Abstract: This invention relates to a method to improve the performance of standard brush seals for rotating shafts. This invention relates to a design that will lower manufacturing costs associated with standard brush seals for rotating shafts. This invention relates to a design that will improve wear characteristics of a standard brush seal. Specifically, the invention is intended to reduce manufacturing costs by combining the standard sealing element of a brush seal with the low cost materials and manufacturing methodologies of a carbon seal. Specifically, the invention is intended to lower the overall weight of the brush seal assembly, thereby improving the life of the brush sealing element and reducing the wear characteristics on both the seal element and the associated shaft.

Abstract: An inner chamber in a housing surrounding a first end of a drive shaft upon which the turbine blades are mounted, a gear ring within the inner chamber fixedly attached to the first end of the drive shaft, the gear ring having a plurality of spaced, ferrite extensions, two magnetic pickup sensors mounted within the inner chamber of the housing in near proximity to the spaced extensions providing indicia of rotating speed as the gear ring revolves with the drive shaft while the magnetic pickup devices remain stationary within the housing, and providing further that during operation, the electronic probe housing automatically sends electric signals to an electronic governor which causes the RPM of the steam turbine to increase, decrease or remain constant.