Abstract: A self-centering brush seal is disposed in an annular groove formed in a stationary component about a rotatable component, the stationary and rotatable components having a common axis. The brush seal includes a plurality of bristles projecting into sealing engagement with the rotating component. The brush seal has a radial clearance in the groove enabling the brush seal for free-floating radial excursions within the groove to maintain concentricity with the rotary component notwithstanding deviation of the axis of rotation of the rotating component relative to the axis of the fixed component. In another form, the brush seal comprises a plurality of arcuate segments having a helical coil spring biasing the segments for radial movement enabling the tips of the bristles to seal against the rotatable component. In a further embodiment, leaf springs bias each segment to maintain its bristles in engagement with the rotatable component.

Abstract: A brush-seal bristle assembly, a brush seal segment containing such assembly, and a rotary machine (such as a steam or gas turbine) containing such segment. The machine has a rotor, a stator casing, and the segment. The segment has a housing and the assembly. The assembly has bristles and a bristle holder. The fixed ends of the bristles are fixedly-attached to the bristle holder, the bristle holder is rotatably-attached to the housing, and the housing is positioned in a channel of the casing. In one example, a spring rotationally biases the bristle holder to a second position to avoid unwanted bristle-rotor contact during machine startup or shutdown. Then, fluid pressure generated by the machine during steady-state operation overcomes the spring bias and rotationally biases the bristle holder to a first position wherein the bristle free ends are closer to the rotor for proper sealing.

Abstract: A seal assembly and a rotary machine, such as a steam turbine, containing such seal. A stator circumferentially surrounds a row of rotor blades. The stator includes an upstream tooth-seal region, a downstream brush-seal region, and an intervening fluid expansion chamber all radially near the blade tips. Debris in the fluid stream is broken down into smaller particles by the tooth-seal region, and the smaller particles are slowed down by the fluid expansion chamber such that minimal damage is caused to the downstream bristles in the brush seal region.

Abstract: A brush seal includes a plurality of bristles in a circumferential array secured to a fixed component and about a rotary component. The bristles are cantilevered toward the rotary component at an angle to the radii of the rotary component with the bristle tips engaged against the rotary component. The bristles are supported by plates on opposite axial sides of the bristles. The plates have channels for directing fluid under pressure into the channels and against the bristles to deflect or bend the bristles toward the rotary component so that the tips of the bristles bear against the surface of the rotary component, enhancing the seal.

Abstract: Brush seals are retrofitted into existing turbine labyrinth seal rings to create a fail-safe seal design at locations wherever labyrinth seals are currently used, including interstage shaft seals, rotor end seals, bucket (or blade) tip seals and spill strips. Brush seals, per se, when used in place of labyrinth seals, can result in considerable span reductions of steam turbines, or machines with more turbine stages for a given span. Application to end packings results in the potential elimination of gland sealing/exhauster systems. Brush seal life can be improved by retrofitting brush segments to labyrinth seal segments that are either spring-backed, or use pressure loads to obtain design clearances only after steady state operating conditions are achieved. The brush seals are provided with backing plates shaped like labyrinth teeth, resulting in a fail-safe design.

Abstract: A brush seal is comprised of arcuate seal segments having ends cut in a radial direction with bristles "canted" at an approximate 45.degree. angle relative to radii of the segments, leaving triangular regions adjacent one end of each segment void of bristles at the junction of the segments. The brush seals are retrofit into conventional labyrinth seals with the backing plate for the bristles comprising a labyrinth tooth profile extending fully 360.degree. about the seal, including those areas where bristles are not present or only in the areas where bristles are not present. A support is provided at the juncture of the segments and to which support proximal ends of additional bristles are secured to project at an approximate 45.degree. angle relative to the segments at their juncture. Those additional bristles fill in the triangular region void of bristles when the support is secured to the end of the segment having the void whereby a full 360.degree. array of sealing bristles are provided.

