Brush Seal Patents (Class 277/355)
  • Publication number: 20030160392
    Abstract: A bristle arrangement for use in a brush seal, comprising: a plurality of bristles arranged in a length; and a joint along the length securing the bristles together. The fixture for making the bristle arrangement, comprises: a base having a surface with an arrangement of guides thereon, the guides adapted to orient the tufts on the surface; and a cover having a surface for receiving the tufts. The cover removably mounts to the base to sandwich the tufts between the cover and the base. Making a brush seal with multiple stages comprises the steps of: providing plates and bristle arrangements; creating a stack of plates and bristle arrangements; and joining the stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2002
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Inventors: John A. Szymbor, Glenn D. Sparks
  • Publication number: 20030151206
    Abstract: A brush seal is created between two members, one of which may rotate with respect to the other. A bonding agent is applied to one or both members, each of which may include a groove for application of the bonding agent. Flexible filaments are then embedded into the bonding agent by, for example, electrostatic flocking. After the bonding agent hardens or cures, the brush seal is created.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2001
    Publication date: August 14, 2003
    Inventor: Walter J. Smith
  • Publication number: 20030151207
    Abstract: A brush seal for sealing between a rotor and a stator of a gas turbine engine includes a housing and a plurality of flexible bristles held within the housing. The bristles protrude from the housing so that a free end of each bristle is able to contact and seal against a seal surface of the rotor. The brush seal further includes a stop member for limiting movement of the free ends of the bristles towards the seal surface of the rotor, in order to reduce wear on the bristles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2003
    Publication date: August 14, 2003
    Inventor: Karl W. Shore
  • Patent number: 6601853
    Abstract: When a clearance between a rotor and the free end of a brush seal of thin plates becomes larger by oscillation of the rotor or the like, the enlarged clearance is effectively sealed. In order to achieve this effect, in a brush seal device, brush seal units as recess layers and brush seal units as projection layers are stacked in the direction of the pressure of the sealed fluid to form recess and projection portion on its free end. The inner diameter of the recess layer is different from that of the projection layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Eagle Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideyuki Inoue
  • Publication number: 20030141666
    Abstract: A brush seal element is disclosed that includes an array of bristles and a backing member. The array of bristles extends across the face of the backing member and at least part of the surface of the face of the backing member is formed of or covered by a material which is tribologically matched, with at least the material of the bristles immediately adjacent the face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2003
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: Peter Francis Crudgington, Aaron Bowsher
  • Publication number: 20030122312
    Abstract: In a gas turbine having a chordal hinge seal between an inner rail of each nozzle segment and an annular axially facing sealing surface of a nozzle support ring, a supplemental seal is disposed between the support ring and inner band of the nozzle segment on a high pressure side of the chordal hinge seal. The supplemental seal includes a pair of sheet metal shims overlaid by a woven metallic cloth supported by a bracket secured to the inner margin of the inner rail. The radially inner end of the cloth seal bears against the annular sealing surface of the nozzle support ring. The shims of the legs of the supplemental seal are slit along their distal margin and staggered circumferentially relative to one another to provide flexibility and effective sealing engagement with the nozzle support ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Inventors: Mahmut Faruk Aksit, Ahmad Safi, Abdul-Azeez Mohammed-Fakir
  • Patent number: 6585270
    Abstract: A seal is provided at the intersegments of hydrogen seal rings for preventing oil leakage through this potential gap between the seal ring segments. By minimizing leakage through the gaps between the open rings, hydrogen consumption in hydrogen-cooled generators due to leakage oil is reduced. In a preferred embodiment, the seal is provided by a brush seal secured to one of the seal ring segments and received in a slot defined in the other of the seal ring segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Wei Tong
  • Publication number: 20030111797
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2001
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Applicant: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventors: Vincent Chung, Arun Kumar, Bjoern Schenk, Adrian R. Allan
  • Publication number: 20030102630
