater than one as the cooling fluid exits the flow passage outlet, and the swirl ratio is about one as the cooling fluid enters at least one bore formed in a blade disc structure. An annular cavity extends between the flow passage and the at least one bore formed in the blade disc structure.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a supply of cooling fluid, a rotatable shaft, blade disc structure coupled to the shaft and having at least one bore for receiving cooling fluid, and a particle separator. The particle separator includes particle deflecting structure upstream from the blade disc structure, and a particle collection chamber. The particle deflecting structure deflects solid particles from the cooling fluid prior to the cooling fluid entering the at least one bore in the blade disc structure. The particle collection chamber is upstream from the particle deflecting structure and receives the solid particles deflected from the cooling fluid by the particle deflecting structure. The solid particles deflected by the particle deflecting structure flow upstream from the particle deflecting structure to the particle collection chamber.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a compressor for generating compressed air. The compressor includes a rotor defined by a plurality of axial disks including a first disk and a second disk. A first row of blades extends radially outwardly from the first disk, and a second row of blades extends radially outwardly from the second disk. A row of cantilevered vanes is located at an axial location between the first row of blades and the second row of blades. A bleed path extends at least partially through the second disk and includes an entrance at an axial location between the first row of blades and at least a portion of the row of cantilevered vanes. The entrance communicates with a compressed air flowpath through the compressor.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine is provided comprising a forward rotor disk and blade assembly capable of rotating; an aft rotor disk and blade assembly capable of rotating; and a row of vanes positioned between the forward rotor disk and blade assembly and the aft rotor disk and blade assembly. The vane row and the forward rotor disk and blade assembly may define a forward cavity. The vane row may comprise at least one stator vane comprising: a main body and an inner shroud structure comprising a cover. The cover may include a first inner cavity receiving cooling air. The cover may further include at least one cooling flow passage. Cooling air flowing from the cooling flow passage has a tangential velocity component.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a gas turbine engine with a compressor for generating compressed air, a turbine comprising upstream and downstream rows of vanes, vane carrier structure surrounding at least one row of vanes and plenum structure at least partially surrounding the vane carrier structure capable of impinging compressed air onto the vane carrier structure. The gas turbine engine further comprises fluid supply structure including first fluid path structure defining a first path for compressed air to travel to the plenum structure, second fluid path structure defining a second path for compressed air to travel toward the downstream row of vanes, and fluid control structure selectively controlling fluid flow to the first and second fluid path structures.

Abstract: A gas turbine having rotor discs (9), a disc cavity (13) and a stator stage (25) extending to the disc cavity (13). Seal housing flanges (43, 44) extend from a seal housing (29) of the stator stage (25). Rotor flanges (41i, 41o) extend from a rotor disk (9-1). An inner rotor flange (41i) and first seal housing flange (43) are inward from a second seal housing flange (44). One rotor flange (41o) is outward from the second seal housing flange (44). The inner rotor flange (41i) and first seal housing flange (43) extend toward one another to limit movement of main gas flow (17). An inlet (47) injects air (50) between the outward rotor flange (41o) and second seal housing flange (44).

Abstract: A turbine rotor body having at least one inlet orifice in fluid communication with a pre-swirl system such that the inlet orifice receives cooling fluids from the pre-swirl system is disclosed. The inlet orifice may be configured to reduce the relative velocity loss associated with cooling fluids entering the inlet orifice in the rotor, thereby availing the cooling system to the efficiencies inherent in pre-swirling the cooling fluids to a velocity that is greater than a rotational velocity of the turbine rotor body. As such, the system is capable of taking advantage of the additional temperature and work benefits associated with using the pre-swirled cooling fluids having a rotational speed greater than the turbine rotor body.

Abstract: A card seal with an annular arrangement of leaf elements, where each leaf element has a T shape with an upper ear section and a leaf section extending from the ear section. the leaf elements each include a first raised portion and a second raised portion that form a cross, the raised portions allowing for air to pass to bend ends on the leaf sections to form a floating air seal and to limit leakage flow across the leaf elements from one side to the opposite side.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a diffuser section supplying cooling fluid, a rotatable shaft, shaft cover structure disposed about the rotatable shaft, support structure, and a cooling fluid channel between the shaft cover structure and the support structure. The support structure provides structural support for the shaft cover structure and receives cooling fluid from the diffuser section. One of the diffuser section and the support structure comprises a plurality of apertures through which at least a portion of the cooling fluid passes. The cooling fluid channel is in fluid communication with the apertures in the one of the diffuser section and the support structure for supplying cooling fluid to a blade disc structure located in a turbine section of the engine.

