Manufacturing process and arrangement for manufacturing brush-type seals

The invention relates to a manufacturing process for brush-type seals having the following steps: PA1 Stacking of bristles in a bristle receiving shaft such that the bristles are partially situated next to the space for at least one brush cheek; PA1 adjusting the bristle receiving shaft in synchronization with the stacking of the bristles relative to a point of introduction of the bristles into the bristle receiving shaft so that the position of a bristle stack surface in the bristle receiving shaft remains at least essentially constant relative to the point of introduction; PA1 fastening the bristles on at least one brush cheek in the bristle receiving shaft; and PA1 removing the at least one brush cheek with the bristles fastened thereto from the bristle receiving shaft. In addition, the invention provides an arrangement for manufacturing brush-type seals by means of which the above-mentioned process can be carried out correspondingly.

The invention relates to a manufacturing process for brush-type seals. 
Furthermore, the invention relates to an arrangement for manufacturing 
brush-type seals according to the preamble of claim 18. 
The mounting of, for example, ceramic bristles to form a brush-type seal 
still requires relatively high expenditures, particularly with respect to 
fastening these bristles on a carrier. 
As customary and generally known in the manufacturing of brushes, an 
arrangement is required for this purpose which contains a holding device 
for constructing a brush cheek having bristles fastened on the latter for 
forming a brush-type seal. 
It is an object of the present invention to simplify the manufacturing of 
brush-type seals. 
The manufacturing process for brush-type seals according to the invention 
therefore comprises the following steps: 
Stacking of bristles in a bristle receiving shaft such that the bristles 
are partially situated next to the space for at least one brush cheek; 
adjusting the bristle receiving shaft in synchronization with the stacking 
of the bristles relative to a point of introduction of the bristles into 
the bristle receiving shaft so that the position of a bristle stack 
surface in the bristle receiving shaft remains at least essentially 
constant relative to the point of introduction; 
fastening the bristles on at least one brush cheek which was inserted or 
formed in the bristle receiving shaft before or after the stacking of the 
bristles in the bristle receiving shaft; and 
removing the at least one brush cheek with the bristles fastened thereto 
from the bristle receiving shaft. 
As a result of the fact that the bristle receiving shaft is guided past the 
point of introduction in synchronization with the feeding of the bristles 
into the bristle receiving shaft, the desired or required defined bristle 
quantity can be guided and stacked in a simple and efficient manner so 
that, in the bristle receiving shaft, the individual bristles will 
immediately take up their end position for the brush in an automatic 
manner. A manual alignment of the individual bristles is not required. The 
process according to the invention can not only be carried out rapidly and 
therefore with a high effectiveness but also in an automated manner, which 
further increases the effectiveness. 
In addition, by means of the process according to the invention, 
possibilities of errors are avoided during the manufacture of brush-type 
seals, particularly in the alignment of bristles which leads to lower 
rejects and thus to a higher productivity and to lower costs. 
The invention is not limited to the fact that, in the case of the process, 
a least one brush cheek is inserted into the bristle receiving shaft 
before the stacking of the bristles. The at least one brush cheek may, for 
example, also be inserted into the bristle receiving shaft or formed 
therein after the stacking of the bristles into the bristle receiving 
shaft. 
Preferably two brush cheeks are inserted into the bristle receiving shaft 
and the bristles are stacked such in the bristle receiving shaft that the 
bristles are partially situated between the two bristle cheeks. As a 
result, the bristles are particularly well mounted after their fastening 
on the two bristle cheeks. 
An additional or alternative possibility, which can be carried out in a 
simple manner and with a high efficiency and durability, for fastening the 
bristles on the at least one brush cheek, according to the invention, 
preferably consists of melting the bristles in their area situated next to 
the at least one brush cheek by using,, for example, a laser, a plasma 
torch or a similar device. As a further development, during the melting of 
the bristle ends, material of the same type can be added with respect to 
the bristles and/or the at least one bristle cheek. 
The fastening of the bristles on the at least one brush cheek can be 
promoted by another further development of the process according to the 
invention in that the bristles, before the introduction in the bristle 
receiving shaft for their stacking therein are subjected to a surface 
treatment in their area which comes to be situated next to the at least 
one brush cheek. In particular, such a surface treatment may comprise the 
application of a fastening agent or auxiliary adapted to the materials of 
the bristles and the brush cheek for the later fastening of the bristles 
on the at least one brush cheek by brushing, spraying, galvanizing, 
sputtering, CVD or PVD and/or a treatment for enlarging the surface of the 
bristles in this area. 
The process according to the invention permits the manufacturing of 
one-sided or two-sided brush seals with respect to the at least one brush 
cheek. This may be set up by the position of the at least one brush cheek 
relative to the bristles so that the bristles can be fastened in one of 
their end areas or in an intermediate area on the at least one bristle 
cheek. 
