Abstract: Embodiments of a gas turbine engine including a finger-foil seal are provided, as are embodiments of a finger-foil seal. In one embodiment, the finger-foil seal includes an aerodynamic foil having a generally annular body through which a first opening is formed. A finger seal retention structure is disposed around the aerodynamic foil. A finger seal backing spring is coupled to the finger seal retention structure and extends radially inward therefrom to contact an outer circumference of the aerodynamic foil. A first anti-rotation pin extends radially from the finger seal retention structure and into the first opening formed in the aerodynamic foil to inhibit rotation of the aerodynamic foil during operation of the finger-foil seal.

Abstract: A floating brush seal in a rim cavity of a turbine in a gas turbine engine, where the floating brush seal includes a seal holder in which the floating brush seal floats, and a expandable seal that fits within two radial extending seal slots that maintains a seal with radial displacement of the floating brush seal and the seal holder.

Abstract: A sealing arrangement (100) in an axial turbomachine between, on the one hand, a rotor (1) and, on the other hand, a stator (3) and/or a housing, including a support device (7, 7?) and a sealing element, whereby the support device (7, 7?) extends essentially in the radial direction (r). In the axial direction (u) of the turbomachine, the support device (7, 7?) has an axial contour that effectuates a stiffening effect for the support device (7, 7?).

Abstract: A sealing system for a centrifugal compressor includes a stator having a seal, a seal disposed in the seal housing and having an abradable portion along an inner circumference, a rotor having a plurality of rotor teeth configured to rotate within the inner circumference of the seal and configured to create rub grooves within the abradable portion, and a first spring disposed between the stator and the seal and configured to facilitate axial movement of the seal relative to the seal housing.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus (10) for securing sealing elements (12, 14) in a recess (16), more particularly in an installation slot in a turbomachine, having at least one sealing support element (18) comprising at least one sealing element (12, 14). At least one fixing piece (20) is fitted between the sealing support element (18) and a clamping piece (22) associated with the sealing support element (18), and the fixing piece (20) is integrally joined to the sealing support element (18) and the clamping piece (22) by strut-like connections (24) that can be broken by the application of force. The invention also relates to a securing method and to a method for manufacturing the claimed apparatus (10).

Abstract: A leaf seal for effecting a seal between two, coaxial, relatively rotating components. The leaf seal has an annular pack of stacked leaves. The pack is mountable to a first one of the components with interleaf gaps formed between working portions of neighbouring leaves. The leaves extend towards the other component such that end edges of leaf working portions are presented for wiping contact with the other component. At least adjacent its end leaf edge, each leaf has a rear section at or adjacent the low pressure side of the pack and a front section which extends from the rear section to the high pressure side of the pack. The rear sections of the leaves are thicker than their respective front sections to reduce the interleaf gaps at the rear sections such that most of the pressure drop across the pack is over the rear sections.

Abstract: A seal assembly between a rotor and a stator is disclosed. In one embodiment, the seal assembly includes: a rotor; a stator positioned around the rotor; and a plurality of seal leaves positioned between the rotor and the stator, the plurality of seal leaves circumferentially stacked around the rotor to define a seal ring between the rotor and the stator, wherein gaps between adjacent seal leaves are partially filled, such that contact faces and residual gaps are between adjacent seal leaves, wherein the contact faces generate friction to dampen vibrations during operation. Such damping effects still allow the compliant motion of the seal leaves with minimal leaf vibration. Also, thicker and more resilient leaves may be applied with reduced leakage through the root gaps.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide a brush seal device capable of following displacement in a radial direction of a rotational shaft appropriately. The brush seal device prevents leakage of process fluid, wear of a brush seal etc., and leakage of process fluid from an outer circumferential side. The brush seal device 100 of the present invention includes an inner circumferential brush seal 120 and an outer circumferential brush seal 140. The inner circumferential brush seal 120 has a brush portion 123 and a free end portion 125 at the inner circumferential side. The outer circumferential brush seal 140 is placed at an outer circumferential side of the inner circumferential brush seal 120, and has a brush portion 143 and a free end portion 145 at the inner circumferential side.

