Patent ID: 6736401
Filing Date: 2004-05-18
Classification: F01D,F16J

Abstract:
A ceramic seal for sealing between two structures that may experience relative radial and axial motion comprising:a plurality of annular ceramic diaphragm members having an inner diameter portion and an outer diameter portion wherein said inner diameter portion is generally continuous and said outer diameter portion is segmented; said outer diameter portion having a plurality of radially extending finger elements defining an outer circumference and generally uniformly spaced apart having a gap formed therebetween; sealing engagement with a structure, said foot portion having a base which said finger elements having a foot portion at an outermost end for forms an outside circumference of said seal and side portions extending from said foot portion; said finger elements having a rolled edge where said base meets at least one of said side portions, thereby reducing gouging or scoring of a sealing surface while providing a reduced surface area of contact between said base and said sealing surface that is less than an original surface area of contact of a seal without said rolled edge; said ceramic diaphragm members laminated together and fastened along said inner diameter portion wherein adjacent ceramic diaphragm members are oriented such that said finger elements of one ceramic diaphragm member block said gaps of a second ceramic diaphragm member; and said ceramic diaphragm members disposed between a pair of spacers fixidly attached for attachment to a structure.