For manufacturing brush-type seals, it is also preferred to first 
manufacture brush-type seal segments which are finally coupled to form a 
complete brush-type seal. Preferably, this takes place in that, before the 
bristles are introduced into the bristle receiving shaft, a first segment 
end part is inserted in the latter. Then, before the fastening of the 
bristles on the at least one brush cheek, a second segment end part is 
inserted into the bristle receiving shaft. Before the individual brush 
seal segments are combined to form a complete brush-type seal, the first 
and the second segment end parts are finally removed. 
Another solution of the object on which the invention is based consists of 
a manufacturing arrangement for brush-type seals according to claim 7. 
The arrangement for manufacturing brush-type seals therefore contains a 
holding device for constructing a brush cheek with bristles fastened 
thereon for forming a brush-type seal. According to the invention, it is 
provided that the holding device is formed by a bristle receiving shaft 
which has at least one recess for a brush cheek in its shaft course so 
that bristles stacked in the bristle receiving shaft may be situated 
partially next to the at least one brush cheek and can be adjusted 
relative to a point of introduction of the bristles in the bristle 
receiving shaft so that the position of a bristle stacking surface in the 
bristle receiving shaft can be maintained to be at least essentially 
constant in its adjustment relative to the point of introduction. 
In the case of a further development, the bristle receiving shaft 
preferably contains a shaft end wall which determines the point of 
introduction of the bristles and which, during the adjustment of the 
bristle receiving shaft, can be held to remain stationary for the 
determination of the shaft inlet. This also leads to an increased safety 
and to reduced expenditures in the case of the arrangement according to 
the invention. 
For facilitating the operation of the arrangement for manufacturing 
brush-type seals, it can be provided as an alternative or in addition 
according to the invention that the bristle receiving shaft contains a 
removable shaft end wall so that a connection area of the bristles with 
the brush cheek in the bristle receiving shaft can be opened up. As a 
result, the fastening of he bristles on the at least one brush cheek can 
be carried out in a particularly simple, fast and reliable manner. 
Within the scope of another further development of the invention, a 
deflecting roller, which determines the point of introduction of the 
bristles in the bristle receiving shaft is held to remain stationary with 
respect to the bristle receiving shaft for determining a shaft inlet. 
Furthermore, a band is provided here which can be fed by way of the 
deflecting roller synchronously with the adjustment of the bristle 
receiving shaft and which, in the area of a shaft bottom of the bristle 
receiving shaft, can be mounted on the latter, in which case, in the area 
of the bristle receiving shaft, the band is at least a component of a 
shaft end wall. This shaft end wall can therefore be formed, for example, 
by a steel band which, coming from a feeding roller, is connected by way 
of the deflecting roller to the shaft bottom of the bristle receiving 
shaft. Synchronously with the adjustment of the bristle receiving shaft, 
the band is wound off the feeding roller and, after the deflection by way 
of the deflecting roller, covers the bristle receiving shaft. As a result, 
when the bristle receiving shaft is adjusted, no relative movement occurs 
between the bristles stacked therein and the shaft end wall, and the 
position of the bristles is maintained in a stable manner. The band can, 
for example, be held tight with respect to the adjusting movement of the 
bristle receiving shaft by means of a torsion spring interacting with the 
feeding roller. 
Although the invention is not limited to the manufacturing of ring-shaped 
brush-type seals, the inventors consider this the predominant application. 
For this purpose, it is advantageous and therefore preferred that the 
bristle receiving shaft contains a ring groove or a ring groove section 
which can be adjusted about the ring center, and contains a shaft end wall 
which covers the ring groove or the ring groove section and which, in 
particular, is removable and is stationary during the adjustment of the 
bristle receiving shaft with respect to the point of introduction of the 
bristles in the bristle receiving shaft. 
In a further development of this embodiment, it can also preferably be 
provided that the depth of the ring groove or of the ring groove section 
extends in the radial direction. The brush-type seals which can be 
manufactured by means of this arrangement have bristles which are situated 
in the radial direction or at an angle thereto in the radial plane. 
However, within the scope of the invention, it is also possible that 
brush-type seals are produced whose bristles are situated in the axial 
direction with respect to the ring shape of the seal. 
By means of a further development of the invention, particularly stable and 
durable brush-type seals can be manufactured. For this purpose, it is 
provided that the bristle receiving shaft has a T-shaped cross-section; 
that each of the two transverse branches of the T-shape forms a recess for 
a brush cheek; and that the bristles can be stacked in the bristle 
receiving shaft with one of their end areas between the two inserted 
bristle cheeks, in which case the upper section of the T-shape is formed 
by a shaft end wall which, in particular, can be removed and is stationary 
when the bristle receiving shaft is adjusted with respect to a point of 
introduction of the bristles into the bristle receiving shaft. 