Abstract: A leaf seal for effecting a seal between coaxials and relatively rotating components. The seal has annular pack of stacked leaves, the pack mountable to first one of components at leaves root portions and extending towards other component end edges of leaves presented for air-riding interaction with other component during relative rotation between components. In use, pressure drop is maintained axially across the pack, which includes first set of leaves arranged around the pack, each to present an end edge at least part in relationship with other component. The pack includes second set of leaves circumferentially interspersed throughout the first set. The first and second sets, leaves help define, around the pack, circumferential spaces between end edges of first set's successive leaves, the spaces create circumferential variation in pressure around the pack contributing to the generation of hydrodynamic lift between pack and other component during relative rotation between components.

Abstract: The seal comprises a casing made of two portions (1, 2) crimped into one another with an accurate hermetic position adjustment at interfaces (15, 6b) and a composite structure comprising inside the casing an advantageously flexible and resilient core (24) and a winding (20) of brush bristles. This structure directly extends facing internal faces (9, 10) facing each other in the casing, which compresses the same and has an arcuate shape having a slightly higher radius of curvature. The composite structure is held at an accurate position, firmly but free of constraint.

Abstract: This application describes a leaf seal arrangement, including: a first component having a high pressure area and a low pressure area therein; a second component which passes from the high pressure area to the low pressure area; a leaf seal having an array of leaf elements between the high and low pressure areas, each leaf element having a fixed end and a free end, wherein the fixed end is attached to the first component and the free end defines a sealing surface through which the second component sealably passes, a sealing gap therebetween, and wherein the sealing gap generally converges from the high pressure area toward the lower pressure area. Also described is a method of providing a leaf seal.

Abstract: A shaft sealing device is provided in an annular space between a rotor and a stator surrounding an outer periphery of the rotor, and divides the annular space in the direction of an axis of the rotor into a high-pressure region and a low-pressure region. The shaft sealing device includes a seal body obtained by stacking a plurality of thin plate sealing pieces in a circumferential direction of the rotor; and a high-pressure side plate that extends from the stator toward the radial inner side so as to run along the high-pressure side of the seal body, and is segmented into a plurality of portions in the circumferential direction, and includes a rigidity imparting member configured to impart rigidity in the direction of the axis to a portion of the surface of the high-pressure side plate that faces the high-pressure region.

Abstract: A shaft sealing apparatus is installed in an annular space between a rotor and a stator in a rotating machine and divides the annular space into a low-pressure side region and a high-pressure side region in an axial direction of the rotor. The shaft sealing apparatus includes a seal body formed by stacking a plurality of thin seal pieces, which extend from the stator toward a radial inner side of the rotor, in a circumferential direction of the rotor, and lateral plates having a surface facing the axial direction and curved and extending in a circumferential direction of the annular space. The seal body is welded to the surfaces of the lateral plates which face the axial direction so that the seal body follows a curved shape of the lateral plates.

Abstract: A quick change brush holder of a brush seal having a plurality of spaced apart deflectable brush retaining arrangements that include a tab that is bent into a brush receiving channel toward a brush engaging or retaining position to releasably retain a brush in the channel and that is bent away from the brush engaging or retaining position when it is desired to remove the brush or install a brush in the holder. Each tab has a brush abutment edge that abuts or stops a shoulder of a tape or spine of a brush in the channel preventing removal from the holder when disposed in a brush engaging or retaining position. The brush abutting edge extends generally parallel to the channel enabling a brush to be inserted transversely relative to a lengthwise extent of the holder tape or spine first into the holder.

Abstract: A leaf seal is provided for effecting a seal between two, coaxial, relatively rotating components. The leaf seal has an annular pack of stacked leaves. The pack is mountable to a first one of the components at root portions of the leaves and extends towards the other component such that end edges of the leaves are presented for wiping contact with the other component and, in use, a pressure drop is maintained axially across the pack. The leaf seal has a coverplate at the high or the low pressure side of the pack covering a portion of the radial extent of the pack. Some or all of the leaves have respective abutment formations. Each abutment formation is arranged to abut the coverplate at a stop portion upon radial deflection of the leaf by a predetermined amount to prevent further radial deflection beyond that amount.

Abstract: An axial seal structure includes a high-pressure-side regulating member configured to regulate the flow of a fluid from a high-pressure-side region to multiple thin sheet seal pieces arranged with a minute gap between each of the multiple thin sheet seal pieces in a circumferential direction along a high pressure side of the multiple thin sheet seal pieces and along an outer peripheral surface of a rotating shaft. The high-pressure-side regulating member has multiple wires that are flexible. Respective longitudinal directions of the multiple wires are directed towards a direction having a radial component of the rotating shaft. Tips that are radial inner ends of the wires form free ends, and are in close proximity to or in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the rotating shaft. The wires that are adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction come into contact with each other partially in the longitudinal directions.

