Abradable labyrinth tooth seal

Abstract

A seal assembly ( 52, 54 ) for a gas turbine engine ( 10 ). The seal assembly ( 52, 54 ) includes a first seal member ( 40 ) including an abradable structure having at least first and second seal portions ( 58, 64 ) radially spaced from each other, and a second seal member ( 44 ) including first and second seal surfaces ( 56, 62 ) located in facing relationship to the first and second seal portions ( 58, 64 ), respectively. The first seal member ( 40 ) is formed of a honeycomb structure, and the first seal portion ( 58 ) of the first seal member ( 40 ) is a thin fin-like structure having a width in the axial direction of the turbine engine ( 10 ) that is less than the width of the second seal portion ( 64 ) in the axial direction.

1 . A seal assembly for a rotary machine having a stationary portion and a rotatable portion, the seal assembly comprising:
 a first seal member comprising a honeycomb structure;   a second seal member comprising first and second seal surfaces wherein said second seal surface is radially spaced from said first seal surface;   said first seal member including a first seal portion located in facing relationship to said first seal surface to form a seal therebetween, and a second seal portion located in facing relationship to said second seal surface to form a seal therebetween; and   said first seal portion defining a width in an axial direction of said rotary machine that is less than the width of said second seal portion in the axial direction.   
     
     
         2 . The seal assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second seal surfaces are each substantially cylindrical surfaces, extending in the axial direction. 
     
     
         3 . The seal assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the width of said first seal portion of said first seal member is less than the width of said first seal surface. 
     
     
         4 . The seal assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the width of said second seal portion is greater than the width of said second seal surface. 
     
     
         5 . The seal assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the width of said first seal portion is approximately equal to two rows of cells of said honeycomb structure. 
     
     
         6 . The seal assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said first seal surface comprises a surface contacted by said first seal portion during rotatable movement of said rotatable seal portion of said rotary machine. 
     
     
         7 . The seal assembly of  claim 6 , wherein said first seal surface is a non-toothed surface. 
     
     
         8 . The seal assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said second seal member comprises a rotor arm having a radially extending end portion, said radially extending end portion extending from said first seal surface, and said second seal surface being defined on said end portion. 
     
     
         9 . The seal assembly of  claim 8 , wherein said first seal member is mounted on a stationary seal carrier located radially outwardly from said rotor arm. 
     
     
         10 . A seal assembly for a rotary machine having a stationary portion and a rotatable portion, the seal assembly comprising:
 a first seal member comprising an abradable structure having at least first and second seal portions radially spaced from each other;   a second seal member comprising first and second seal surfaces located in facing relationship to said first and second seal portions, respectively; and   said first seal portion defining a width in an axial direction of said rotary machine that is less than the width of said second seal portion in the axial direction.   
     
     
         11 . The seal assembly of  claim 10 , wherein said first seal surface is defined on a rotor arm and is located for engagement with said first seal portion. 
     
     
         12 . The seal assembly of  claim 11 , wherein said first seal portion comprises a honeycomb structure. 
     
     
         13 . The seal assembly of  claim 12 , wherein said first seal portion comprises approximately two or less rows of cells of said honeycomb structure. 
     
     
         14 . The seal assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said rotor arm includes a radially extending end portion, said radially extending end portion extending from said first seal surface, and said second seal surface being defined on said end portion. 
     
     
         15 . The seal assembly of  claim 14 , wherein said abradable structure comprises a honeycomb structure. 
     
     
         16 . The seal assembly of  claim 10 , wherein said abradable structure comprises a honeycomb structure and said first and second seal surfaces are non-toothed surfaces. 
     
     
         17 . A seal assembly for a rotary machine having a stationary portion and a rotatable portion, the seal assembly comprising:
 a first seal member comprising a honeycomb structure having at least a first seal portion;   a second seal member located for seal engagement with said first seal portion of said first seal member; and   said first seal portion defining a width in an axial direction of said rotary machine comprising approximately two or less rows of cells of said honeycomb structure.   
     
     
         18 . The seal assembly of  claim 17 , wherein said first seal member is mounted on a stationary seal carrier member and said second seal member is defined on a rotor arm. 
     
     
         19 . The seal assembly of  claim 18 , wherein said second seal member comprises first and second seal surfaces and said first seal member further comprises a second seal portion defined by said honeycomb structure, said first seal surface forming a seal with said first seal portion and said second seal surface forming a seal with said second seal portion. 
     
     
         20 . The seal assembly of  claim 19 , wherein said first seal portion and said first seal surface are radially displaced from said second seal portion and said second seal surface, respectively.