If the at least one recess for a brush cheek in the bristle receiving shaft 
is of such a shape and size that, when a brush cheek is inserted therein 
and bristles are stacked in the bristle receiving shaft, in a connection 
area of the latter with the brush cheek, a receiving space is formed for 
fastening devices for fastening the bristles on the brush cheek, a larger 
quantity of fastening agent can be used for achieving a particularly firm 
and durable connection of the bristles with the brush cheeks or cheeks. 
The automation and thus the operating speed and reliability of the 
arrangement according to the invention for manufacturing brush-type seals 
can be further increased by bristle feeding devices for introducing 
bristles into the bristle receiving shaft. Another further development of 
this embodiment provides that the bristle feeding devices are designed for 
introducing various types of bristles into the bristle receiving shaft, 
particularly for definable arrangements of the various bristle types in 
the bristle receiving shaft, and that the bristle feeding devices 
preferably have an adjustable control for the arrangement of the various 
bristle types in the bristle receiving shaft. Thus, as a function of the 
area of usage of the brush-type seals to be manufactured, optimal 
materials and shapes of the bristles can be combined in a seal in a simple 
and efficient manner. 
By using at least a first segment end part, as another advantage, a bottom 
of the bristle receiving shaft can be formed by a layer surface of the 
first segment end part which determines the position and alignment of the 
stacked bristles relative to the at least one brush cheek. This ensures in 
a simple manner an inclination of the bristles with respect to the at 
least one brush cheek which takes into account a later use of the 
brush-type seal on a rotating shaft. 
A most extensive automating of the arrangement according to the invention 
for manufacturing brush-type seals can advantageously be achieved in that 
a control is provided which is designed for synchronizing the adjustment 
of the bristle receiving shaft with its degree of bristle filling. 
Preferably, this control influences also optionally provided bristle 
feeding devices or, by means of the latter, detects the filling degree of 
the bristle receiving shaft. The automating can be optimized in that the 
control synchronizes the bristle feeding devices and the adjustment of the 
bristle receiving shaft. 
Additional advantageous and preferred embodiments of the invention are 
found in the dependent claims and their combinations.

An arrangement 1 for manufacturing brush-type seals 2 illustrated in FIG. 1 
contains a material dispensing device 3 in the form of a drum 4, such as a 
fiber drum, having bristle material 5 wound onto it, which may, for 
example, be a fiber or a fiber material. The latter is withdrawn from the 
drum by guide rollers 6, 7 and is supplied to a cutting device 8 which 
contains a cutting roller 9 and a counter roller 10. The cutting roller 9 
has cutting teeth 11 on its circumference whose spacing on the cutting 
roller circumference or cutting wheel circumference corresponds to the 
length of the bristles 12 which can be cut by it from the bristle material 
4. The counter roller 10 may have indentations (not shown) or other 
devices or designs which, with respect to their position, are assigned to 
the cutting teeth 11 of the cutting roller 9 and which ensure a reliable 
and clean cutting-off of the bristles 12 from the bristle material 5. 
In the illustrated embodiment, the guiding rollers 6, 7 as well as the 
cutting roller 9 and the counter roller 10 are driven so that they convey 
the bristle material or the bristles 12 cut from it in the direction of a 
bristle receiving shaft 13. For bridging the path from the cutting device 
8 to the bristle receiving shaft 13, a bristle guide 14 is provided which 
may be of a tube or a shell type and guides the bristles 12 securely from 
the cutting device 8 to the bristle receiving shaft 13. In order to be 
able to direct different bristles 12 to the bristle receiving shaft 13, 
which may take up or have various positions and arrangements, the bristle 
guide 14 may offer corresponding adjusting possibilities and/or exist 
several times in order to guide, from a plurality of material dispensers 
3, bristle material 3 simultaneously or alternately to the bristle 
receiving shaft 13. 
The bristle receiving shaft 13, which is shown in a cross-sectional view 
also in FIG. 2, contains a carrier disk 15; two lateral rings 17, 18 as 
shaft side walls which a mounted in a spaced manner on its circumferential 
surface 16; and a shaft end wall 19 which is positioned relative to the 
lateral rings 17, 18 but is not connected with them. In the direction of 
the shaft course, the shaft end wall 19 has a length which is coordinated 
with the length of a brush-type seal segment 20 and which be produced by 
using the bristle receiving shaft 13 and can be used for building a 
complete brush-type seal 2. The carrier disk 15 and the two lateral rings 
17, 18 mounted on its circumferential surface 16 in a spaced manner form a 
ring groove or a ring groove section which, for forming the bristle 
receiving shaft 13 can be covered by the shaft end wall 19 by adjusting 
the bristle receiving shaft 13. 
The length of the shaft end wall 19 in the direction of the shaft course 
can be suitable for a plurality of brush-type seal segments 20 of 
different lengths since the shaft bottom 21 of the bristle receiving shaft 
13 is formed by a layer surface 22 of a first segment end 23 whose 
position and dimension in the direction of the shaft course determines the 
length inside the bristle receiving shaft 13 available for the brush-type 
seal segment formation within the scope of the length of the shaft end 
wall 19. 
