Brush Seal Patents (Class 277/355)
  • Publication number: 20110121517
    Abstract: A brush seal assembly including a pair of annular plates defining an annular slot between them and a radially outer chamber opening into the slot; and an annular brush seal having bristles and an enlarged portion at its outer periphery formed by welding the bristles together, the brush seal extending through the slot with its enlarged portion retained in the chamber wherein at least a portion of one of the plates has an extension thereof which is deformed over the other plate to hold the plates together to form the assembly characterised in that one of the plates has a flat face in the region of the slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Inventor: Peter Francis Crudgington
  • Patent number: 7938403
    Abstract: A circumferentially extending brush seal positioned between static and rotary components of a machine and, during operation of the machine, the brush seal having a higher pressure region at an upstream side and a lower pressure region at a downstream side. The brush seal may include a plurality of bristles forming a bristle pack carried by the static component and cantilevered toward the rotary component such that tips of at least some of the bristles engage the rotary component. The brush seal further may include a pressure plate and a bristle pack backing plate. The bristle backing plate may include a plurality of radially extending and circumferentially spaced slots opening through opposite sides thereof. The slots may be disposed on an inner radial edge and an outer radial edge of the bristle backing plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Vishwas K. Pandey, Bernard A. Couture, Jr., William E. Adis, Michael D. Mack, Xiaoqing Zheng, Hemant V. Gedam
  • Patent number: 7931276
    Abstract: A brush seal, comprising: a bristle arrangement with a plurality of bristles; and a joint securing the bristles together; plates flanking the bristle arrangement; and a feature on the plates to receive the joint. A brush seal, comprising: a plurality of bristles, each having a first end and an opposed second end; and plates receiving the bristles therebetween, each having a first end and a second end. The first ends of the bristles extend past the first end of the plates and the second ends of the bristles reside between the first and second ends of the plates. A method of repairing a brush seal, comprising the steps of: providing a brush seal having a bristle arrangement secured between plates; removing the bristle arrangement from the plates; providing a replacement bristle arrangement; and placing said replacement bristle arrangement between the plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: John A. Szymbor, Mark E. Addis
  • Publication number: 20110072831
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazuhiko TANIMURA
  • Patent number: 7909334
    Abstract: A sealing arrangement for a non-hermetic seal between a stator and a rotor includes a brush gasket having a plurality of bristles wound around a core element and affixed to the core element with a clamping element. The brush gasket is disposed at least partially in a receiving space delimited by a support element and by a cover element. The support element, the cover element, and the brush gasket are secured using at least one fitting element in at least one recess, especially in an axial groove or bore, in the stator. In addition to being positioned by using the at least one fitting element, the components may also be affixed to the stator using an attachment element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: MTU Aero Engines GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Beichl, Christoph Cernay, Alfons Gail, Erhan Ücgül
  • Patent number: 7909335
    Abstract: A seal arrangement for sealing the space between a rotating element and a stationary element, the sealing arrangement comprising a compliant plate seal housing supported adjustably in the stationary element, the compliant plate seal housing supporting a compliant plate seal; and a spring system provided between the compliant plate seal housing and the stationary element to bias the compliant plate seal housing in a direction away from a surface of the rotating element. Alternatively, or additionally, one or more actuators may be provided to move the compliant plate seal housing in a direction away from a surface of the rotating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Norman A. Turnquist, Frederick G. Baily, Bernard A. Couture, Jr., Jason P. Mortzheim, Sean D. Feeny, William E. Adis, Shorya Awtar, Nikhil K. Verma
  • Publication number: 20110049810
    Abstract: A brush seal usable in high temperature sealing applications having brush bristles and a sealing membrane of stress and deflection accommodating construction capable of longitudinal extensibility. Sealing membrane has one portion slidably overlapped with another portion. In one embodiment, membrane is folded over itself providing slidable overlapping in one direction and is formed of overlapping membrane sheets providing slidable overlapping in another direction. In another embodiment, membrane has spaced apart deformation regions providing longitudinal extensibility in accommodating stress and/or deflection. Membrane can be made of metallic foil having a thickness no greater than brush bristle width or diameter and is embeddable in bristles of the brush seal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Inventors: Roger Ferryman, Patrick Fitzgerald
  • Publication number: 20110018204