Abstract: A leaf seal has a pair of annular packs of stacked leaves. Each pack is mountable to one of the components with its leaves extending towards the other component such that the leaf edges of at least one of the packs are presented for wiping contact with the other component. The packs are axially spaced from each other by a controlled axial clearance. Within each pack the leaves are stacked face-to-face such that neighboring leaves are separated from each other by interleaf gaps which allow an axial leakage flow through the seal. Further, within each pack the packs are positioned such that, when viewed in the axial direction, the leaves of each pack of the pair substantially obscure the interleaf gaps of the other pack of the pair. The controlled axial clearance is the dominant flow restriction in the seal determining the amount of leakage flow through the seal.

Abstract: A leaf seal is provided for effecting a seal between two coaxial, relatively rotating components. The leaf seal has an annular pack of leaves which are stacked face-to-face within the pack, and which are mountable to one of the components at respective root portions of the leaves such that the leaves extend towards the other component and respective edges of the leaves are presented for wiping contact with the other component. The pack includes a plurality of spacers, each spacer separating the root portions of neighboring leaves to form therebetween interleaf gaps which allow an axial leakage flow through the pack. The spacers are distributed around the pack such that the leaves are divided into blocks of two or more leaves sandwiched at their root portions between nearest-neighbor spacers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a brush seal for a turbomachine, having a support (1) that has a recess (2), in which a spring element (3) is clamped axially, which fastens a brush element (4), the spring element being axially locked at an undercut (2.1) in the recess.

Abstract: The invention relates to a brush seal (10), in particular for the sealing of gaps occurring in turbomachines, including a plurality of individual fibers (12), individual wires or bundles (14) of individual fibers or wires, wherein, in each case, at least two individual fibers (12) or wires, and/or at least two fiber bundles (14) or wire bundles are braided or twisted into a fiber or wire package (16). In addition, the invention relates to a method for producing a brush seal (10).

Abstract: A sealing arrangement (100) in an axial turbomachine between, on the one hand, a rotor (1) and, on the other hand, a stator (3) and/or a housing, including a support device (7, 7?) and a sealing element, whereby the support device (7, 7?) extends essentially in the radial direction (r). In the axial direction (u) of the turbomachine, the support device (7, 7?) has an axial contour that effectuates a stiffening effect for the support device (7, 7?).

Abstract: A system for operating a turbine includes a rotating component and a non-rotating component separated from the rotating component by a clearance. A first actuator is connected to the non-rotating component, and the first actuator comprises a shape-memory alloy. A method for operating a turbine includes sensing a parameter reflective of a clearance between a non-rotating component and a rotating component and generating a parameter signal reflective of the clearance. The method further includes generating a control signal to at least one actuator based on the parameter signal and moving at least a portion of the non-rotating component relative to the rotating component to change the clearance.

Abstract: There is disclosed a leaf seal (131) for effecting a seal between first (134) and second 1) coaxial components arranged for relative rotation about a common axis. The seal is particularly suited for use in a gas turbine engine, and has: an annular pack (50) of stacked leaves (132) mountable to said first component (134) at root portions (140) of the leaves distal to the second component (51) and extending towards the second component (51) such that end edges(136) of the leaves (132) are proximal to the second component (51); and a plurality of seal elements (52) which cooperate to define an annulus extending around a surface (137) of the second component (51). Each seal element (52): forms a sector of the annulus; is mounted to the leaf pack (50) at the end edges (136) of a respective group of said leaves (132); and defines a respective seal surface (53) which is presented for interaction with said surface (137) of the second component (51) during relative rotation between the components.

Abstract: A partial seal platform for mounting a seal and securing seal to a rotor or a casing including a first arcuate securing segment with a first securing notch for receiving a first securing ridge of rotor or casing; a second arcuate securing segment with a second securing notch for receiving a second securing ridge of rotor or casing; an arcuate coupling segment with a first flat ridge forming a first and second lateral notch on each side of the first flat ridge for receiving the first arcuate securing segment and the second arcuate securing segment; and an arcuate mounting segment including a second flat ridge forming a lateral notch on each side of second flat ridge for receiving first arcuate securing segment and second arcuate securing segment.

