Patent ID: 6168162
Filing Date: 2001-01-02
Classification: F16J,Y10S

Abstract:
A rotary machine comprising: a component rotatable about an axis and a component fixed against rotation about said axis, said fixed component having a circumferentially extending groove opening toward said rotatable component; a brush seal disposed in said groove and including a plurality of bristles and a support for said bristles, said bristles being secured to said support and projecting therefrom beyond said support into sealing engagement with said rotatable component; said brush seal and said groove having a radial clearance therebetween enabling the brush seal for radial movement to maintain substantial concentricity and sealing engagement with the rotatable component, notwithstanding deviation of the axis of rotation of said rotatable component relative to the axis of said fixed component; said rotatable component lying radially inwardly of said fixed component, said brush seal including a plurality of arcuate, circumferentially extending segments disposed in part in said groove and a spring biasing each segment for movement in a radial inward direction to maintain the bristles carried by said segments in contact with said rotatable component, said brush seal forming a seal between high and low pressure regions on respective upstream and downstream sides of said brush seal, a seal between said brush seal and said groove dividing the groove into two chambers, a passage in said stationary component in communication with the downstream low pressure side of said brush seal for communicating low pressure fluid from said downstream side to one of said chambers to balance the pressures along the inside and outside diameters of said brush seal.