    Abstract: The present invention provides an actuated seal assembly for controlling flow in a fluid path in turbomachinery comprising a seal and a seal carrier coupled to the seal. A displacement apparatus is coupled to the seal carrier for positioning the seal so as to control the flow in the fluid path. In addition, a drive system is provided for powering the displacement apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2001
    Publication date: June 5, 2003
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Osman Saim Dinc, Norman Arnold Turnquist, Mehmet Demiroglu, Hamid Reza Sarshar, Ahmad Safi, Mahmut Faruk Aksit, Roger Neal Johnson, Anthony Holmes Furman, Imdad Imam, Gerald Burt Kliman, James Hopkins, Richard Robert Larsen, David Michael Prowse, Steven Wayne Russell
  • Publication number: 20030102629
    Abstract: An article for controlling flow of a fluid medium in a fluid path comprises a brush seal carrier and at least one brush seal coil disposed within the brush seal carrier. The brush seal coil is arranged in a predetermined array and comprises a continuous helical member. In addition, a brush seal, for controlling the flow of the fluid medium in the fluid path, comprises a plurality of fibers and is secured to the brush seal coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2001
    Publication date: June 5, 2003
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Nitin Bhate, Mahmut Faruk Aksit
  • Publication number: 20030094764
    Abstract: A Brush Seal element 10 has a backing plate 11 designed to project into a gap 12 between a fixed sleeve 13 and a shaft 14 and a bristle array 15 comprising a pack of bristle layers which is held in the sleeve 13 by support 16. The bristle 15 and non-linear portion 17, 18, which define cavities 19 and 20 between the array 15 and the plate 10. These cavities can become filled with high pressure fluid so that there is a substantial pressure balance across the array 15.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2002
    Publication date: May 22, 2003
    Applicant: CROSS MANUFACTURING CO (1938) LTD.
    Inventor: Peter Francis Crudgington
  • Patent number: 6565094
    Abstract: A brush seal (9) comprising a plurality of bristles packed together in a bristle layer (10). The bristles (10) extend from a first component (4) towards a facing surface of a second component (2). A movable plate (14) is disposed substantially parallel to and adjacent to the bristle layer (10). The plate (14) is movable relative to the bristle layer (10) in a direction parallel to the bristle layer (10). An edge (22) of the movable plate (14) adjacent to and facing the facing surface of the second component (2) is arranged to air ride on the facing surface of the second component (2). To promote the air riding the edge (22) of the movable plate (14) may be accordingly profiled. Alternatively the edge (14) may comprise an enlarged foot member (24) which defines an enlarged surface (26). Furthermore a recess (30) may be defined in the movable plate (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: Christopher Wright, Karl W Shore
  • Publication number: 20030085525
    Abstract: A brush seal is provided for sealing between a rotating shaft and a housing. The brush seal includes an annular rim or head portion coaxial with the shaft and mounted on the housing, an annular array of bristles extending from the head portion toward the shaft for contact with the shaft at their ends, and an annular bristle support plate extending from the head portion toward the shaft. The support includes voids arranged to accommodate radial deformation in the support due to rubbing contact between the support and the shaft without incurring any substantial accompanying axial deformation which would distort the bristles and cause deterioration of their sealing function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2002
    Publication date: May 8, 2003
    Inventor: Ian William Boston
  • Patent number: 6558041
    Abstract: The damper assembly includes a centering spring about a bearing for a rotating shaft. The centering spring is fixed to and spaced from a fixed component. One or more annular arrays of brush bristles project from the fixed component and have tips in engagement with the non-rotating, radially and orbitally movable centering spring. With the brush bristles engaging the centering spring, the vibrations and dynamic loadings of the shaft on the bearing and centering spring are damped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Hector Emilio Laos
  • Publication number: 20030080510
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention comprises an actuating mechanism for a turbine comprising a compliant member (meaning at least one compliant member) comprising a series of serpentine folds forming a plurality of fold sections and a central cavity (meaning at least one central cavity) interposed between the adjacent fold sections wherein the compliant member is movable between a first retracted position and a second extended position upon introduction of a pressurized medium into the central cavity and dispersion of the pressurized medium within the serpentine folds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2001
