Laminated finger seal with ceramic composition

摘要

A ceramic finger seal for use between a housing and a combustor liner to inhibit air passage therebetween and for use in fluid sealing between a rotating shaft and a housing circumscribing the rotating shaft. The ceramic finger seal has at least two annular diaphragm members constructed of two or more diaphragm segments bonded end to end by ceramic cement or other high temperature joining compounds. The diaphragm members may be partitioned into a generally continuous inner diameter portion and a segmented outer diameter portion or the reverse thereof. The segmented portion includes finger elements spaced uniformly apart forming gaps therebetween and extend radially outward or inward terminating in a foot portion. A keyhole is formed at the terminus end of the gaps to minimize crack initiation of the finger elements. The diaphragm members are laminated together, oriented such that adjacent fingers of one laminate block the gaps of the other, and inserted between a pair of spacers and endplates to be attached at their continuous diameter portion. The ceramic finger seal may be attached circumferentially around the housing and assembled into the combustor liner with the foot portion sealing against the combustor liner interior wall. The rolled edge on the finger is formed by laser cutting to prevent gouging of the combustor liner surface.