Abstract: A brush seal includes a bristle part formed by multiple bristles attached to a stationary part between the stationary part and a rotational part that undergo relative motion by maintaining a space in between and a back plate to restrict the movement of the bristle part. Such brush seal for sealing a fluid between the stationary part and the rotational part includes the bristle part formed by the multiple bristles such that the multiple bristles arranged in a direction of pressure difference between the high-pressure side and the low-pressure side are mutually fixed between a base end and a free end to form planar bristles, and these planar bristles are arranged continuously in layers in a circumferential direction to form a circular bristle part, wherein circumferential grooves are formed on the sliding surface of the bristle part on its free end side.

Abstract: A brush seal includes a bristle part formed by multiple bristles attached to a stationary part between the stationary part and a rotational part that undergo relative motion by maintaining a space in between; and a back plate attached adjacent to the bristle part on its low-pressure side to restrict the movement of the bristle part. The brush seal for sealing a fluid between the stationary part and rotational part is characterized in that the bristle part is formed by the multiple bristles such that the multiple bristles arranged in a direction of fluid are mutually fixed between a base end and a free end to form planar bristles arranged continuously in layers in a circumferential direction to form the bristle part.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a brush seal assembly comprising, bending a first plate member to a helical shape, bending a second plate member to a helical shape, securing the first plate member to a drum, winding a wire material around the drum and the first plate member, securing the second plate member to the drum, attaching the second plate member and the first plate member to the wire, and cutting the wire to define a bristle length.

Abstract: A leaf seal is proposed for effecting a seal between two coaxial and relatively rotating components. The seal has an annular pack of stacked leaves, the pack being mountable to a first one of the components at root portions of the leaves and extending towards the other component such that end edges of the leaves cooperate to define a seal surface of the pack which is presented for air-riding interaction with a surface of the other component during relative rotation between the components such that, in use, a pressure drop is maintained axially across the pack. The seal surface of the pack incorporates a plurality of hydrodynamic lift-generating recesses spaced circumferentially around the pack. Each said recess extends circumferentially across a plurality of adjacent leaves in the pack, each of which leaves being spaced radially from said surface of the other component along at least part of its end edge.

Abstract: This application describes a leaf seal arrangement, including: a first component having a high pressure area and a low pressure area therein; a second component which passes from the high pressure area to the low pressure area; a leaf seal having an array of leaf elements between the high and low pressure areas, each leaf element having a fixed end and a free end, wherein the fixed end is attached to the first component and the free end defines a sealing surface through which the second component sealably passes, a sealing gap therebetween, and wherein the sealing gap generally converges from the high pressure area toward the lower pressure area. Also described is a method of providing a leaf seal.

Abstract: Described is a brush seal for sealing between a first component and a second component which relatively rotate during normal use, comprising: an annular housing which is attached to a first component in use; a plurality of bristles each having a fixed end attached to the housing and a free end, wherein the free ends of at least some of the plurality of bristles contact the second component during normal use to provide a sealing surface, wherein the sealing surface includes a plurality of discontinuities around the circumference of the brush seal for providing hydrodynamic lifting force in use.

Abstract: A brush seal and brush seal segment for use in a rotary device are provided. In one embodiment, the invention provides a brush seal comprising: a plurality of brush seal segments, each segment including: an arcuate fence; an arcuate backplate substantially circumferentially coextensive with the arcuate fence, the arcuate backplate including a first end and a second end; and a plurality of brush seal bristles between the arcuate backplate and the arcuate fence, the plurality of brush seal bristles being angled with respect to a radial axis of the arcuate backplate and at least one of the first end and the second end of the arcuate backplate; and a static member to which at least one of the plurality of brush seal segments is affixed.

Abstract: The present application provides an axially retractable seal system positioned within a seal slot of a stationary component and adjacent to a rotating component. The axially retractable seal system may include a seal with an upper flange positioned within the seal slot and one more bristles extending towards the rotating component and a spring positioned axially between the upper flange of seal and the seal slot such that the seal is forced into a retracted position.

Abstract: The invention concerns a system for providing a seal between two volumes (V1, V2) delimited by a part (2A) mounted to rotate about an axis (A) and a stator (6), said system (S) including an annular brush seal (7) that comprises: a brush body (8) pivotally mounted in the stator; and fibers (10) fixed to the brush body and inclined at an angle ? relative to a plane (P) orthogonal to the rotation axis (A), wherein it includes means (11, 12) for adjusting the angle ? of the fibers (10) so as to be able to adjust precisely the clearance between the free end (10A) of the fibers and the rotary part (2A).