It should be taken into account that the carrier disk 15 must form only the 
interior shaft wall 24 and can have any other dimensions. Instead of the 
carrier disk 15, a partial disk, a ring or a partial ring may also be used 
as long as it provides a sufficient circumferential surface according to 
the planned length of the brush-type seal segments 20. Correspondingly, 
the lateral rings 17, 18 may also be formed by partial rings. 
The carrier disk 15, together with the lateral rings 17, 18 fastened on it, 
can be rotated about their center A. Since the lateral end wall 19 is not 
connected with the lateral rings 17, 18, it remains stationary during a 
rotation or general adjustment of the carrier disk 15 and forms a 
stationary boundary of a point of introduction 26 for bristles 12 into the 
bristle receiving shaft 13 at its end 25 situated in the opposite 
direction of the rotating direction (adjusting direction) B of the carrier 
disk 15 in the sense of a lengthening of the effective length of the 
bristle receiving shaft 13 for receiving bristles 12. During a rotation of 
the carrier disk 15 for extending the effective length of the bristle 
receiving shaft 13 for receiving bristles 12, the first segment end 23 is 
moved along the shaft end wall 19 away from the point of introduction 26 
for the bristles 12. 
The constructions of the arrangement 1 are not limited to those which 
comprise a rotational adjustment of the carrier disk 15. The form of the 
adjusting path as well as the form of the shaft course may also be adapted 
to the shape of the brush-type seals 2 which are to be produced by means 
of the arrangement 1. 
The bristles 12 are therefore guided from the cutting device 8 by way of 
the bristle guide 14 to the point of introduction 26 from where they are 
stacked in the bristle receiving shaft 13. As the filling of the bristle 
receiving shaft 13 increases, it is adjusted such by the rotation of the 
carrier disk 15 that the surface 27 of the bristle stack 28 formed int he 
bristle receiving shaft 13 maintains its position relative to the point of 
introduction 26 at least in an essentially constant manner. When a planned 
segment size has been reached; that is, a sufficient quantity of bristles 
12 has been stacked into the bristle receiving shaft 13, form the 
direction of the point of introduction 26, a second segment end 29 is 
inserted into the bristle receiving shaft 13 for, for example, fixing the 
bristle stack 28. 
Before the brush-type seal segment 20 can now be completed, a brush cheek 
30 is required to which the bristles 12 can be fastened. In the embodiment 
illustrated in the drawing and described here, according to the process, 
two brush cheeks 30 are inserted into the bristle receiving shaft 13. As 
best illustrated in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 2, for this purpose, 
the bristle receiving shaft 13 has a T-shaped cross-section. Each of the 
two brush cheeks 30 is inserted into a transverse branch 32 of the T-shape 
33 which each forms a recess 31 so that it extends along the course of the 
shaft. The lateral end wall 19 forms the upper end of this T-shape 33. The 
sides of the transverse branch 32 of the T-shape 33 and the sides of the 
stem of the T-shape 33 as well as the undersides of the transverse 
branches 32 are formed by the lateral rings 17, 18, and the foot of the 
T-shape 33 is formed by the carrier disk 16. The lateral rings 17, 18 can 
be braced relative to one another in order to be able to securely hold the 
bristles 12 arranged in-between. 
However, within the scope of the invention, it is not important in regard 
to the process and arrangement whether the brush cheeks 30 are inserted 
before the stacking of the bristles 12 in the bristle receiving shaft 13 
or afterwards, or whether the brush cheeks 30 are formed directly by the 
injecting of a suitable material before or after the stacking of the 
bristles 12 in the bristle receiving shaft 13 in a corresponding mold 
cavity of the bristle receiving shaft 13 which would then correspond to 
the recesses 31. Basically, the invention is also not limited to the use 
of two brush cheeks 30. For example, the cross-section of the bristle 
receiving shaft 13 may also have an L-shape (not shown) in whose 
transverse web a bush cheek 30 is used. However, any other cross-sectional 
shape of the bristle receiving shaft 13 is conceivable which is adapted to 
the later application site of the brush-type seals 2. 
In the present embodiment, the two brush cheeks 30 can be inserted, for 
example, from the direction of the point of introduction 26, while the 
lateral end wall 19 rests against the lateral rings 17, 18, into the 
recesses 31 of the bristle receiving shaft 13. However, before the 
inserting of the brush cheeks 30 into the recesses 31, the lateral end 
wall 19 can also be removed so that the recesses 31 are freely accessible 
nd the brush cheeks 30 can therefore be inserted in them. 