    Abstract: A brush seal and a method for mounting a brush seal is disclosed. The brush seal includes a sealing element provided with a plurality of filaments or wires that are joined at a filament or wire end to form a filament or wire bundle and a clamp-like sealing housing for receiving and fixing the filament or wire end between a first and a second limb and for fixing the brush seal in a mounting recess of a housing. A free end of the filament or wire bundle of the sealing element is clamped between a partial area of an inner contour of the second limb that is adjacent to a region of an outlet opening of the mounting recess of the housing and an area of the outlet opening that is opposite from the partial area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2009
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Applicant: MTU Aero Engines GmbH
    Inventor: Stefan Beichl
  • Patent number: 7862047
    Abstract: A brush seal for sealing off components movable relative to one another with respect to a pressure difference is disclosed. The brush seal having bristles which are arranged in a bristle housing which consists of two housing halves having free ends of legs which project into the area of the ends of the bristles, which legs carry mutually facing supporting surfaces for the bristles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: MTU Aero Engines GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Beichl, Carsten Butz, Christoph Cernay
  • Publication number: 20100327536
    Abstract: A brush seal and a method for mounting a brush seal is disclosed. The brush seal includes a sealing element provided with a plurality of filaments or wires that are joined at a filament or wire end to form a filament or wire bundle. The filament or wire end is arranged in a mounting recess of a housing. A free end of the filament or wire bundle protrudes from the housing and is opposite from the filament or wire end. At least one projection is formed on an inner contour of the mounting recess in such a manner that the filament or wire bundle is clamped by the projection at a predefined distance from the filament or wire end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2009
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: MTU Aero Engines GmbH
    Inventor: Stefan Beichl
  • Publication number: 20100327535
    Abstract: A fiber brush seal attached with metallic structure, suitable for use with SiC-SiC ceramic matrix composite (CMC) components. The fibers may be selected from oxides, carbides and nitrides of silicon, tungsten, chromium, iron, titanium, boron, zirconium and aluminum, and may optionally be coated with a boron nitride based coating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Christopher Grace, Mark Stewart Schroder, Paul Stephen Dimascio
  • Publication number: 20100327534
    Abstract: A magnetic brush seal system for use with a rotating component and a stationary component. The magnetic brush seal system may include a brush seal for engagement with the rotating component and a magnetic system positioned about the stationary component. The magnetic system may he in communication with the brush seal so as to retract the brush seal from the rotating component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Shridhar R. Powar, Shubhra Bhatnagar
  • Publication number: 20100320696
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sealing arrangement for a non-hermetic seal of a gap (11) between a stator and a rotor with a brush seal (13), wherein the brush seal (13) has a bristle package (14) with several bristles (15), the bristles are wound about a core element (16) and fixed to the core element (16), wherein the brush seal (13) is disposed at least sectionally in an accommodating space, which is bounded by a supporting element (18) and a covering element (19), and wherein the bristles (15) have sealing bristle sections (21), which are at an angle to the bristle shafts (20) and the ends of which run against a sealing surface (22) of the rotor (12). According to the invention, the covering element (19) has a support surface (23) at an end adjacent to the sealing bristle sections (21), wherein the supporting surface (23) contacts the bristle shafts (20) in a defined, locally limited region, so that the radial mobility of the sealing bristle sections (21) is limited in the direction of the rotor (12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2007
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: MTU AERO ENGINES GMBH
    Inventors: Alfons Gail, Wilhelm Gräbeldinger, Alexander Rauschmeier
  • Publication number: 20100320697
    Abstract: The present invention provides a leaf seal device which is available to assemble easily and to control and to set an inclination angle and a space of a sealing section. In the leaf seal device of the present invention, a connection holding section 21 of a sealing plate 12 is bent at a first bending section 22. Thereby, since laminated a plurality of sealing plates 12 are engaged sequentially at the first bending section 22, a radial direction is defined so as to become easily assemble. Also, according to inclining a face 24 at an inner circumferential side of the connection holding section 21, a pitch and a space of a sealing section 31 are changed. Therefore, the space of the sealing section can be controlled, if controlling a bend angle of the first bending section 22.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2009
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: EAGLE INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Toru KONO