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Inventors: Osman Saim Dinc, Mehmet Demiroglu, Hamid Reza Sarshar, Paul Gladen, Keith Hochhalter
  • Publication number: 20030075870
    Abstract: A shaft sealing arrangement for a pump for delivering hot fluids includes a dynamic shaft seal (4), in particular a slide ring seal, in order to seal a rotatable shaft (2) relative to a housing (1), and a cooling ring (5) which is mounted in front of the dynamic shaft seal (4) in the direction of the pump interior and which surrounds the shaft (2) at a small spacing. The shaft sealing arrangement further includes an additional seal (8) which seals the shaft (2) in the region of the cooling ring (5) in order to reduce the feed of hot fluid into the gap between the shaft (2) and the cooling ring (5), with the additional seal (8) being formed as a brush seal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Applicant: Sulzer Pumpen AG
    Inventor: Paul Meuter
  • Patent number: 6550777
    Abstract: A plurality of packing ring segments are provided in a stationary component and about a rotating shaft. Each packing ring segment includes a brush seal insert and a plurality of labyrinth seal teeth along a concave sealing face thereof. Each segment is formed of a pair of components which, in assembly, have a split line through a slot receiving the brush seal insert. The brush seal insert includes a pair of narrow strips or rods welded to outer ends of the bristle pack and is bendable to a range of diameters. By forming forward and backing surfaces defining the slot integral with the components, the width of the bristle slot and the gap between the bristle pack and the forward surface can be readily manufactured and obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Norman Arnold Turnquist, Frederick George Baily, Mark Edward Burnett
  • Patent number: 6547257
    Abstract: A transition piece seal assembly includes a transition piece seal support having a first flange for supporting a transition piece seal, and a second flange adapted for mounting in an adjacent nozzle; and at least one spring seal element having a mounting flange adapted to engage the second flange of the transition piece seal support, and a flex portion having a free edge adapted to engage a forward face of the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Robert Harold Cromer
  • Publication number: 20030062684
    Abstract: The brush section of a brush seal is protected from damages during installing work. It is constituted such that a brush seal unit has, at the free end of the brush section, at least one ablative plate section formed therewith and has a thin groove at the boundary between the brush section and the ablative plate section; and the ablative plate section is broken off before mounting the brush seal between two components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Publication date: April 3, 2003
    Applicant: EAGLE INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hideyuki Inoue
  • Publication number: 20030062685
    Abstract: One brush seal unit is piled on another one in such a manner that thin beams of the one brush seal unit overlap the slits of the another brush seal unit easily using their positioning sections in order to improve sealing ability. The pitches at the positioning sections of each brush seal unit is determined so that the slits and thin beams of the neighboring and piled brush seal units are overlapped each other by relatively displacing the neighboring brush seal units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Publication date: April 3, 2003
    Applicant: EAGLE INDUSTRY CO., LTD
    Inventor: Hideyuki Inoue
  • Patent number: 6540231
    Abstract: Brush seal lifetime and sealing efficiency are increased by providing a brush seal with a holder and a carrier moveably suspended from the holder by a plurality of flexible support wires. A plurality of bristles is secured to the carrier. Preferably, the holder is attached to a stationary member, and the bristles sealingly engage a rotating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Richard L. Trantow, Jimmy A. Murphy, Ronald R. Eskridge
  • Patent number: 6536773
    Abstract: A brush shroud assembly for reducing the tip clearance between a rotating blade and an engine casing is disclosed. The assembly includes a plurality of bristle packs supported within a housing such that the bristle distribution at the inner diameter of the bristle packs is substantially continuous. The continuous surface is created by mounting the bristles packs within a housing such that the packs are flared, i.e. width at the outer diameter of the bristle pack is smaller than that at the inner diameter. Various embodiments are disclosed for mounting the flared bristle packs to form a substantially continuous inner diameter. The bristle strips may be mounted in one or more annular rings, may be secured within one or more channels in the housing, the bristle packs may be formed into a tufted ring, or any of these may be utilized in combination with a backplate supporting an abradable seal, i.e. a hybrid design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Advanced Components & Materials, Inc.