When the brush cheeks 30 are situated in the recesses 31 of the bristle 
receiving shaft 13 and the bristle stack 28 is situated in the bristle 
receiving shaft 13 to the intended extent, the length of the brush cheeks 
30 in the direction of the course of the shaft corresponding to the height 
of the bristle stack 28, and the second segment end 29 was optionally 
mounted, the bristles 12 may be fastened on the brush cheeks 30 or may 
connected thereto. In the event that the brush cheeks 30 were formed 
directly in the recesses 31 of the bristle receiving shaft 13 after the 
bristle stack 28 was completed, the connection of bristles 12 with the 
brush cheeks 30 can take place, for example, in that the bristles 12 are 
partially poured into the brush cheeks 30. 
If, however, prefabricated brush cheeks 30 are used and are inserted into 
the bristle receiving shaft 13, for example, before the stacking-in of the 
bristles 12, they must be connected with the individual bristles 12 after 
the completion of the desired bristle stack 28. Several possibilities 
exist for this purpose of which several will be indicated as examples with 
reference to the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8. 
In order to connect the bristles 12 with the brush cheeks 30, a fastening 
agent 3 may be used. This fastening agent may, for example, be a bending 
agent 35 which is applied in a connection area 36 of the bristles 12 with 
the brush cheeks 30 and, after the hardening, ensures a firm connection 
between the bristles 12 and the brush cheeks 30. The bonding agent 5 is 
adapted to the materials, such as ceramics or metal, used in the case of 
the bristles 12 and the brush cheeks 30 so that a special bonding agent 
for ceramic/metal connections is used. For receiving a bonding surface 
which is as large as possible, in the embodiment of the brush cheeks 30 
illustrated in FIG. 3, it is provided that the latter form a connecting or 
receiving space 37 which has a rectangular cross-section and is part of 
the recesses 31. Instead of one continuous connecting space 37, several 
separate connecting spaces may also be provided. 
This whole connecting space 37 can be filled with the bonding agent 35 so 
that, corresponding to the representation in FIG. 3, the end ares of the 
bristles 12 reaching into this connecting space 37 are completely 
surrounding by the bonding agent 35 which otherwise is applied to the 
interior side of the connecting space 37. The thus established connection 
is extremely firm and durable. This is intensified by the fact that, after 
its hardening, the bonding agent 35 forms a web 39 which, viewed from the 
free unbonded ends of the bristles 12, reaches behind the brush cheeks 30 
and thus forms with the latter a form-locking connection against a force 
onto the bristles 12 int he direction of the brush cheeks 30 ward the free 
unbonded ends of the bristles 12. 
In this embodiment, the connecting space 37 also determines the connection 
area 36 which is freely accessible because of the removal of the shaft end 
wall 19. After the removal of the shaft end wall 19, the bonding agent 35 
can therefore be applied without any problem to the connection area 36 or 
may optionally be filled into the connecting space 37. The connecting 
space 37 or generally the connection area 36 is optionally covered during 
and/or after the filling-in of the bonding agent 35. 
It should be taken into account that in the above-described embodiment, the 
bristles 12 are connected with the brush cheeks 30 in an end area 38. 
However, irrespective of the type of fastening of the bristles 12 on the 
brush cheeks 30, the invention is not limited to this embodiment. For 
example, the bristles 12 may adjoin the brush cheeks 30 with a center area 
(not shown) and may project over the brush cheeks 30 in the radial 
direction (with respect to the lateral rings 17, 18). As the result, a 
brush-type seal (not shown) can be created which has an inner and an outer 
brush. In the latter embodiment, it is, for example, conceivable to apply, 
simultaneously with the stacking-in of the bristles 12 into the bristle 
receiving shaft 13, bonding agent in the connection area of the bristles 1 
with the brush cheeks 30 for their connection. 
In addition, in the brush-type seal 2 to be manufactured, the bristles 12 
must generally not absolutely always extend radially. The shape and the 
position of the layer surface 22 of the first segment end 23 can, for 
example, also be achieved in a bristle alignment which, although it is 
situated in a radial plane of the lateral rings 17, 18, it extends at an 
angle to their radii, as illustrated as an example in FIG. 1. However, the 
bristles 12 may also extend in an axial direction defined with respect to 
the lateral rings 17, 18 or at an angle thereto. Finally, it is also not 
required for the brush-type seal to be ring-shaped. It may have any linear 
or curved shape. 
With reference to FIG. 4, another embodiment will now be described of the 
brush-type seal 2 which can be manufactured by means of the arrangement 
and the process according to the invention. The arrangement of the 
bristles 12 and of the brush cheeks 30 is analogous to that illustrated in 
FIG. 3. However, the connecting space 37 has a triangular or V-shaped 
cross-section which expands toward the side of the brush cheeks 30 facing 
away from the free ends of the bristles 12. In the present embodiment, a 
solder 40 is used as a fastening agent 34 instead of a bonding agent 35. 
As a function of the materials of the bristles 12 and of the brush cheeks 
30, the solder 40 may, for example, be a palladium solder and may be 
entered into the connecting space or generally applied to the connection 
area 36 in a pasty, chopped, powdery or foil form. 
The solder 40 can be applied to the connection area 36 by being brushed 
onto it or may be entered into the pertaining connecting space 37. 