  • Patent number: 7854584
    Abstract: A rotary machine includes a machine rotor, a bearing coupled to the machine rotor, a machine stator, and a sealing device disposed between the machine rotor and the machine stator. The sealing device includes a dry gas seal and first and second seals disposed between the dry gas seal and the bearing. One or both of the first and second seals includes a brush seal or more specifically a brush seal including a plurality of non-metallic fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Roderick Mark Lusted, Christopher Edward Wolfe, Eric John Ruggiero, Gabriele Mariotti
  • Patent number: 7832734
    Abstract: A seal arrangement for a turbo-engine, for sealing a peripheral gap between a rotor and a stator is provided. The stator a seal holder provided with at least one groove for respectively receiving a segmented, dynamic seal. Segments of the dynamic seal are made up of a plurality of brush seal segments, and free ends of bristles of the brush seal segments extend in the radial direction project from the respective groove and lie on the rotor. The or every groove for receiving the brush-type seal segments is designed without an undercut, the brush-type seal segments being received in the respective groove without an undercut in a positive manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: MTU Aero Engines GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Beichl, Alfons Gail
  • Patent number: 7827685
    Abstract: A seal and method of making seals utilises folds in order to form creases in a length of material such that the creases reinforce individual seal elements or surfaces whilst perforations or slots in a seal edge allow air leakage from one side of the seal element or surface to the other. Thus, air pressurisation can take place between spaced seal elements or surfaces and this allows air flotation or riding of a rotating component relative to a static housing component. The perforations are typically graduated from the seal edge in order to provide the best pressurisation and air-riding effect for proximity or gap control between the sealing edge and the rotating component surface. The slots effectively provide flexibility to the sealing edge such that the seal component emulates a brush seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventor: Alison J McMillan
  • Patent number: 7828297
    Abstract: A leaf seal for sealing a shaft rotating about an axis, in particular in a gas turbine, includes a plurality of spaced-apart leaves disposed in a concentric circle around the axis and fixed in position. Each of the leaves includes a surface oriented essentially parallel to the axis and an integrally formed element configured to position and retain the leaves in the leaf seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Matthias Hoebel, Nigel Anthony Rhodes, Ian James Summerside
  • Publication number: 20100276890
    Abstract: The invention relates to a multistage brush seal of a steam turbine, the brush seal comprising several brushes which in turn comprise several bristles. Conventional multistage brush seals have a conservative configuration because a precise prediction regarding the pressure difference of a single stage is not possible. The aim of the invention is therefore to provide a brush seal that allows a more precise prediction in respect of the pressure difference in a single stage or brush and thus provides a more precise dimensioning of the brush seal while achieve possible savings. The invention proposes that the adjacently arranged brushes have a varying configuration in respect of different parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2007
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Inventors: Matthias Neef, Norbert Sürken, Karl Urlichs
  • Publication number: 20100270747
    Abstract: The invention provides, in one aspect, a brush seal comprising brush seal bristles made up of component brush seal filaments. The component brush seal filaments comprise a polyether ketone comprising structural units derived from a diaryl ketone and a diphenolic compound and having a glass transition temperature in excess of 100° C. In a particular embodiment, the component brush seal filaments comprise PEEK. The novel brush seals provided by the present invention present a number of advantages over conventional non-metallic brush seals comprising KEVLAR filaments, such as enhanced friction characteristics and greater stability to fluid lubricants comprising groups reactive with the amide moieties present in aramid filaments such as KEVLAR.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Farshad Ghasripoor, Biao Fang, Eric John Ruggiero, Vasanth Srinivasa Kothnur
  • Patent number: 7785010
    Abstract: In order to provide a long-life, highly-reliable guide apparatus which exhibits dustproof performance and prevents intrusion of dust into the moving block in environments where there are lots of fine dust such as gypsum and ceramic powder and where no oil contents or oil contents are not liked, there is provided a guide apparatus having a track rail 11, in which rolling-element raceway grooves 12-1 to 12-4 are formed along a longitudinal direction thereof, and a moving block 20 attached to the track rail by way of a plurality of rolling elements in a relatively-movable manner, wherein an end-face dustproof brush 25, which has a brush member 36 whose tip end contacts a surface of the track rail 11 and which eliminates extraneous matters adhering to the surface of the track rail 11 by means of the brush member 36, is attached to outside of each of the side covers 22 with respect to the direction of relative movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: THK Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidekazu Michioka, Daisuke Yatsushiro, Tadashi Hirokawa, Yoshiaki Saito