Abstract: A process and arrangement for manufacturing brush-type seals having inclined bristles provides at least one ring-shaped brush-type seal having radially extending bristles of a length which, by way of the inclining of the bristles with respect to the radii of the ring-shaped brush-type seal leads at least essentially to the desired brush diameter; positions the at least one brush-type seal and at least one heatable annealing wall of an annealing device relative to one another so that the free bristle ends, while the bristles are bent, rest against the annealing wall, and simultaneously or subsequently rotating the at least one brush-type seal and at least the heatable annealing wall relative to one another until the bristles are inclined with respect to the radii of the ring-shaped brush-type seal in its ring plane by a definable angle; heats the annealing wall to a definable temperature; maintains the temperature of the heated annealing wall for a definable time period; and removes the at least one brush-type

Abstract: A brush seal is mounted between rotary and stationary components in a flow stream having solid particles. A gap is formed through the brush seal bristles and a deflector plate is disposed to catch and deflect solid particles on the upstream side of the brush seal to direct the particles through the gap to the downstream side of the brush seal. In this manner, the solid particles of the flow stream do not erode or otherwise deteriorate the brush seal bristles or ancillary parts of the brush seal. The deflector plates may be directed axially upstream, at an angle to a plane passing through the brush seal or may comprise an arcuate configuration directed upstream.

Abstract: A brush for sealing a gap between a rotor/stator system comprises a rotor-concentric clamping ring whose interior chamber receives bristle bundles that project into gap. The bundles are wrapped around core ring that extends into the interior of clamping ring. The core ring has separating disks that are spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction by an angular pitch .alpha., and by winding ribs that are wrapped by the bundles. The winding ribs connect adjacent separating disks in such fashion that as a result of the diagonal positioning of separating disks in the circumferential direction, bundles are aligned at an angle .beta. to radius R. This makes it possible to hold bristle bundles securely with a predetermined angular orientation.

Abstract: A brush seal segment useful, when circumferentially arrayed with other such segments, to seal the gap between a rotor and a surrounding casing of a rotary machine such as a steam turbine. An annular backing plate has a rim radially-inwardly bounding together upstream-facing and downstream-facing surfaces. Canted bristles abut the upstream-facing surface. The rim is designed to allow the bristles to recover from a rotor rub. In one design, the rim acts as a labyrinth-seal tooth and is shaped to deform, under a radial force, longitudinally away from the upstream-facing surface. In another design, the rim has a more-inwardly projecting second portion near a radially-aligned edge, and only this second portion acts as a labyrinth-seal tooth.

Abstract: A combined labyrinth/brush seal is provided in a seal between rotating and stationary components. The seal includes a plurality of arcuate sealing segments, each having one or more labyrinth teeth extending radially toward the surface of the rotating component. As original equipment or retrofit, a brush seal is provided among the labyrinth teeth in a slot formed in the sealing face of the seal segment. In one form, backing and/or forward plates for the brush seal have a tongue extending into an axially extending groove of the seal segments to prevent relative radial movement of the brush seal and seal ring segments. The end faces of the brush seal and seal ring segments may be bored and filled with weld material to prevent relative circumferential movement. Where a single radially extending slot is provided in the sealing ring segment, the brush seal may be stitch-welded to the seal ring segment along opposite sides of the brush seal.

Abstract: A brush seal is provided having the conventional 45.degree. bristle angle for part only of the seal length, the angle being varied through at least part of the remainder of the length, preferably finishing at 90.degree. at the ends of the seal. The seal may have the form of a semicircle with straight end-extensions, the bristle angle in the straight extensions being 90.degree.. Provision is also made to vary the length of the exposed part of the bristles so that, in areas where bristle density is high, the actual exposed length is reduced. In a method for manufacturing the seal, the bristle holder is made as a complete loop having two straight sections and two semicircular sections and the bristles are secured in the holder in accordance with the required variations in angle and exposed length such that two mirror-image seals exist on the two sides of a line joining the centerpoints of the straight sections, the holder then being divided into two along that line.

Abstract: A brush seal, which may be used in gas or steam turbine rotor applications, includes a packet of bristles attached to a seal housing. A seal member is slideably-attached to the seal housing, has a planar first surface portion parallel to, and slideably in contact with, a first surface of the seal housing, and has a planar second surface portion which is parallel to, and slideably in contact with, a first side of the bristle packet. A mechanical spring is positioned in compression between the seal housing and the seal member.

Abstract: Brush seal for sealing two spaces of differing pressure (P1, P2) between a stator (20) and a rotor (10) of a turbomachine. The bristles (30) of the brush seal comprise angled bristle sections (31), of which the ends run against the seal surface of the rotor (10). In this manner, a low bristle stiffness and a low required radial structural space can simultaneously be achieved.

Abstract: A combined labyrinth/brush seal is provided in a seal between rotating and stationary components. The seal includes a plurality of arcuate sealing segments, each having one or more labyrinth teeth extending radially toward the surface of the rotating component. As original equipment or retrofit, a brush seal is provided among the labyrinth teeth in a slot formed in the sealing face of the seal segment. In one form, backing and/or forward plates for the brush seal have a tongue extending into an axially extending groove of the seal segments to prevent relative radial movement of the brush seal and seal ring segments. The end faces of the brush seal and seal ring segments may be bored and filled with weld material to prevent relative circumferential movement. Where a single radially extending slot is provided in the sealing ring segment, the brush seal may be stitch-welded to the seal ring segment along opposite sides of the brush seal.

