Abstract: A seal assembly for effecting a seal between two machine components has a housing (15) which defines a channel in which is slidably located an elongate brush seal member (21). A wave spring (28) is located in the channel between the base thereof and the brush seal member to urge the latter outwardly. The brush seal member has a plurality of bristles (24) the free ends of which bear on the second component against which a seal is to be effected, the bristles being disposed between a pair of support plates (22 and 23). On the low-pressure side of the seal, the support plate (23) extends almost to the free tips (26) of the bristles (24) and has a rubbing surface (27) which extends to and is intended to contact the surface against which a seal is to be effected. In the case of a circular seal assembly, a ring may surround the brush seal member and wave spring, whereby the ring, spring and brush seal member are all capable of floating within the channel in the housing.

Abstract: A filter element generally indicated at 10 comprising a spring 11 whose coils are so formed that the filter gaps 12 progressively increase in size from one end 13 of the coil to the other end 14. The increase in the size of the gaps is carefully chosen so that the available deflection for any coil section, when the spring is vertically orientated, is sufficient to develop an upward force which can support the coils in the spring 11 which extend above that particular coil section. Similar results can be achieved by varying the resilience or stiffness characteristics through the filter element.

Abstract: A seal member for effecting a seal between a shaft intended to rotate at high rates and a housing through which the shaft extends has a carrier for mounting on one of the shaft or housing and a plurality of generally radially extending seal elements adapted to wipe on the other of the shaft or housing. Each seal element is in the form of a flexible strip the width of which in the axial direction is significantly greater than the strip thickness, whereby the strips exhibit great stiffness axially, but may flexibly seal in the circumferential direction.

Abstract: A brush seal assembly for use in a gas turbine, jet engine or the like where a shaft which rotates at very high rates is to be sealed to a housing. The seal assembly has a plurality of brush seal elements each of which comprises a generally arcuate carrier and a plurality of bristles projecting therefrom. All of the brush seal elements are supported in the engine housing in a substantially continuous end-to-end manner with the bristles of the seal elements arranged to form a substantially continuous brush seal wiping against the shaft.

Abstract: A seal assembly for a rotatable shaft extending through a bore in a housing, particularly for high-speed applications such as turbo-charger rotors. An annular groove is provided around the shaft, and a first resilient split-ring sealing member is located in the groove. At least one second resilient split-ring sealing member is fitted over said first member, so as resiliently to bear on the wall of the housing defining the bore. Said first member is an axial close running fit within the groove, but of a lesser radial dimension than the depth of groove, whereas the axial width of said second member is smaller than that of said first member.