    Inventor: Amitava Datta
  • Patent number: 6533284
    Abstract: A brush seal is provided between a first stationary component and a second rotating component. A cooling medium is provided through a plurality of jet nozzles for flow along an upstream surface portion of the brush seal bristles and along the rotating component surface adjoining the tips of the bristles. The cooling medium cools the brush seal bristles to a temperature below the temperature of the working fluid passing through the turbine. The jet nozzles may be arranged in the shroud or in the upstream backing plate of the brush seal to direct the cooling medium toward the juncture of the brush seal and the sealing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mahmut Faruk Aksit, Osman Saim Dinc
  • Publication number: 20030042682
    Abstract: A brush seal unit can be formed in any size by coupling split brush-seal pieces, and the brush seal units can be easily stacked. In order to obtain such device, the brush seal unit of a brush seal device comprises split brush-seal pieces divided into a plurality of pieces, and each of the split brush-seal pieces has a projection on one split face at its base section and a recess on the other split face at its base section. The projection and the recess engage the corresponding recess and projection, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2002
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Applicant: EAGLE INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hideyuki Inoue
  • Publication number: 20030030220
    Abstract: A brush shroud assembly for reducing the tip clearance between a rotating blade and an engine casing is disclosed. The assembly includes a plurality of bristle packs supported within a housing such that the bristle distribution at the inner diameter of the bristle packs is substantially continuous. The continuous surface is created by mounting the bristles packs within a housing such that the packs are flared, i.e. width at the outer diameter of the bristle pack is smaller than that at the inner diameter. Various embodiments are disclosed for mounting the flared bristle packs to form a substantially continuous inner diameter. The bristle strips may be mounted in one or more annular rings, may be secured within one or more channels in the housing, the bristle packs may be formed into a tufted ring, or any of these may be utilized in combination with a backplate supporting an abradable seal, i.e. a hybrid design.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2001
    Publication date: February 13, 2003
    Inventor: Amitava Datta
  • Publication number: 20030025274
    Abstract: A finger seal for use between a housing and a combustor liner to inhibit air passage therebetween. The finger seal has at least two annular diaphragm members partitioned into a generally continuous inner diameter portion and a segmented outer diameter portion. The segments are finger elements spaced uniformly apart forming gaps therebetween and extend radially outward terminating in a foot portion. A keyhole is formed at the terminus end of the gaps to reduce fatigue and stress 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 inner diameter portion. The finger seal is attached circumferentially around the housing and assembled into the combustor liner with the foot portion sealing against the combustor liner interior wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2001
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Applicant: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventors: Adrian Allan, Arun Kumar, Gulshan K. Arora
  • Patent number: 6505834
    Abstract: An embodiment providing a seal assembly for turbomachinery for controlling flow of a fluid medium in a fluid path comprises a casing having an internal pressure load path and a seal carrier chamber. A movable seal carrier is disposed within the seal carrier chamber and interposed between the pressure load path and an external flow path. In addition, a pressure selecting apparatus is coupled to the pressure load path to control flow therethrough. Moreover, the position of the movable seal carrier moves in response to a pressure differential determined by the pressure selecting apparatus between the pressure load path and the external flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Osman Saim Dinc, Mehmet Demiroglu
  • Patent number: 6505835
    Abstract: The brush seal includes a plurality of bristles located in grooves along opposite sides of a single carrier. The grooves extend at a predetermined cant angle relative to radii of a sealing surface about which the brush seal extends. The grooves are formed between ribs which terminate in tips deformed to overlie the bristles in the groove and thereby retain the bristles on the carrier. An epoxy overlies the carrier surfaces and grooves to facilitate their retention. The brush seal may be fabricated by rolling knurled rollers with oblique cutting ribs along opposite surfaces of the carrier to form the grooves. The bristles are then wrapped about the carrier and in the grooves. Subsequently, the tips of the ribs defining the grooves are deformed to overlie and retain the bristles in the grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Wei Tong, Zhang-Qing Zhuo
  • Publication number: 20030006559
    Abstract: Spring constant of a bristle against the buckling of the bristle is lowered and resilient flexing is facilitated even if a rotary shaft is changed in its movement to contact a brush seal of a brush seal device. In the brush seal device, a bending portion is formed amid a bristle constituting a brush seal to facilitate the resilient buckling deformation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2002
    Publication date: January 9, 2003
    Applicant: Eagle Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideyuki Inoue
  • Patent number: 6502824