  • Patent number: 7775527
    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: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Sulzer Pumpen AG
    Inventor: Paul Meuter
  • Publication number: 20100201073
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2009
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: William Edward Adis, Bernard Arthur Couture, JR., Marshall Gordon Jones, Michael Dennis Mack, Daniel Frederick Purdy
  • Publication number: 20100181043
    Abstract: A regenerative air preheater with brush seals (23) is proposed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2007
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Inventors: Ulrich Mueller, Ewald Kitzmann, Volker Schuele
  • Publication number: 20100171268
    Abstract: A system for providing compliant rotating seals including a rotating portion that has one or more teeth extending radially from it, and a stationary portion that has a plurality of bristles extending radially from it. The one or more teeth rotatively engage the plurality of bristles creating a tortuous path between them that resists a leakage of gas or fluid through them.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2009
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Andrew Ray Kneeland, Eric David Roush
  • Publication number: 20100171270
    Abstract: A sealing device for a coolant supply on a rotating spindle is characterized in that a first brush seal (4) and a second brush seal (5) are arranged one after another in series on the spindle (2). Hereby the technical problems of the prior art are avoided and an improved device is made available, which makes possible a reliable sealing of the supply of coolant to a quickly rotating tool spindle, which exhibits no sudden failure, and which nonetheless is cost-advantageous in production and installation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2008
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Applicant: MTU AERO ENGINES GMBH
    Inventors: Alfons Gail, Stefan Beichl
  • Publication number: 20100164177
    Abstract: A multi-stage brush seal and assembly for sealing a circumferential gap with respect to a sealed component is disclosed. The brush seal includes a first stage including a first plurality of bristles and a second stage including a second plurality of bristles. In an embodiment, the first stage is configured with an initial first-stage clearance and seals said sealed component at high pressure and low pressure conditions, and the second stage is configured to have an initial second-stage clearance greater than the initial first-stage clearance so that the second stage does not seal said sealed component at the low pressure condition but is configured to be activated by a blow-down effect to seal said sealed component at the high pressure condition. In embodiments the brush seal includes features to enhance or reduce pressure blow-down with respect to the first-stage clearance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Xiaoqing Zheng, Joshua J. Duquette
  • Publication number: 20100164178
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2008
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: John F. Short
  • Patent number: 7744092
    Abstract: A method and seal assembly for sealing a rotary machine including a rotary component and a stationary component is provided. The method includes providing a plurality of flexible leaf plates in an opening defined between a pair of spaced walls that include an adjustable front wall and an adjustable back wall that is opposed to the front wall. The method also includes adjusting a width of the opening by axially adjusting at least one of the front and back walls with respect to a central rotational axis of the rotary component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Jason Paul Mortzheim
  • Patent number: 7744093
    Abstract: A seal and method of making seals utilizes folds in order to form creases in a length of material such that the creases reinforce individual seal elements or surfaces while perforations or slots in a seal edge allow air leakage from one side of the seal element or surface to the other. Thus, air pressurization can take place between spaced seal elements or surfaces and this allows air flotation or riding of a rotating component relative to a static housing component. The perforations are typically graduated from the seal edge in order to provide the best pressurization and air-riding effect for proximity or gap control between the sealing edge and the rotating component surface. The slots effectively provide flexibility to the sealing edge such that the seal component emulates a brush seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventor: Alison J McMillan
  • Patent number: 7743498
    Abstract: A method of processing seals (20), like leaf seals, in which seals (20) an annular gap, formed between two coaxial, cylindrical surfaces, is sealed off in the axial direction by a multiplicity of individual, thin sealing elements (22; 22a, b) which, with an orientation deviating from the radial direction, extend transversely through the gap and are fixed at their end assigned to the one cylindrical surface and bear loosely with the other, free end against the other cylindrical surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd.
