Patent ID: 6357672
Filing Date: 2002-03-19
Classification: B64C,B64D,F02K,F05D

Abstract:
Seal means for the clam shells of a vectoring thrust nozzle of a gas turbine engine comprising a fixed collar having a spherical outer surface, a gimbal ring surrounding said collar, a pair of articulating clam shells each having spherical surfaces for defining a sliding surface and being pivotally supported to said gimbal ring for vertical and horizontal movement, a pair of seals for each of said clam shells, each of said pair of seals comprising a semi-circular front ring complementing the configuration of each of said clam shells and a backing plate axially spaced from said semi-circular front ring and configured to complement the shape thereof disposed in a recess formed in each of said clamshells, said recess having a back wall, radially extending bristles sandwiched between said semi-circular front ring and said backing plate projecting beyond said front ring and said backing plate and having edges bearing against said spherical surface for defining a compliant rigid bristle, said edges being arced to define a partially spherical shape and configured to complement said sliding surface of each of said spherical surfaces, the end of said front ring and said backing plate located remote from said edges bearing against said back wall of said recess for forming a rigid body and means to clamp each of said seals to each of said clam shells for movement therewith so that said bristles are pressure loaded against said backing plate and remain in sealing position in rotational and translational modes.