Abstract: A seal member for effecting a seal preventing fluid flow in an axial direction through an annular space formed between two relatively moving components including a rotatable shaft and a stator structure. The seal member includes a plurality of flexible seal strips. Each seal strip includes a planar plate extending radially through the annular space and having a radially outer end supported to the stator structure and a radially inner end defining a tip portion extending widthwise in the axial direction engaged in sliding contact with a peripheral surface of the rotatable shaft. At least one of the seal strips includes a plurality of perforations extending through the seal strip and located between a leading edge and a trailing edge of the seal strip for effecting an increased flexibility of the seal strip adjacent to the tip portion.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a pre-swirl structure. Inner and outer wall structures of the pre-swirl structure define a flow passage in which swirl members are located. The swirl members include a leading edge and a circumferentially offset trailing edge. Cooling fluid exits the flow passage with a velocity component in a direction tangential to the circumferential direction, wherein a swirl ratio defined as the velocity component in the direction tangential to the circumferential direction of the cooling fluid to a velocity component of a rotating shaft in the direction tangential to the circumferential direction is greater than one as the cooling fluid exits the flow passage outlet, and the swirl ratio is about one as the cooling fluid enters at least one bore formed in a blade disc structure. An annular cavity extends between the flow passage and the at least one bore formed in the blade disc structure.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a supply of cooling fluid, a rotatable shaft, blade disc structure coupled to the shaft and having at least one bore for receiving cooling fluid, and a particle separator. The particle separator includes particle deflecting structure upstream from the blade disc structure, and a particle collection chamber. The particle deflecting structure deflects solid particles from the cooling fluid prior to the cooling fluid entering the at least one bore in the blade disc structure. The particle collection chamber is upstream from the particle deflecting structure and receives the solid particles deflected from the cooling fluid by the particle deflecting structure. The solid particles deflected by the particle deflecting structure flow upstream from the particle deflecting structure to the particle collection chamber.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine comprises a pre-swirl structure coupled to a shaft cover structure and located radially between a supply of cooling fluid and a flow path. The pre-swirl structure defines a flow passage and includes a plurality of swirl members in the flow passage. A flow direction of cooling fluid passing through the flow passage is altered by the swirl members such that the cooling fluid has a velocity component in a direction tangential to the circumferential direction. The bypass passages provide cooling fluid into a turbine rim cavity associated with a first row vane assembly to prevent hot gas ingestion into the turbine rim cavity from a hot gas flow path associated with a turbine section of the engine.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a supply of cooling fluid, a rotatable shaft, structure defining at least one bypass passage in fluid communication with the supply of cooling fluid for supplying cooling fluid from the supply of cooling fluid, and metering structure located at an outlet of the at least one bypass passage. The metering structure includes at least one flow passageway extending therethrough at an angle to a central axis of the engine for permitting cooling fluid in the bypass passage to pass into a turbine rim cavity. The cooling fluid flowing out of the flow passageway has a velocity component in a direction tangential to the circumferential direction in the same direction as a rotation direction of the shaft.

Abstract: A coolant system uses a first quantity of high temperature air at cruise power and a second larger quantity of cooler air at high power. Relatively high rotating clearances are achieved at high power and low clearance achieved at cruise power.

Abstract: Thrust balance in a gas turbine engine of the thrust balance seal is modulated by judiciously locating a seal between the inner diffuser case and the rear of the high compressor rotor shaft and bleeding air out of the cavity between both seals. The bled air is utilized to cool a portion of the high pressure turbine rotor. Cool air bled from mid-stage compressor is fed downstream of the second seal to cool the bearing compartment.

Abstract: A stage of circumferentially disposed turbine stator vane clusters and arcuate, circumferentially disposed segments of a rotor outer air seal disposed on one side of the stator stage is secured to an annular attachment ring which is integral with a surrounding turbine case. The outer seal segments are trapped axially between stator vane clusters and the radially inner ends of arcuate support segments, and are also radially supported thereby. The radially inner ends of the support segments are trapped axially between the stator vane clusters and the annular attachment ring, and are also supported radially thereby. This boltless attachment reduces the number of parts while providing strong radially support and accurate radial location for the seal segments.

Abstract: A stator structure 34 for supporting an outer air seal 46 is disclosed. Various construction details which adapt the stator structure to evenly move inward and outward in response to the impingement of cooling air are developed. In one embodiment an upstream support ring and a downstream support ring for the outer air seal are attached together.