Abstract: A seal for sealing between two component parts permits a leakage flow of fluid from an upstream side of the seal to a downstream side of the seal. The seal has a jet-producing formation which produces one or more fluid jets that impinge on and thereby restrict the leakage flow.

Abstract: A seal for sealing between two component parts permits a leakage flow of fluid from an upstream side of the seal to a downstream side of the seal. The seal has a jet-producing formation which produces one or more fluid jets that impinge on and thereby restrict the leakage flow.

Abstract: A compliant seal assembly having a seal pack carrier having an upstream face and a downstream face that defines a slot, and a seal pack having an upstream face and a downstream face slideably mounted within the slot. The seal pack carrier and the seal pack contact each other and form a high-pressure plenum and a low-pressure plenum. The compliant seal assembly also includes a first passage with a first and second opening and a second opening with a first and second opening. The first opening of the first passage is located at the upstream face of the seal pack carrier, and the second opening of the first passage communicates with the high pressure plenum. The first opening of the second passage is located at the downstream face of the seal pack carrier, and the second opening of the second passage communicates with the low-pressure plenum.

Abstract: A flowmeter and flow measurement method employing the determination of convection speed of turbulent spots. A plurality of sensors is employed, preferably thin-film gauges operating in constant temperature, constant current, or constant voltage mode. Airspeed (or fluid speed) is determined from the convection speed, preferably via dividing the streamwise sensor spacing by the product of the time lag to the peak of a crosscorrelation function and a calibration constant. Turbulence may be artificially induced, such as by intermittent jets, electrical sparks, or protuberances.

Abstract: A brush seal includes a mounting ring that carries radially inwardly directed bristles. A backing member attached to the mounting ring is positioned alongside the bristles. A chamber defined by the bristles and the backing member is pressurized with fluid to counteract the lateral forces imposed upon the bristles by a region of high fluid pressure that they are operationally adjacent. As a result of this balancing of forces, the bristles are free to move radially inward and outward so that their free ends remain in sealing engagement with an adjacent surface.

Abstract: A method and device to measure parameters of temperature and gas composition in high temperature fluids which has particular application to compressible unsteady flowing fluid and rapidly changing temperatures of high temperature gases. The device comprises at least two temperature sensing elements, means for pre-setting said elements to different temperatures, and means for determining a parameter of the fluid from temperature readings of said sensing elements taken at least two time instants. The invention also provides a method of measuring fluid temperature by determining differing heat transfer rates from the temperature history of temperature sensors initially set to different temperatures before exposure to the fluid. Based on the same methodology and device, gas composition of binary flows can also be determined.

Abstract: A brush seal element (14) comprises a mounting ring (20) that carries radially inwardly directed bristles (21). A backing ring (23) attached to the mounting ring (20) is positioned alongside the bristles (21). A chamber (25) defined by the bristles (21) and the backing ring (23) is pressurised with fluid to counteract the lateral forces imposed upon the bristles (21) by a region of high fluid pressure that they are operationally adjacent. As a result of this balancing of forces the bristles (21) are free to move radially inward and outward so that their free ends (22) remain in sealing engagement with an adjacent surface.

Abstract: A fast opening plug valve especially for release of high pressure gas. The plug has an internal chamber and is held in the closed position by the pressure of gas within this chamber which acts on a fixed wall. The opening stroke is driven by valve inlet pressure upon release of gas from the plug chamber to a dump chamber. Flow from the plug chamber to the dump chamber is choked towards the end of the valve opening cycle to decelerate the plug. Plug acceleration at the start of the opening cycle is commenced prior to opening to minimize the opening period. Release of pressure from the plug chamber may be initiated by action of a slide valve and linked to rise of valve inlet pressure. The valve has application in wind tunnels.