Abstract: A seal is provided between relatively moving parts 12, 14 and includes plural layers 24 of woven material such as metal, polymer or ceramic materials. The layers are secured to one another and to a first part 22 of the relatively moving first and second parts and extend freely from that first part into engagement with the second part. The woven material layers accommodate shape variations between the parts. In a further form, bristles 38 are disposed between layers of woven material and secured at one end to one part. The free ends of the bristles and the free marginal portion of the woven material project toward the second part in sealing engagement therewith.

Abstract: A brush seal includes a back plate against which an annular pack of bristles is disposed. A plurality of circumferentially overlapping shingle dampers engage in abutting contact the bristle pack for providing damping.

Abstract: A hybrid seal segment and a rotary machine (such as a steam or gas turbine) containing such hybrid seal segment. The machine has a rotor, a stator casing, and the hybrid seal segment. The annular hybrid seal segment has a circumferentially-extending channel between axially-spaced-apart first and second labyrinth-seal segments which are attached to a radially-outwardly located mounting block which is circumferentially offset from the labyrinth-seal segments. A brush-seal segment is positioned in the channel.

Abstract: A labyrinth brush seal combination for a rotating machine comprising an arcuate segment of predetermined axial extent carrying a plurality of axially spaced, circumferentially and radially extending tapered seal teeth, and at least one circumferentially extending array of discrete bristles carried by the segment at a predetermined axial location therealong and projecting beyond the radial extent of the teeth, the bristles having an elongated, flexible carrier strip slidably and removably received within a slot in the segment.

Abstract: A brush gasket for two co-operating components located opposite one another. The brush gasket has a carrier body for the brushes arranged on one of the two components to be sealed off relative to one another, for example, a stator and a rotor. The carrier body has a supporting wall for the brushes on the low-pressure side, in order to protect them against pressure-related deformation. On the second of the components, opposite the carrier body, there is an abrasion ring made of a material which is softer than the material of the brushes. The abrasion ring together with the brushes thus forms a gasket group.

Abstract: A hybrid floating brush seal (10) generally includes a brush (30) that encircles a rotating shaft (12). The brush (30) includes a bristle portion (32) that is carried by a holder (34). A self acting film device such as a spiral groove seal (52) is disposed adjacent to a back plate (36) of the holder (34). A collar (72) is disposed adjacent to a front plate (38) of the holder (34). A plurality of pins (70) and springs (76) act to bias the brush (30) away from the collar (72) towards the spiral groove seal (52). When the shaft (12) rotates, the spiral groove seal (52) creates a cushion of air between itself and the back plate (36) of the brush (30) thus forcing the brush (30) against the springs (76). Thus, the brush (30) constantly adjusts its position between the collar (72) and the spiral groove seal (52) while creating minimal friction.

Abstract: A brush seal is provided for sealing, with minimized leakage, a circumferential gap (S), for example between a rotor (1) and a stator (2) in a gas turbine engine. The brush seal includes a bristle housing (4) rigidly mounted on the stator or the rotor, and bristles (6) having fixed ends securely and durably held in the housing (4) and free ends protruding toward and into the annular gap (S). The housing (4) includes two holder disks (5A, 5B) with an interspace (Z) therebetween, wherein the interspace includes at least one of an axially directed first clamping portion (8) and a radially directed second clamping portion (10), and a widened non-clamping portion (7A, 7B). The fixed ends of the bristles are clampingly held in the first and second clamping portions, while the free ends of the bristles extend generally toward the opposite rotor or stator while being movably supported and guided by the widened non-clamping portion of the interspace (Z).

Abstract: A brush seal which, among other applications, may be used for sealing a steam leakage gap between the shrouded free end of steam-turbine buckets (blades) of a steam-turbine rotor and a circumferentially surrounding steam-turbine stator. In a first embodiment, the brush seal includes first and second bristle packets having, respectively, first and second bristles, wherein the second bristles are more abrasive than the first bristles. In a second embodiment, the brush seal includes a bristle packet having bristles which are more abrasive proximate their free ends than not proximate their free ends.

