Patent ID: 6499742
Filing Date: 2002-12-31
Classification: F16J

Abstract:
A brush seal assembly for reducing adverse fluid flow effects to a brush seal to prolong the life of the brush seal, the brush seal assembly comprising:a support housing having a passage; a rotating shaft disposed in the passage of the support housing, the rotating shaft including a shaft body having a periphery and an annular tooth extending around the periphery of the shaft body; an annular brush seal including a plurality of bristles extending around the shaft body, each of the plurality of bristles attached to and extending from the support housing in the passage towards the rotating shaft; and an annular honeycomb assembly being constructed of a plurality of walled cells, the honeycomb assembly having a groove extending around an inner periphery thereof, the honeycomb assembly disposed in the passage around, and proximate to, the tooth of the rotating shaft such that the tooth of the rotating shaft is disposed in the groove of the honeycomb assembly, the groove being formed by the tooth contacting and wearing into the honeycomb assembly.