Abstract: A brush seal assembly for effecting a seal between a first component (12) and a surface of a second component (11) movable relative to the first component. The assembly has a first row of bristles (17) arranged to be supported by the first component (12) and to extend towards but not touch the surface of the second component (11), and a second row of bristles (19) arranged to wipe over the surface of the second component which second row of bristles (19) lies against one side of the first row of bristles (17). The bristles (17) of the first row are shorter than those of the second row, and have a greater stiffness. The seal assembly includes a backing plate (15) intended to be disposed on the low pressure side of the seal and which supports the adjacent row of bristles. Depending upon the intended use, either the first row or the second row of bristles may be supported by the backing plate (15).

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 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.

Abstract: A method of finishing an annular component such as a brush seal to a substantially uniform wall thickness, and apparatus therefor. Two rollers are mounted with their axes parallel, one roller being spatially fixed and the other biassed by a spring towards said one roller, whereby the annular article may be held therebetween. A machining operation, such as centerless grinding or centerless electro-discharge errosion is performed on the article as the article is turned by power-driving at least one of the two rollers, the machining operation using the spatially fixed roller as a reference surface for the machining.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a brush seal for effecting a seal between relatively moving parts. Brush elements are first made by assembling bundles of bristle elements in holding tubes therefor, the brush elements then being mounted for instance by an adhesive on a carrier, so as to lie at the required disposition. The free end portions of the bristle elements are affixed to a brush seal root member, and the bristle elements are cut off at the required position between the root member and the carrier; the carrier and holding tubes--which may be re-used--are removed to leave the brush seal. A final machining of the brush seal, such as of the bristles, may be performed.

Abstract: A frictional coupling for a male member inserted in the bore of a female member, to couple together the two members when at a pre-determined axial position. The opposed surfaces of the male and female members define a clearance the radial dimension of which varies as the members are moved axially relative to one another. A frictional coupling element is provided in said clearance, which element comprises a strip of resilient material preformed into a helical coil of polygonal cross-section, such that the outer corners of the coil contact the bore of the female member and the inner flats contact the male member.As the clearance is reduced by relative axial movement of the members, the element is deformed to restrain further movement therebetween.

Abstract: A rotary valve for controlling the flow of fluids, and especially the gases in an internal combustion engine. A rotatable valve member is housed in a bore defined by a two-part housing interconnected by an element serving as a hinge to allow relative movement between the housing parts about an axis parallel to the rotary axis of the valve member. The element also allows the two housing parts to move relatively to adjust differentially the separation thereof at the two ends of the bore housing the valve member. The element may be in the form of a pair of semi-circular pins, or in a ball-and-socket joint.