    Abstract: A rotatable shaft is mounted in an oil bearing and generates oil mist. One or more brush seals are carried by the bearing housing for substantially sealing the oil mist in the bearing cavity from migration outwardly. The bristles have a diameter in the range of 0.5 to 1.0 mils, preferably about 0.56 mils. The bristles have a stiffness less than 1 psi/mil and preferably about 0.2 psi/mil. The brush seal is mounted on a sheet metal mounting plate, enabling an inexpensive securement of brush seals to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert Russell Mayer, Mahmut Faruk Aksit, Bharat Sampathkumaran Bagepalli
  • Patent number: 6502823
    Abstract: A seal assembly is provided for a rotary machine wherein the rotary machine comprises a rotor and a casing. The rotor comprises a generally longitudinally-extending axis wherein the casing is generally coaxially aligned with the axis. The casing circumferentially surrounds and is radially spaced apart from the rotor wherein the casing comprises an inner circumferential channel generally coaxially aligned with the rotor. The seal assembly comprises a plurality of seal segments disposable in a circumferential array in the channel so as to be movable between radially inward and radially outward positions. In addition, the seal assembly comprises a plurality of displacement apparatuses comprising at least one fluid inlet and configured for urging apart the seal segments upon introduction of a fluid medium in the fluid inlet. Each of the seal segments comprises an end having at least one of the displacement apparatuses circumferentially disposed thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Norman Arnold Turnquist, Mehmet Demiroglu
  • Patent number: 6502825
    Abstract: A seal assembly includes a cloth seal for sealing a cavity between a first mating body and a second mating body, the seal dividing the cavity into a high pressure region and a low pressure region. The cloth seal has a shim assemblage and a cloth assemblage. A first peripheral portion of the cloth seal may include a portion of the cloth assemblage and/or the shim assemblage which contacts the high pressure region and a second peripheral portion including a portion of the cloth assemblage adapted to contact the low pressure region. Knowing the flow conditions and pressure differential through the seal, the density of the cloth seal may be calibrated to control leakage and the shim and cloth assemblages may be designed to minimize contact loads on a mating body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mahmut Faruk Aksit, Jeffrey Arthur Benoit, Abdul-Azeez Mohammed-Fakir
  • Publication number: 20030001339
    Abstract: When a clearance between a rotor and the free end of a brush seal of thin plates becomes larger by oscillation of the rotor or the like, the enlarged clearance is effectively sealed. In order to achieve this effect, in a brush seal device, brush seal units as recess layers and brush seal units as projection layers are stacked in the direction of the pressure of the sealed fluid to form recess and projection portion on its free end. The inner diameter of the recess layer is different from that of the projection layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Applicant: Eagle Industry Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideyuki Inoue
  • Patent number: 6499742
    Abstract: The invention provides a brush seal assembly, and method of using, for reducing adverse fluid flow effects to a brush seal,.the brush seal assembly comprising a support housing having a passage; a rotating shaft disposed in the passage of the support housing, the rotating shaft including a shaft body having a periphery and an annular tooth extending around the periphery of the shaft body; and an annular brush seal including a plurality of bristles extending around the shaft body, each of the plurality of bristles attached to and extending from the support housing in the passage towards the rotating shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ming Zhou, Sal Albert Leone, Susan Marie Hyde
  • Publication number: 20020190473
    Abstract: The brush seal includes a plurality of bristles located in grooves along opposite sides of a single carrier. The grooves extend at a predetermined cant angle relative to radii of a sealing surface about which the brush seal extends. The grooves are formed between ribs which terminate in tips deformed to overlie the bristles in the groove and thereby retain the bristles on the carrier. An epoxy overlies the carrier surfaces and grooves to facilitate their retention. The brush seal may be fabricated by rolling knurled rollers with oblique cutting ribs along opposite surfaces of the carrier to form the grooves. The bristles are then wrapped about the carrier and in the grooves. Subsequently, the tips of the ribs defining the grooves are deformed to overlie and retain the bristles in the grooves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2001
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Inventors: Wei Tong, Zhang-Qing Zhuo
  • Publication number: 20020190474
    Abstract: A plurality of packing ring segments are provided in a stationary component and about a rotating shaft. Each packing ring segment includes a brush seal insert and a plurality of labyrinth seal teeth along a concave sealing face thereof. Each segment is formed of a pair of components which, in assembly, have a split line through a slot receiving the brush seal insert. The brush seal insert includes a pair of narrow strips or rods welded to outer ends of the bristle pack and is bendable to a range of diameters. By forming forward and backing surfaces defining the slot integral with the components, the width of the bristle slot and the gap between the bristle pack and the forward surface can be readily manufactured and obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2001
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Inventors: Norman Arnold Turnquist, Frederick George Baily, Mark Edward Burnett
  • Patent number: 6471212