However, for this purpose, it is required that the shaft end wall 19 is 
removed so that the brush back 41 is freely accessible. With the same 
effect, the solder 40 can also be applied to the connection area 36 or 
entered into the pertaining connecting space 37, for example, as a type of 
solder paste by means of a spray gun, such as a compressed-air spray gun, 
comparable to those for the application of paint. The person skilled in 
the art will be familiar with additional possibilities and devices for 
their implementation so that these do not have to be described in detail. 
So that the solder 40 can carry out its holding effect, it must be melted 
which can take place by means of a spot-type radiant heater or a 
linear-type radiant heater, a high-frequency system, a laser, or the like, 
(not shown) for a short time. Preferably, the melting of the solder 40 
takes place in a controlled atmosphere. After the heating of the solder 40 
beyond its melting point and its resulting liquefaction, it will fill out 
the connecting space 37 and possibly penetrate also between the bristles 
12 in their corresponding end area 38. When the solder 40 now cools down 
again, it will firmly and durably connected the bristles 12 with one 
another and with the brush cheeks 30 and, in the same manner as the 
bonding agent 35 of the example of FIG. 3, form a web 39 which reaches 
behind the brush cheeks 30 in the region of the end areas 38 of the 
bristles 12. 
Particularly when at least one connecting space 37 is provided, it is also 
possible to fill in the solder 40 in the course of the process during the 
stacking of the bristles 12 into the bristle receiving shaft 13, similar 
to the manner described above in conjunction with the use of the bonding 
agent 35 particularly in the case of two-sided brush-type seals 2 with 
inner and outer brushes. By way of nozzles (not shown) or general delivery 
devices, which may be mounted, for example, in the area of the point of 
introduction 26 for bristles 12 into the bristle receiving shaft 13 on the 
shaft end wall 29, solder can be filled into the connecting space or 
optionally the connecting spaces 37 simultaneously with the feeding and 
stacking of bristles 12 into the bristle receiving shaft 13. If the 
bristle receiving shaft 13 consists of a material which does not bond with 
the solder material, for the melting of the solder 40, the bristle 
receiving shaft 13 can be heated as a whole or at suitable points and 
virtually forms a mold for the solder 40 so that, when it cools down, it 
automatically receives a definable shape and surface. 
In all embodiments in which solder 40 is used, it may also be possible to 
fill the latter into the connecting space 37 already in the melted 
condition. As an alternative to the above-described types of application 
of the solder 40, it can also be applied to the connection area 36 or 
entered into the connecting space 37 by means of a flame spraying process 
or as a plasma which contains metal components and/or ceramic components; 
by plasma spraying process, or similar process. This process also can be 
carried out in the case of freely accessible brush backs 41; that is, when 
the shaft end wall 19 has been removed, as well as in a 
process-accompanying manner already when the bristles 12 are placed in the 
bristle receiving shaft 13. Corresponding nozzles (not shown) can be set 
up at the point of introduction 26, for example, on the shaft end wall 19. 
Generally, the bonding agent 35 or the solder 40, depending on the 
respective type, can be applied to the connection area 36 or entered into 
the pertaining connecting space 37 by brushing, spraying, galvanizing, 
sputtering, CVD, PVD or filling-in. As a function of the process, a 
removal of the shaft end wall 19 before the treatment of the connection 
area with bonding agent 35 or solder 40 is required or optional so that 
the brush back 41 will be freely accessible. 
The connecting of the bristles 12 with the brush cheeks 30 by means of a 
galvanic layer on the brush back 41 is suitable particularly when the 
brush-type seal 2 equipped with it is intended for a use in a low 
temperature range. 
If it is provided at all, the connecting space 37 may also have a 
cross-section which is not rectangular or triangular. For example, the 
connecting space may have a cross-section which forms a circle together 
with the brush cheeks 30. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a brush-type 
seal 2 manufactured with corresponding brush cheeks 30 and a matching 
connecting space 37,or a segment thereof. In this embodiment, the 
connection of the bristles 12 with the brush cheeks 30 was established by 
means of heating or warming by means of a laser, a plasma burner, or the 
like, with the addition of material of the same type. The bristles 12 of 
this embodiment are, for example, quartz fibers. However, without limiting 
the present embodiment, generally aluminum oxide fibers, etc. may also be 
used. By the addition of material of the same type, the size and the shape 
of the bead can be varied. By the melting-together of the bristles 12 and 
the brush cheeks 30, these are integrally connected. 
As an example, the connecting space 37 can, for example, also be 
constructed in connection with a circular cross-section of the brush 
cheeks 30 of the joining with the bristles 12 also by a corresponding 
shaping of the shaft end wall 19. For this purpose, a corresponding groove 
or recess (not shown) will then be provided on the shaft-interior-side 
section of the shaft end wall 19. This embodiment of the arrangement 1 or 
manufacturing brush-type seals 2 is not limited to the manufacturing of 
circular brush cheeks 30 but can basically be used in the case of any 
geometry of the brush cheeks or can be combined with other developments. 