    Inventor: Nigel Anthony Rhodes
  • Patent number: 7735833
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to sealing devices used in conjunction with two relatively rotatable members and having a fluid seal there between. Finger seals are utilized to achieve sealing between a rotating member and a stationary member. As such the present invention involves a double padded finger seal with both pads oriented axially in the same direction. The sealing apparatus may optionally utilize a padless third laminate. In other embodiments, the present invention provides variations of the basic double padded finger seal with pad configurations utilizing various arrangements and geometries of the padded area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: The University of Akron
    Inventors: Minel J. Braun, Hazel Marie, Ian Smith
  • Publication number: 20100133756
    Abstract: A shaft seal for steam turbines is provided. The shaft seal steam barrier is supplied with a slight excess pressure. In order to avoid complex additional devices necessary for liquefying the water vapor once again, a condensation chamber, which is sealed from the surrounding air as well as from the steam barrier chamber with brush seals, is provided between the steam barrier chamber and the surrounding air. The condensation chamber is constructed in such a manner that the heat, developing in the interior thereof, is discharged to the outside.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2008
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Inventors: Edwin Gobrecht, Achim Hammann, Dirk Knudsen, Karsten Peters, Jan Walkenhorst
  • Publication number: 20100135607
    Abstract: A seal arrangement for sealing a bearing comprising a first component and a second component which are rotatably movable with respect to each other is provided. The seal arrangement includes brush seal having an annular brush body carried by the first component and a bundle of resiliently bendable bristles. The brush seal is adapted to maintain a sealing condition when the first and second component are moved relative to each other in a non-rotational manner. Further, a brush seal and a wind turbine having a brush seal are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Inventors: Peter Rogall, Meng Gao, Yuanyuan Qiu
  • Publication number: 20100092279
    Abstract: A reaction water turbine including: a rotor having an axis of rotation and an radially outer surface; a housing surrounding the rotor and having a bearing support proximate to the radially outer surface of the rotor; and a seal mounted to the bearing support on the housing, the seal includes a brush seal extending to and bearing against the radially outer surface of the rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2007
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Applicant: ANDRITZ TECHNOLOGY AND ASSET MANAGEMENT GMBH
    Inventors: Alain Demers, Anders Wedmark
  • Publication number: 20100068042
    Abstract: A brush seal for a turbo-machine for sealing a gap between a rotating and a stationary component is disclosed. Elastically flexible bristles are arranged in a plurality of rows that are adjacent to each other. A film or a disk is arranged between at least two rows of bristles, the film or the disk extending in the longitudinal direction of said bristles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2007
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Inventors: Stefan Brück, Matthias Neef, Erik Sulda, Norbert Sürken
  • Publication number: 20100066024
    Abstract: A brush seal assembly and method for sealing a turbine machine rotary member relative to a stationary member circumscribing the rotary member. The seal assembly includes a first compliant seal component disposed at a radially inward region of the stationary member in rubbing contact with a surface of the rotary member. The seal assembly also includes at least one hard seal element formed integrally with a carrier of the first compliant seal component, located a specified axial distance from the first compliant seal component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Steven Sebastian BURDGICK, Andrew Greif
  • Publication number: 20100054924
    Abstract: A brush seal in which an increase in steady-state wear is prevented and the influence of turbulence is eliminated is provided. The invention includes a brush seal including brush seal bristles formed of a plurality of wires and mounted to a seal box in such a manner that one end thereof is in contact with a downstream cylindrical portion; and a downstream support plate mounted next to the brush seal bristles in a direction in which combustion gas flows, for restricting the motion of the brush seal bristles. The brush seal seals the combustion gas flowing between the seal box and the downstream cylindrical portion. The brush seal includes restraint bristles mounted opposite to the downstream support plate and next to the brush seal bristles in the direction in which the combustion gas flows.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Noriyoshi Uyama, Naoki Hagi, Takeaki Oya