    Abstract: In a brush seal for sealing off the gap between a rotating and a stationary component, a plurality of radially inwardly running, elastically flexible brushes are held at one end in a basic body seated in a first of the components. They bear sealingly at the other end on the annular other component. The brushes bear, over their predominant longitudinal extent, on a guide plate. Both the basic body and the guide plate are seated in a groove of one of the components. The basic body and the guide plate are held in their mutual position by means of a wire mortised into the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Alstom
    Inventors: Olaf Dierker, Harald Römer, Heinrich Roth
  • Patent number: 6471213
    Abstract: A seal ring separating surface for a gas turbine, which sets a shape of an end portion in the separation surface to a cutting surface and reduces the leaking amount of sealing air. A seal ring holding ring (1) fixes brush seals (3, 4) on an upstream side of a stationary blade by bolts (5, 6) respectively, so as to form a seal with respect to a rotor disc (69). Further, the seal ring holding ring (1) fixes and supports a seal ring (2) on a downstream side by a bolt (7) so as to form a seal with respect to a seal portion (8) on the disc (69) side. The brush seals (3, 4) and the seal ring (2) are structured so as to have a circular ring shape and a separation construction, and each of the separation pieces has a gap, so that sealing air can leak to a downstream side from an upstream side through the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanori Yuri, Toshishige Ai
  • Patent number: 6464230
    Abstract: A flexible magnetic brush seal is employed as a low flow fluid film seal and/or a diffusion and mass transfer prevention seal in a hydrogen generator to seal between a hydrogen atmosphere and a fluid on an opposite side of the seal. The brush seal is formed of a magnetic rubber flexible material, enabling the seal to be flexed and altered in dimension to fit a number of different sealing environments of different dimensions. The magnetic properties of the brush seal enable temporary securement of the brush seal to a brush seal holder prior to final securement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Wei Tong, Robert Russell Mayer, Mahmut Faruk Aksit
  • Patent number: 6460857
    Abstract: A brush seal segment includes a plurality of bristles disposed between a pair of backing plates. The bristles are welded to one another adjacent their proximal ends and to the edges of the backing plates remote from the bristle tips. An end plate is welded to the end faces of the backing plates at each of the opposite ends of the segment. Each end plate terminates at approximately one-half the length of the bristles along the end face to prevent the bristles from bending circumferentially and axially during handling while maintaining substantially uniform flexibility of the bristles throughout the entire length of the segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Norman Arnold Turnquist, Frederick George Baily, Christopher Edward Wolfe
  • Publication number: 20020140174
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a brush seal device for shutting off a gap between splitting surfaces so as to prevent sealed fluid from leaking out from the gap. Each of the splitting surfaces is composed of splitting direction-extending surfaces that extend in such a direction as to split split-body parts and a longitudinal surface that extends in the longitudinal direction of the split-body parts and that forms a step-like surface interposed between the splitting direction-extending surfaces. Shutoff means for sealing the gap between the splitting direction-extending surfaces so as to prevent leakage of sealed fluid is provided in the gap between the splitting direction-extending surfaces that are combined with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2002
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Applicant: EAGLE ENGINEERING AEROSPACE CO., LTD
    Inventor: Toru Kono
  • Publication number: 20020140175
    Abstract: A brush seal device is mounted to one of two parts that move relative to each other with a gap therebetween, and seals the gap between the parts. Even when a brush seal abuts on the other part, it is deformed accordingly. As a result, wear of the brush seal is prevented. The brush seal device includes: a brush seal formed from bristles arranged into a wall shape, and including an attachment portion formed by connecting the bristles together at one end, and a free end face facing an opposing surface of the other part; a back plate connected to the attachment portion of the brush seal, and including a support surface for supporting a side surface of the brush seal; and a retaining plate for retaining the attachment portion of the brush seal between the retaining plate and the back plate. The support surface of the back plate and an opposing surface of the brush seal are disposed at a distance from each other. The bristle of the brush seal has a diameter of 0.15 mm to 0.008 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2002
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Applicant: EAGLE ENGINEERING AEROSPACE CO., LTD
    Inventor: Toru Kono
  • Publication number: 20020140176
    Abstract: A seal is provided at the intersegments of hydrogen seal rings for preventing oil leakage through this potential gap between the seal ring segments. By minimizing leakage through the gaps between the open rings, hydrogen consumption in hydrogen-cooled generators due to leakage oil is reduced. In a preferred embodiment, the seal is provided by a brush seal secured to one of the seal ring segments and received in a slot defined in the other of the seal ring segments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2002
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Wei Tong
  • Patent number: 6457719