Another shape of the bead 42 is illustrated in FIG. 6, in which, after the 
connection with the bristles 12, the brush cheeks 30 have a rectangular 
cross-section. 
Optionally, the used bristle material 5 can also be coated in sections, for 
example, before the cutting by means of the cutting device 8 in order to 
form coating sections 43 on the bristles 12 which, during the connection 
with the brush cheeks 30 contribute to the fact that the bristles 12 can 
be more easily and/or better fastened among one another and on the brush 
cheeks 30. As coatings in the coating sections 43, solder or generally 
metal can be used which can be applied to the bristles 12 in areas by 
means of brushing, spraying, sputtering, galvanizing, CVD, PVD, and 
similar methods. 
After this bristle material 5 has been cut into bristles 12 by the cutting 
device 8 and the bristles 12 have been sorted or stacked into the bristle 
receiving shaft 13, the coating sections 43 come to be situated next to or 
between the brush cheeks 30 and can be connected therewith, for example, 
in the event of a soldering coating, by means of a heat treatment. 
FIG. 7 shows an example of a corresponding portion of bristle material 5 to 
which coating sections 43 are applied in the end areas 38 of the bristles 
12 which will later be situated between the brush cheeks 30. One bristle 
12 cut off this bristle material 5 is illustrated in FIG. 8 fastened 
between two brush cheeks 30. If, for example, solder 40 is applied to the 
bristle material 5 in the coating sections 43, during the melting of this 
solder 40 as well as of solder 40 situated on the connection area 36, it 
is optimally ensured that, along a sufficient length of the bristles 12 
next to the brush cheeks 30, sufficient solder 40 is available for a fixed 
and durable connection of the bristles 12 among one another as well as 
with the brush cheeks 30. 
Instead of the solder 40, in the coating sections 43, any other materials 
can also be applied to the end areas 38 of the bristles 12 which are 
suitable for the fastening of the bristles 12 with respect to one another 
and to the brush cheeks 30 or which promote or facilitate such fastenings. 
Also, any other surface treatment, in addition to a coating, can be 
carried out in addition or as an alternative. The roughening of a surface 
area of the bristles 12 is indicated here only as an example. which 
surface area is later coated and/or is situated between the brush cheeks 
30, optionally particularly in a connecting space 37. 
The system or arrangement 1 for manufacturing brush-type seals 2 also 
contains a control 44 (FIG. 1) which takes care of the adjustment of the 
carrier disk 16 or generally of the bristle receiving shaft 13 as a 
function of how far the latter is filled with bristles 12. In order to be 
able to determined the filling condition of the bristle receiving shaft 13 
with bristles 12, the control 44 is connected with detection devices (not 
shown) which may have any conventional design. Suitable detection devices 
are, for example, light barriers which may be mounted at the point of 
introduction 26 of the bristles into the bristle receiving shaft 13, for 
example, on the shaft end wall 19. 
However, the control 44 may also be coupled with the bristle feeing devices 
45 which are formed by the material dispenser 3 with the drum 4 having 
wound-up bristle material 5, the guide rollers 6, 7, the cutting device 8 
with the cutting roller 9 and the counter roller 10, and the bristle guide 
14. The control 44 can then already receive information concerning the fed 
quantity of bristles 12 from the bristle feeding devices 45; can determine 
therefrom the filling quantity in the bristle receiving shaft 13; and, as 
a function thereof, can control the adjustment of the bristle receiving 
shaft 13. As a result, the manufacturing process of the brush-type seals 2 
or of the brush-type seal segments 20 is largely automated and can take 
place in an efficient manner. 
Because of the coupling of the control 44 with the bristle feeding devices 
45, the former can also control the feeding of the bristles 12 to the 
bristle receiving shaft 13 with respect to the quantity and type. In 
particular, it is therefore possible to combine different types of 
bristles in a definable manner in one brush-type seal 2 which, however, 
can also be carried out by a defined type of feeding. 
FIG. 9 shows another embodiment of the arrangement for manufacturing 
brush-type seals. As demonstrated by a comparison, this embodiment is 
largely identical with the version illustrated in FIG. 1. However, the 
design of the shaft end wall 19 is different. Specifically, in the 
embodiment of FIG. 9, the shaft end wall 19 is not fixedly connected with 
the drum 4 and the lateral rings 17, 18, as in the design of FIG. 1, but 
consists of a band 46 which is connected in the area of the shaft bottom 
21 by way of a fastening 47 to the bristle receiving shaft 13. During the 
adjusting movement of the bristle receiving shaft 13 synchronously to the 
introduction of the bristles 12, the band 46, which may be a steel band, 
is fed by a feeding roller 49 by way of a deflecting roller 48. The 
feeding roller 48 therefore determines the point of introduction 26 or 
bristles 12, for example, of the bristle feeding devices 45. 
