Turbine assembly and method for reducing fluid flow between turbine components

Abstract

According to one aspect of the invention, a turbine assembly includes a first bucket with a first slashface and a second bucket including a recess formed in a second slashface of the second bucket, wherein the second slashface is adjacent to the first slashface when the first bucket is positioned adjacent to the second bucket. The turbine assembly also includes a pin configured to be placed in the recess, wherein the pin is magnetically urged toward the first slashface to reduce fluid flow between the first and second buckets.

1 . A turbine assembly comprising:
 a first bucket with a first slashface,   a second bucket including a recess formed in a second slashface of the second bucket, wherein the second slashface is adjacent to the first slashface when the first bucket is positioned adjacent to the second bucket; and   a pin configured to be placed in the recess, wherein the pin is magnetically urged toward the first slashface to reduce fluid flow between the first and second buckets.   
     
     
         2 . The turbine assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the recess is in a shank of the second bucket. 
     
     
         3 . The turbine assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the pin is magnetically urged by a magnetic layer on the pin. 
     
     
         4 . The turbine assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the magnetic layer is applied to the pin by a spray. 
     
     
         5 . The turbine assembly of  claim 1 , wherein first slashface has a magnetic property to urge the pin toward the first slashface. 
     
     
         6 . The turbine assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the magnetic property of the first slashface is caused by a magnetic layer in the first slashface. 
     
     
         7 . The turbine assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the magnetic layer is applied by a spray. 
     
     
         8 . The turbine assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the pin is oriented in a substantially radial direction and urged in a substantially tangential direction. 
     
     
         9 . The turbine assembly of  claim 1 , comprising two pins placed in two recesses in the second slashface to reduce fluid flow between the first and second buckets. 
     
     
         10 . A method for reducing fluid flow between turbine components comprising:
 flowing a hot gas across a first bucket and second bucket, wherein the first and second buckets are adjacent;   flowing a cooling air flow through a radially inner portion of the first and second buckets; and   positioning a pin between the first and second buckets, wherein a magnetic property urges the pin toward a first slashface of the first bucket, wherein the pin reduces fluid flow between the first and second buckets.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein positioning the pin comprises positioning the pin in a recess formed in a second slashface. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the magnetic property is caused by a magnetic layer on the pin. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the magnetic layer is applied by a spray. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein positioning the pin comprises having a magnetic property of the first slashface urge the pin toward the first slashface. 
     
     
         15 . A turbine assembly comprising:
 a first component with a first surface,   a second component with a second surface configured to be adjacent to the first surface when the first and second components are adjacent; and   a member configured to be placed between the first and second components, wherein the member is magnetically urged toward the first surface to reduce fluid flow between the first and second components.   
     
     
         16 . The turbine assembly of  claim 15 , comprising a recess formed in the second surface to receive the member. 
     
     
         17 . The turbine assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the member is magnetically urged by a magnetic layer on the member. 
     
     
         18 . The turbine assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the magnetic layer is applied to the member by a spray. 
     
     
         19 . The turbine assembly of  claim 15 , wherein first surface has a magnetic property to urge the member toward the first surface. 
     
     
         20 . The turbine assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the magnetic property of the first surface is caused by a magnetic layer on the first surface.