    Abstract: According to the present invention, a brush seal is provided having a side plate, a back plate, and a bristle pack disposed between the side plate and the back plate. The side plate is in contact with an upstream surface of the bristle pack. The back plate is in contact with a downstream surface of the bristle pack. The back plate includes a plurality of apertures positioned to provide a gas path through the back plate for gas exiting the bristle pack. In some embodiments, the back plate further includes an exit channel disposed in the back plate surface contiguous with the bristle pack, aligned with the apertures. In some embodiments, the radial length of the side plate in contact with the bristle pack is less than the radial length of the back plate in contact with the bristle pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: James Fellenstein, Sean P. McCutchan, James Hyland, Keven G. Van Duyn
  • Publication number: 20020130469
    Abstract: The present invention aims at making it possible to removably take out only a brush seal from a brush seal device if the brush seal has been abraded or if there occurs a change in design specification, and to attach another brush seal to the brush seal device precisely. Amounting portion is formed in bristles. The mounting portion is removably attached to a pair of connecting portions of a combinational unit, to which the mounting portion is securely fitted. The combinational unit is fastened by a removable coupling means. Thus, the combinational unit and the brush seal are assembled in a removable manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2002
    Publication date: September 19, 2002
    Applicant: EAGLE ENGINEERING AEROSPACE CO., LTD
    Inventor: Toru Kono
  • Publication number: 20020117806
    Abstract: A seal assembly which, among other applications, may be used for sealing fluid leakage between a steam or combustion (gas) turbine rotor and a turbine stator body. The seal assembly includes elements having a plurality of spaced seal members with slots therebetween. Each seal member is angled between a fixed end and a free end thereof, and the free ends slidably engage the rotatable component. The elements may be juxtaposed such that seal members of each element block slots of another element. A method of inhibiting fluid flow and a method of fabricating the seal assembly are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2001
    Publication date: August 29, 2002
    Inventor: Clayton M. Grondahl
  • Patent number: 6435514
    Abstract: The positions of brush seal segments are positively adjusted relative to a housing carrying the brush seal segments and the opposing sealing component by employing members formed of thermally responsive material. The members are heated by heating elements receiving controlled power. By increasing or decreasing the power provided to the heating elements, the members are expanded or contracted to move the brush seal segments toward or away from the opposing sealing component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mahmut Faruk Aksit, Osman Saim Dinc, Raymond Edward Chupp, Ming Zhou
  • Patent number: 6435513
    Abstract: A brush seal is comprised of arcuate seal segments having ends cut in a radial direction with bristles “canted” at an approximate 45° angle relative to radii of the segments, leaving triangular regions adjacent one end of each segment devoid of bristles at the segment interfaces. The brush seals are retrofit into conventional labyrinth seals with the backing plate for the bristles comprising a labyrinth tooth profile extending fully 360° about the seal, including those areas where bristles are not present. The sealing capacity is not substantially degraded, while affording significant sealing improvements over conventional labyrinth seals. Additionally, when retrofit into labyrinth seals with radial movement, the individual labyrinth seal segments are free to move radially independently of one another during transients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David Robert Skinner, Bharat S. Bagepalli, Robert Harold Cromer, Osman Saim Dinc, Norman Arnold Turnquist, Christopher Edward Wolfe
  • Patent number: 6431550
    Abstract: A seal is provided at the intersegments of hydrogen seal rings for preventing oil leakage through this potential gap between the seal ring segments. By minimizing leakage through the gaps between the open rings, hydrogen consumption in hydrogen-cooled generators due to leakage oil is reduced. In a preferred embodiment, the seal is provided by a brush seal secured to one of the seal ring segments and received in a slot defined in the other of the seal ring segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Wei Tong
  • Publication number: 20020105146
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a shaft seal which reduces the leakage of gas from the high pressure side to the low pressure side, and has excellent corrosion-resistance, and a gas turbine which is equipped with the shaft seal; in order to achieve the object, the present invention provide a shaft seal comprising a plurality of flexible thin plates having width in the axial direction of a rotary shaft, tips thereof sliding against a peripheral face of said rotary shaft, and outer peripheral bases thereof being secured to a casing side maintaining a gap therebetween, said thin plates being laminated in the peripheral direction of said rotary shaft, enabling the outer periphery of said rotary shaft to be sealed, an acute angle being formed between the thin plates and the peripheral face of said rotary shaft; and a low pressure side side-plate and a high pressure side side-plate which are provided on both sides of said thin plates in the axial direction of said rotary shaft, wherein it further c
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2001
    Publication date: August 8, 2002
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Hidekazu Uehara, Tanehiro Shinohara, Kouichi Akagi, Masanori Yuri