So that the band 46 can be placed tightly against the bristle receiving 
shaft 13, the feeding roller 49 can be acted upon, for example, by a 
torsion spring (not shown) against the withdrawal direction of the band 46 
by the adjustment of the bristle receiving shaft 13, which torsion spring 
provides a corresponding retaining force. In addition, the deflecting 
roller 48 can simultaneously function as a contact pressure roller in 
order to ensure the optimal positioning of the band 46 over the bristle 
receiving shaft 13. 
The development of the shaft end wall 19 as a band 46 ensures that there 
will be no relative movement between the shaft end wall 19 and the 
bristles 12 stacked into the bristle receiving shaft 13 so that these 
bristles 12 maintain their adjusted position in a stable manner. The 
construction of the shaft end wall 19 as a band 46 or with a band 46 is 
particularly advantageous in the case of larger brush-type seal segments. 
The band 46 can easily be removed after the stacking-in of the bristles 12 
before their further processing to form the brush-type seal 2 in that the 
fastening 47 is released. If the above-mentioned torsion spring or similar 
device is present, this spring will then cause the winding of the band 46 
onto the feeding roller 49. However, as an alternative, the band 46 may 
also remain on the bristle receiving shaft 13 as expandable material and 
form, for example, the back of the brush-type seal 2 to be manufactured. 
The band 46 is also not limited to steel band or the like. It may also be 
a coated or uncoated plastic band which, for reasons of stability, is 
optionally supported by way of a more stable band or a link chain. Also, 
the band may be shaped such that it contains one or two brush cheeks 30 
which are then introduced into the bristle receiving shaft 13 
simultaneously with the feeding of the band 46. 
For this purpose, by means of the cutting device 8, the bristle material 5 
withdrawn from the material dispenser 3 is cut into bristles of a defined 
length. Beforehand or afterwards, a surface treatment of the bristles 12 
can optionally be carried out. The thus obtained bristles 12 are stacked 
in the bristle receiving shaft 13 which, by means of the control 44, is 
adjusted such as a function of the filling condition with the bristles 12, 
that the surface of the bristle stack 28 during the feeding of the 
bristles 12 always maintained an at least approximately constant position 
which, in particular, corresponds to the point of introduction 26 on the 
stationary shaft end wall 19. By means of this control, it is ensured that 
the fed bristles 12 are always deposited at the point of introduction 26 
in a defined manner into the bristle receiving shaft 13 optionally on the 
surface 27 of an already started bristle stack 28. As result, it is also 
ensured that the bristles 12 are stacked in a precise position and 
alignment in which they are finally to be available in the brush-type seal 
2. 
During the filling operation of the bristle receiving shaft 13, if the 
operation takes place continuously, the carrier disk 16 is continuously 
rotated in the same manner or synchronously as a function of the filling 
level of the bristle receiving shaft 13. In contrast, the shaft end wall 
19 as well as the bristle feeding devices 45 remain stationary. 
By means of the cutting device 8, the bristles 12 can be cut off the 
bristle material 5 in a precise manner to a required length. After they 
were introduced into the bristle receiving shaft 13 by way of the bristle 
guide 14, the bristles 12 can then be stacked in the shaft 13 in any 
position which can be defined by the bearing surface 22 of the first 
segment end 23. In this case, the bristles 12 may, for example, be 
embedded such that they extend diagonally with respect to the 
cross-section of the bristle receiving shaft 13 in order to take into 
account a future use of the brush-type seal on a rotating shaft running in 
one direction. The cross-sectional shape of the bristle receiving shaft 13 
can also be determined as a function of a later use of the brush-type seal 
2. 
The position, alignment and stacking height of the bristles 12 in the 
bristle receiving shaft 13 is therefore determined by the segment ends 23, 
29 which are also used for fixing the bristles 12 in the bristle receiving 
shaft 13, after, optionally the shaft end wall 19 was removed. When a 
defined segment size of a burst-type seal segment 20 to be manufactured is 
reached, the second segment end 29 is optionally guided to the bristle 
package or the bristle stack 28. The shaft end wall 19 can now be removed. 
The bristle backs 41 with the connection area 36 will then be freely 
accessible. 
By means of fastening devices 34, the bristles 12 are then connected among 
one another and with the brush cheeks 30 which were previously inserted in 
the bristle receiving shaft 13 or were constructed in it as an alternative 
which can take place before, during or after the adjustment of the 
bristles 12. Finally, the brush cheek 30 or cheeks 31, together with the 
bristles 12 fastened thereto can be removed from the bristle receiving 
shaft 13. In order to facilitate this, the lateral rings 17, 18 may be 
completely or partially removable from the carrier disk 16. If only 
brush-type seal segments 20 were manufactured by means of the process 
described so far, these must only be combined, that is, fastened to one 
another, to form a complete brush-type seal.