Abstract: A brush seal which, among other applications, may be used for sealing a steam leakage gap between a steam turbine rotor and a steam turbine casing. A brush seal backing plate has a surface which includes adjacent first and second areas. First and second bristle packets contact and generally cover, respectively, the first and second areas. A first anti-hysteresis plate is positioned between and contacts the first and second bristle packets, is aligned generally perpendicular to the backing plate, and is proximate and generally spaced apart from the backing plate. The anti-hysteresis plate restores the bristles which would otherwise become set in a non-sealing position against the backing plate because of transient events such as thermal differential growth or relative movement of the rotor and casing.

Abstract: A brush seal (1, 101) seals a circumferential gap (S.sub.1) between two relatively rotatable machine components (2, 102; 3, 103), such as the rotor or a shaft and a stator of a fluid flow machine, such as a gas turbine engine. A plurality of seal bristles (4, 104) are fixed in a bristle holder (5) in an annular shape, and are mounted on the stator (3, 103) so that the free bristle ends (7, 107) extend toward and provide a seal against a seal surface (9, 109) of the rotor (2, 102). Each bristle includes a middle body portion (4A) that is tilted at a first tilt angle (.alpha..sub.1) in the circumferential direction following the rotation direction, and the free bristle end (7, 107) is bent or angled relative to the tilted body portion (4A) so as to extend at a second tilt angle (.alpha..sub.2) which is smaller than the first tilt angle (.alpha..sub.1). Preferably, the first tilt angle (.alpha..sub.1) is in the range from 30.degree. to 60.degree., while the second tilt angle (.alpha..sub.

Abstract: A brush seal which, among other applications, may be used for sealing a steam leakage gap between the shrouded free end of steam-turbine buckets of a steam-turbine rotor and a circumferentially surrounding steam-turbine stator. In a first embodiment, an unflexed brush seal includes bristles having a generally straight first portion secured to a backing plate and a coextensive and generally straight second portion with a free end. The second portion makes a greater angle, than that of the first portion, with respect to a directed reference line. In a second embodiment, the first and second portions are curved, wherein a tangent line to the second portion makes a greater angle than a tangent line to the first portion.

Abstract: A brush seal (3) is provided to seal two differently pressurized spaces (R.sub.1, R.sub.2) on opposite sides of a rotor (1) cooperating with a stator (2), for example in a gas turbine engine, around a circumferential gap between the rotor (1) and the stator (2). The brush seal (3) includes seal bristles (5) having free ends extending annularly concentrically and parallel to a rotation axis of the rotor (1) and fixed ends received in a seal housing (6). A perimeter rim of the rotor (1) has an axis-concentric circumferential groove (7) therein, and the free ends of the seal bristles (5) reach into this circumferential groove (7). During operation of the rotor (1), fluid boundary layers are formed respectively between the seal bristles (5) and the side walls (9A, 9B) of the circumferential groove (7). The boundary layers (G.sub.I, G.sub.

Abstract: A brush seal device for sealing a high pressure area from a low pressure area. The brush seal device comprises a plurality of bristles arranged annularly. An annular back plate is positioned concentric to and on the low pressure side of the bristles, the back plate having a recess adapted to delay contact of the bristles with the back plate upon application of the pressure across the brush seal device. A flexible annular front plate is positioned adjacent to and concentric with the bristles on the high pressure side of the bristles. This combination of elements helps to reduce uneven wear of the bristles in a brush seal device and, therefore, helps to prolong the life of such a seal.

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 damper seal and method of sealing and damping a rotating shaft are disclosed. The damper seal includes a stator housing, a plurality of cavities, a first modulator for modulating the fluid flow into the cavities, and a second modulator for modulating the fluid flow exiting the cavities less than the fluid flow entering the cavities to provide improved damping and sealing.

Abstract: A device for oil-impermeably sealing a stationary hood (6) off from a rotating, tumbling barrel, containing at least one stationary packing cord (7) which is forced against a race (8) by a pre-stressed and compressed gasket (9). The race is part of the barrel and rotates along with it. A cap (10) is connected to the hood (6) and demarcates in conjunction with part of the hood's end wall a region of expansion for the packing cord (7) and the gasket (9).

Abstract: A brush seal assembly for effecting a seal between two relatively movable machine components has a carrier for moving on one component (12) and having two spaced rows (16 and 17) of bristles projecting towards the surface of the other component (11) to be sealed to said one component (12). Backing plates (18 and 19) are provided on the low pressure side of each row (17 and 18) of bristles respectively. The physical characteristics of the bristles of each row are selected to share the total pressure drop between the two rows of bristles, and preferably to be equally shared.