  • Publication number: 20100021247
    Abstract: A material transporting system comprises a material transporting apparatus (100) including a material transporting apparatus hopper structure (200, 202), which comprises at least one rotary transporting apparatus; a stationary hub structure (900) constraining and assisting the at least one rotary transporting apparatus; an outlet duct configuration (700) configured to permit material to exit therefrom and comprising at least one diverging portion (702, 702?); an outlet abutment configuration (800) configured to direct material to the outlet duct configuration; an outlet valve assembly from the material transporting system venting the material transporting system; and a moving wall configuration in the material transporting apparatus capable of assisting the material transporting apparatus in transporting material in the material transporting system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Inventors: Derek Leslie Aldred, Jeffrey A. Rader, Timothy W. Saunders
  • Patent number: 7651101
    Abstract: A shaft seal serves to reduce leakage between a rotating shaft and a static shell. The shaft seal includes a plurality of compliant plate members, each having a root and a tip. The compliant plate members are secured to the static shell at their root in facing relation. The tips of the compliant plate members define a sealing ring between the static shell and the rotating shaft. An axial flow resistance member is disposed within the compliant plate members and serves as a barrier to axial leakage flow between the compliant plate members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Shorya Awtar, Norman Arnold Turnquist
  • Publication number: 20100007091
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method of forming brush seals and to brush seals themselves. Thus a back plate 10, which defines an anchor recess 11, a reservoir recess 12 and a land 13 is laid horizontally A bristle pack 14 is then laid on top of the back plate 10, so that one end 15 overlies a recess 11 and the other, 16, projects beyond the land 13. The bristles are then clamped in position by clamp 21 and epoxy resin is poured into the recess 11 as indicated by the arrows. A mould is introduced over the recess. Once the resin is cured, the mould can be removed and it will be noted that excess epoxy resin has fallen into the recess 12 preventing resin wicking beyond the land 13 and interfering with the performance of the bristles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Inventors: Aaron Bowsher, Matthew Richard Jenkins
  • Patent number: 7644928
    Abstract: A brush seal has a bristle housing formed by a cover element and a support element. A plurality of bristles, which are wound around a core element and secured to the core element by a clamping element are positioned in the bristle housing. At least one of the support element and the cover element of the bristle housing are made of plastic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: MTU Aero Engines GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Beichl, Alfons Gail, Thomas Huppertz
  • Publication number: 20100001473
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Inventors: Peter Francis Crudgington, Aaron Bowsher
  • Publication number: 20090322028
    Abstract: A seal arrangement (1, 101) for maintaining an axial pressure differential between relative high and low pressure stages along a rotating element (2, 102), the arrangement comprising: i) a plurality of leaf or brush seal members (5) forming a circumferential seal-pack (4, 104) around the rotating element (2, 102), in-between said low and high pressure stages, for limiting leakage of fluid between said low and high pressure stages; ii) a baffle (6, 7, 106, 107) positioned on the upstream or downstream side of the seal-pack (4, 104) for regulating such leakage through the seal pack (4, 104); and iii) a control arrangement for adjusting the position of the baffle (6, 7, 106, 107) hereby to control the regulation of said leakage through the seal-pack (4, 104) and hence control the consequent blow-down effect on the seal-pack (4, 104) caused by that leakage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Christopher Wright, Simon D. Granville-George
  • Publication number: 20090322033
