Combustor spring clip seal system

Abstract

Aspects of the invention are directed to a sealing system for the interface between a combustor liner and transition duct. The system includes a spring clip seal. A first end of the spring clip seal operatively engages the inner peripheral surface of the transition duct. A second end of the spring clip seal is indirectly attached to the liner by an insert disposed therebetween. The spring clip seal can be attached to the insert by any kind of welding process that does not involve melting of the spring clip seal and the insert, such as fillet welding. The insert and the liner can be attached in a similar manner. Because fillet welds are relatively easy to cut, the spring clip, insert and liner can be separated without the need for cutting any of these individual components. Thus, the system can facilitate the repair, disassembly and reassembly of the interface.

1 . A turbine engine sealing system comprising:
 a liner having an outer peripheral surface and an exit end;   a spring clip seal having an inner peripheral surface and an outer peripheral surface, the spring clip seal tapering from a first end having a first diameter to a second end having a second diameter that is smaller than the first diameter; and   a spacer disposed between and operatively engaging each of the second end of the spring clip seal and the outer peripheral surface of the liner, the spacer being attached to outer peripheral surface of the liner, whereby the second end of the spring clip seal is spaced from the outer peripheral surface of the liner.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the spacer is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the liner by at least one fillet weld. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the fillet weld extends substantially continuously about an interface defined between engaging portions of the liner and the spacer. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the second end of the spring clip seal is spaced axially upstream from the exit end of the liner. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the spacer is a protrusion extending from the second end of the spring clip seal, and wherein the protrusion and the second end of the spring clip seal are unitary. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the spacer is an insert formed separately from the second end of the spring clip seal. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the second end of the spring clip seal is attached to the insert by at least one fillet weld. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the fillet weld extends substantially continuously about an interface between the spring clip seal and the insert. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the liner includes a plurality of passages extending through and about the liner proximate the exit end, and wherein the insert includes a plurality of notches, wherein each notch is in fluid communication with a respective one of the passages, whereby air from the combustor flow path can enter the passages. 
   
   
       10 . A turbine engine sealing system comprising:
 a liner having an outer peripheral surface and an exit end;   a spring clip seal having an inner peripheral surface and an outer peripheral surface, the spring clip seal tapering from a first end having a first diameter to a second end having a second diameter that is smaller than the first diameter; and   a separately-formed insert disposed between the second end of the spring clip seal and the outer peripheral surface of the liner, the second end of the spring clip seal being attached to the insert by a first fillet weld, and the insert being attached to outer peripheral surface of the liner by a second fillet weld.   
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the second fillet weld extends substantially continuously about an interface between engaging portions of the outer peripheral surface of the liner and the insert. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the second end of the spring clip seal is spaced axially upstream from the exit end of the liner. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the liner includes a plurality of passages extending through and about the liner proximate the exit end, and wherein the insert includes a plurality of notches, wherein each notch is in fluid communication with a respective one of the passages, whereby air from the combustor flow path can enter the passages. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the first fillet weld extends substantially continuously about an interface between engaging portions of the second end of the spring clip seal and the insert. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the insert has an upstream end and a downstream end, wherein the downstream end of the insert is attached to outer peripheral surface of the liner by the second fillet weld. 
   
   
       16 . A method of attaching a spring clip seal comprising the steps of:
 providing a liner having an outer peripheral surface and an exit end;   forming a spring clip seal having an inner peripheral surface and an outer peripheral surface, the spring clip seal tapering from a first end having a first diameter to a second end having a second diameter that is smaller than the first diameter;   forming a spacer;   positioning the spacer on the outer peripheral surface of the liner so that the spacer operatively engages each of the second end of the spring clip seal and the outer peripheral surface of the liner; and   forming a first weld joint to attach the spacer to the outer peripheral surface of the liner, wherein the first weld joint is formed such that the spacer and the liner do not melt.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the spacer forming step and the spring clip forming step are performed together such that the spacer and the spring clip seal are unitary. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the first weld joint forming step is performed by fillet welding. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the spacer is an insert formed separately from the spring clip seal, and further including the step of forming a second weld joint to attach the spacer to the outer peripheral surface of the liner, wherein the second weld joint forming step is performed such that the spacer and the liner do not melt. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the second weld joint forming step is performed by fillet welding.