Abstract: It comprises a first member with a plate attached and substantially covering at least one portion of a second member (20), both members being rotatable relative to each other and defining a tortuous way, and it further comprises a brush sealing attached to the first member and resting on a siding plate in the second member such that an inner gap formed between said first and second members is sealed. A flexible member may be provided between the brush sealing and the first member for joining them in a flexible way.

Abstract: A process is provided for forming a leaf-spacer pair for use in a leaf seal which effects a seal between two components. The process includes the steps of: (a) providing a leaf section which maintains, in the leaf seal, wiping contact with one of the components, and a root section from which the leaf section extends and which, in the leaf seal, is fixed relative to the other component, the leaf section and the root section being formed from a first sheet of material of substantially uniform thickness; (b) providing a spacer formed from a second sheet of material, the spacer being physically separate from the leaf section and the root section; and (c) fastening the spacer to the root section to form a leaf-spacer pair in which the spacer overlays the root section and remains fixed relative thereto on handling of the leaf-spacer pair.

Abstract: A brush seal including a bristle pack mounted in a holder, and having a free end for sealing with a member, a front plate for lying on a high pressure side of the seal and extending part way along the length of the bristle pack to a free end being spaced from the bristle pack characterised in that the front plate is formed for or carries a formation for reducing the influence of swirling fluid on the high pressure side on the bristle pack.

Abstract: A shaft sealing device is provided in an annular space between a rotor and a stator surrounding an outer periphery of the rotor, and divides the annular space in the direction of an axis of the rotor into a high-pressure region and a low-pressure region. The shaft sealing device includes a seal body obtained by stacking a plurality of thin plate sealing pieces in a circumferential direction of the rotor; and a high-pressure side plate that extends from the stator toward the radial inner side so as to run along the high-pressure side of the seal body, and is segmented into a plurality of portions in the circumferential direction, and includes a rigidity imparting member configured to impart rigidity in the direction of the axis to a portion of the surface of the high-pressure side plate that faces the high-pressure region.

Abstract: A front plate and brush seal assembly for providing a seal between a high pressure area and a low pressure area. An embodiment of a front plate includes a front plate body. The front plate body includes an inner peripheral edge and an outer peripheral edge. A plurality of cuts or slots are provided in the front plate body and extend from the outer peripheral edge of the front plate body toward the inner peripheral edge of the front plate body, such that the plurality of cuts or slots do not extend to the inner peripheral edge, and the plurality of cuts or slots define a plurality of fingers in the front plate body. In an embodiment of a brush seal assembly, the assembly includes a retaining plate that is connected to a front plate.

Abstract: A process is provided for manufacturing leaf seals for effecting seals between coaxial, relatively rotating components. Each leaf seal has an annular pack of leaves which are stacked face-to-face, and are mountable to one of the components at respective root portions of the leaves. The annular pack has a pack radius at the wiping contact edges which is matched within tolerance limits to the radius of the sealing surface. The process includes: determining production parameters for the production of a plurality of leaf seals, the parameters being determined such that at least a portion of the produced leaf seals will have pack radii which violate the tolerance limit; producing the leaf seals using the determined production parameters; and modifying the pack radii of the portion of the produced leaf seals which violate the tolerance limit such that the modified pack radii match the sealing surface within the tolerance limits.

Abstract: A forced oscillation radial seal is described for regenerative air preheaters which contain rotatable radial plates having upper and lower edges. The forced oscillation seal includes a base with a first portion attached to a lateral face of the plates adjacent the upper and lower edges, and a second free portion, with a pivot system having an axis attached to the second free portion, and a rigid sealing sheet with a first free portion, second portion, and central portion, the sealing sheet attached at its central portion to the pivot system. The forced oscillation seal includes a counterweight attached to the sealing sheet so the sealing sheet reassumes a vertical position after forming a seal with a sealing surface, and a plurality of springs in contact with the sealing sheet and base along the axis of the pivot system, which cooperate with the counterweights to force the seal to oscillate.

Abstract: The present application provides for a brush seal system for use about a rotor of a rotary machine. The brush seal system may include a number of brush seal segments, with each of the brush seal segments having a number of bristles, and one or more of the brush seal segments including an elliptical profile so as to vary a clearance between the brush seal segments and the rotor.