    Abstract: A seal assembly is for a compressor including a casing having first and second chambers and a shaft extending through the casing between the two chambers. The seal assembly includes a main body disposed about the shaft and between the two chambers and having a central axis, an inner surface spaced radially outwardly from the shaft to form a seal chamber. Annular sealing members are connected with the main body and extend radially from the body inner surface toward the shaft, the sealing members preventing flow between the first and second chambers through the seal chamber. A separator is coupled with the shaft adjacent to the main body and has separation passages fluidly connecting one of the two chambers with the seal chamber, each passage extending radially with respect to the shaft axis so as to direct liquids and solids contacting the passage inner surface away from the seal chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: Dresser-Rand Company
    Inventors: William C. Maier, David J. Peer
  • Patent number: 7637719
    Abstract: A sealing arrangement, especially for a flow engine, for non-hermetically sealing a gap (12) between a rotor (10) and a stator (11), which comprises a seal having a plurality of sealing elements that are fixed to a sealing element support, said sealing element support being at least partially disposed in a receptacle (16) which is defined by a supporting element (17) and a cover element (18) is disclosed. The sealing element support is configured as a ring that is interrupted once or several times. Free ends (19, 20) of the sealing element support overlap in the area of interruptions in the circumferential direction. The contours of the supporting element (17) and the cover element (18) are adapted to the contours of the sealing element support and the sealing elements (15). At least one end (19, 20) of every part of the sealing element support is associated with an antirotation device (21, 22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: MTU Aero Engines GmbH
    Inventor: Wilhelm Graebeldinger
  • Publication number: 20090315272
    Abstract: A divided brush seal comprises a base portion to shut off a sealing fluid side area and environment area, a first end portion having a first connecting face at one side divided end of the base portion, a second end portion having a second connecting face at another divided end of the base portion which connects with the first end portion, a seal brush having bristle groups to seal the sealing fluid provided parallel to a supporting face with coupling one end thereof to a fixed portion which connects with the base plate, wherein the first end portion and the second end portion comprise a first bristle groups respectively, a wire diameter of a first bristle of the first bristle groups is thicker with respect to a wire diameter of a second bristle of a second bristle groups provided between the first bristle group of the first end portion and the first bristle group of the second end portion, the first bristle group of the respective divided brush seal and the first bristle group of the other side divided brush
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 4, 2007
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicant: EAGLE INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Kasahara, Toru Kono
  • Patent number: 7628231
    Abstract: An earth-boring bit has a bit body with a depending bearing pin and a cone rotatably mounted thereon. A seal seals between the bearing pin and the cone. An annular set of bristles is located adjacent at least part of the dynamic seal surface of the seal to protect the seal against debris.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventor: Chih C. Lin
  • Patent number: 7604241
    Abstract: The seal between high and low pressure regions in a turbine or turbo-machinery includes arcuate segments having a brush seal flanked on one or both sides by a plurality of beams lying adjacent to and in contact with one another. Shims separate the bristles of the brush seal from the rows of beams. The cross sectional dimension of the beams is 20-60 times the diameter of the bristles. The beams terminate short of the rotary component while the bristle tips engage the rotary component. The beams take up most of the pressure difference while the bristles take up the balance of the pressure difference across the seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Mark William Kowalczyk
  • Patent number: 7604242
    Abstract: A brush seal extends between static and rotary components. The brush seal includes a fence on the high pressure side, a bristle pack behind the fence, a bristle pack backing plate and a pressure plate. The backing plate includes a plurality of circumferentially and radially spaced arcuate slots arrayed in staggered relation about the brush seal segment. The pressure plate includes radially extending grooves opening toward the backing plate and intersecting each of the slots along that radius to afford a substantially uniform distribution of pressure on the downstream side of the bristle backing plate. In another embodiment, the grooves extend along the downstream faces of the bristle backing plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: William Edward Adis, Bernard Arthur Couture