Patent ID: 6533284
Filing Date: 2003-03-18
Classification: F16J

Abstract:
Sealing apparatus comprising:a first stationary component and a second rotating component movable relative to one another and defining a gap therebetween; a brush seal carried by said first stationary component for disposition between the first stationary component and the second rotating component and sealing the gap between high and low pressure regions on respective opposite sides of said seal, said brush seal including a plurality of bristles projecting from said brush seal and having free ends terminating in bristle tips in engagement with said second rotating component and forming a seal between said components to minimize flow of high temperature fluid from the high pressure region through said gap to the low pressure region wherein said brush seal includes first and second backing plates on opposite sides of said bristles, said first backing plate disposed along an upstream side of said bristles and spaced upstream from an upstream surface portion of said bristles; and means for forming a thin layer of a cooling medium along a surface portion of said bristles to thermally insulate the bristles from the high temperature fluid.