Patent ID: 6142477
Filing Date: 2000-11-07
Classification: F01D,F02C,Y10S

Abstract:
A seal assembly comprising:a seal member having a sealing surface;a magnet;a seal element having a plurality of seal segments each having a sealing surface that faces the sealing surface of the seal member, each of the seal segments further having at least one coil;a plurality of actuators, each one of the actuators being associated with a respective one of the plurality of seal segments, and each of the plurality of actuators having at least a portion integral to the associated one of the plurality of seal segments;wherein at least one of the seal element and the magnet rotates relative to the other such that the coils on each of the plurality of seal segments generate electrical energy, and each of the plurality of actuators receives energy generated by the coil of the associated one of the plurality of seal segments and in response thereto, produces a force to move the associated one of the plurality of seal segments in at least one direction from a group comprising a direction toward the sealing surface of the seal member and a direction away from the sealing surface of the seal member.