Abstract: A compliant plate seal manufacturing method is provided. The method includes assembling a plurality of compliant plates and a plurality of spacer shims into a weld fixture, thereby forming a leaf pack having a front and rear end and sides and a curvature, welding the sides of the leaf pack to hook plates on the weld fixture, removing a portion of the weld fixture, removing a portion of the hook plates and applying a radial flow plate to the leaf pack.

Abstract: A leaf seal assembly (20) for providing a seal between a first member and a second member (10), the leaf seal assembly comprising a plurality of leaf elements (22) and a first substantially planar cover plate (24a), the leaf elements being arranged in a pack, with a first edge of each leaf element being adjacent to the first cover plate, wherein each leaf element comprises a first shoulder (30a) in the first edge, the first shoulder being arranged so as to form a first gap (28a) between the first edge of each leaf element and the first cover plate over a portion of the first edge.

Abstract: A leaf seal assembly provides a fluidic seal between a first and second member and includes first and second cover plates defining a channel, with a first and second edge, respectively. A plurality of leaf elements are located within the channel, each element having first and second edges adjacent to the first and second cover plates, respectively and a projecting portion of each element extends beyond both edges. A fluid flow in a first direction causes the leaf elements to move away from the first member to create a fluid passage between the elements and the member, allowing a flow through the seal in the first direction; and a fluid flow in a second direction causes the leaf elements to move towards the first member such that a third edge of the projecting portion of each element contacts the member, opposing the flow through the seal in the second direction.

Abstract: A seal assembly for a regenerative heat exchanger can include a primary sealing member with a mounting base and a flexible contact portion that defines a first distance between a proximal edge of the mounting base and a contact edge of the flexible contact portion, the first distance being generally constant along the length of the primary sealing member. The seal assembly can also include a second member with a mounting portion and a cantilevered portion that defines a second distance between a proximal edge of the mounting portion and a distal edge of the cantilevered portion, the second distance being generally constant along the length of the second member. The first distance is greater than the second distance by a predetermined amount so as to limit the preload flexure of the flexible contact portion against a sector plate of the heat exchanger when the seal assembly is installed in the regenerative heat exchanger.

Abstract: A first process is provided for forming a stack of leaves for use in a leaf seal which effects a seal between two components. Corresponding processes are provided for forming a leaf-spacer pair and then for forming a stack of leaves from such pairs. Each leaf of the stack has a leaf section which maintains wiping contact with one of the components and a root section which is fixed relative to the other component and from which the leaf section extends. The stack includes a plurality of spacers which interpose between the root sections.

Abstract: A brush seal adapted to restrict a fluid flow through a gap between a first component and a second component, comprising: a body; a brush pack secured to the body; and a passage through the body for introducing a cooling flow to said gap. The passage has a first end that is exposed to the gap and a second end that is not exposed to the gap. The passage discharges a cooling flow to the brush seal, the cooling flow being discrete from the fluid flow.

Abstract: A brush seal assembly is disclosed that includes bristles arranged circumferentially about an axis to provide a bristle assembly. First and second plates are secured about the bristle assembly to provide a subassembly. A circumference of the subassembly is pressed into a retaining ring to provide the brush seal assembly. The circumference need not be machined. A perimeter weld is no longer needed to secure the first and second plates and bristle assembly to one another to provide the brush seal assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for sealing a channel fluidly connecting between a high pressure zone and a low pressure zone. The apparatus has at least two brush seal elements provided in the channel in series in a direction from the high pressure zone toward the low pressure zone to define an intermediate zone between the brush seal elements. The intermediate zone is fluidly connected to the low pressure zone through a bypass or passage, allowing a fluid in the intermediate zone to flow in part through the bypass to the low pressure zone.

Abstract: Provided is a seal member, which is used in a heating furnace having an insertion port to which an end of a rod to be heated is inserted and seals between the insertion port and a surface of the rod inserted to the insertion port in an airtight manner, the seal member having: a plurality of seal chips in thin strips arranged along an inner surface of the insertion port in an airtight manner, each seal chip having one end held by the inner surface of the insertion port and the other end elongated towards inside the insertion port, where (a) when the rod is not inserted in the insertion port, each of the plurality of seal chips forms a slanting angle with respect to an insertion direction of the rod and (b) when the rod is inserted in the insertion port, the other end of each of the plurality of seal chips is pressed against a surface of the rod by means of elastic deformation.