Flexible seal for turbine engine

Abstract

A turbine includes a turbine seal. The turbine seal includes a first straight portion extending along a first axis. The turbine seal also includes a second straight portion extending along the first axis. The first and second straight portions of the turbine seal intersect to form a V-shaped cross section with an opening extending along the first axis. The first and second straight portions of the turbine seal are also configured to resiliantly move towards and away from each other and the first and second straight portions of the turbine seal are configured to pre-load the turbine seal along a gap between first and second bucket segments of the turbine.

1 . A turbine, comprising:
 a turbine seal, comprising:
 a first straight portion extending along a first axis; and 
 a second straight portion extending along the first axis, wherein the first and second straight portions intersect to form a V-shaped cross section with an opening extending along the first axis, wherein the first and second straight portions are configured to resiliantly move towards and away from each other, wherein the first and second straight portions are configured to pre-load the turbine seal along a gap between first and second bucket segments of the turbine. 
   
     
     
         2 . The turbine of  claim 1 , comprising a third straight portion coupled to the first straight portion and disposed on a first side of the opening, wherein the third straight portion extends along the first axis. 
     
     
         3 . The turbine of  claim 2 , comprising a fourth straight portion coupled to the second straight portion and disposed on a second side of the opening, wherein the fourth straight portion extends along the first axis. 
     
     
         4 . The turbine of  claim 3 , wherein the third straight portion and the fourth straight portion extend in parallel planes along the first axis. 
     
     
         5 . The turbine of  claim 3 , wherein the third straight portion and the fourth straight portion each terminate in a flat tip. 
     
     
         6 . The turbine of  claim 3 , wherein the third straight portion and the fourth straight portion each terminate in a rounded tip. 
     
     
         7 . The turbine of  claim 1 , wherein the turbine seal is configured to mount within a triangular recess in the first bucket segment. 
     
     
         8 . The turbine of  claim 7 , comprising the first bucket segment having the turbine seal disposed in the triangular recess. 
     
     
         9 . The turbine of  claim 7 , wherein the first bucket segment comprises a channel disposed between an upstream side of the first turbine segment and the triangular recess. 
     
     
         10 . The turbine of  claim 1 , wherein the turbine seal comprises material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion that is greater than a second coefficient of thermal expansion of the first and second bucket segments. 
     
     
         11 . A system, comprising:
 a first turbine segment comprising a first blade coupled to a first shank;   a second turbine segment comprising a second blade coupled to a second shank; and   a flexible seal disposed in a gap between the first and second shanks, wherein the flexible seal comprises an opening formed by a first straight portion and a second straight portion, the first and second straight portions diverge at an angle away from a vortex, the first and second straight portions are configured to resiliantly move towards and away from each other to vary the width of the opening, and the flexible seal is configured to maintain contact with the first and second turbine segments as a width of the opening varies.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the first straight portion and the second straight portion intersect at the vertex to form a V-shaped cross section. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the angle between the first and second straight portions varies to maintain contact between the flexible seal and the first and second turbine segments as the width of the opening varies. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the opening extends along an axis of the flexible seal. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the flexible seal extends along the gap between the first and second shanks in a radial direction relative to a rotational axis of the first and second turbine segments, and the flexible seal is at least partially disposed in a recess in the first shank. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the recess comprises a triangular cross-section extending along an axis of the flexible seal. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the flexible seal comprises a third straight portion coupled to the first straight portion and a fourth straight portion coupled to the second portion. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the first straight portion and the second straight portion are at least partially disposed in an elongated recess in the first shank and the third straight portion and the fourth straight portion are disposed in the gap. 
     
     
         19 . A turbine seal, comprising:
 a first straight portion extending along a first axis;   a second straight portion extending along the first axis, wherein the first and second straight portions intersect to form an opening extending along the first axis, wherein the first and second straight portions are configured to pre-load the turbine seal along a gap between first and second bucket segments of a turbine;   a third straight portion coupled to the first straight portion and disposed on a first side of the opening, wherein the third straight portion extends along the first axis; and   a fourth straight portion coupled to the second straight portion and disposed on a second side of the opening, wherein the fourth straight portion extends along the first axis, wherein the third straight portion and the fourth straight portion extend in parallel planes along the first axis.   
     
     
         20 . The turbine seal of  claim 19 , wherein the opening comprises an angle of between about 70 degrees and about 100 degrees.