Patent ID: 7464940
Filing Date: 2008-12-16
Classification: F16J

Abstract:
1. A seal for use in high temperature applications for sealing against a first and a second part, the seal comprising: a jacket including an outer sealing surface constructed and arranged to form a sealing interface with the first part and the second part; a spring member disposed within the outer jacket and including plurality of flexible members, the plurality of flexible members being moveable between a compressed position and an expanded position as one or both of the first and second parts move, the spring member having a spring rate that is greater than the spring rate of the jacket such that expansion of the spring member into contact with the jacket causes corresponding expansion of the jacket into sealing engagement with the first and second parts; wherein the spring member comprises a cast blade alloy effective to cause the plurality of flexible members of the spring member to resist stress relaxation when the spring member is exposed to a temperature greater than about 1300° F., the stress relaxation positioning the plurality of flexible members, relative to the first and second parts, from the expanded position to a compressed position; each of the plurality of flexible members comprising one or more flexible fingers, each of the one or more flexible fingers having a longitudinal axis that extends along a circumference of the spring member; the spring member having a base, the one or more flexible fingers extend from the base; the longitudinal axis of each of the one or more flexible fingers disposed at an angle with respect to the circumference of the spring member between a first jacket portion of the jacket and a second jacket portion of the jacket, the first jacket portion opposing the second jacket portion, the at least one finger having a first end disposed in proximity to the first jacket portion and a second end of the at least one finger and said base disposed in proximity to the second jacket portion, the first end opposing the second end, the longitudinal axis of the one or more flexible fingers defining a first acute angle relative to the first jacket portion and the longitudinal axis of the one or more flexible fingers defining a second acute angle relative to the second jacket portion, the first acute angle being substantially equal to the second acute angle.