Patent ID: 6367806
Filing Date: 2002-04-09
Classification: F16J

Abstract:
A seal arrangement for a rotary machine comprising:a main seal segment having an outer periphery, an inner periphery disposed radially inwardly from said outer periphery and a slot defined in said main seal segment between said outer and inner peripheries thereof and being open at said inner periphery and extending toward and terminating in a spaced relationship from said outer periphery; a brush seal segment disposed in said slot and including a layer of bristles having opposite outer and inner portions and upstream and downstream sides, an upstream plate having outer and inner portions and being disposed at said upstream side of said layer of bristles and a downstream plate having outer and inner portions and being disposed at said downstream side of said layer of bristles, said outer portion of said layer of bristles being secured between said outer portions of said upstream and downstream plates and said inner portion of said layer of bristles extending beyond said inner portions of said upstream and downstream plates, said downstream plate also having opposite ends, opposite sides respectively facing toward and away from said downstream side of said layer of bristles and a cavity recessed in a one of said opposite sides of said downstream plate facing toward said downstream side of said layer of bristles, said cavity extending between and being terminated by said opposite ends of said downstream plate; and means for communicating pressure radially through said main seal segment to said cavity in said downstream plate of said brush seal segment from a source of pressure located exteriorly of said outer periphery of said main seal segment for providing a balance of pressure between the pressure source and said cavity in said downstream plate of said brush seal segment and thereby at said downstream side of said layer of bristles.