Patent ID: 6976679

Claim:
An inter-fluid brush seal assembly for substantially preventing the flow of at least one fluid adjacent a rotatable member, the seal assembly comprising: a dispersion ring defining a bore extending therethrough for receiving the rotatable member, the dispersion ring defining a gas passage extending at least partially circumferentially around the bore of the dispersion ring and having first and second sides directed in opposite axial directions of the rotatable member; at least one brush seal having a circumferential member and a plurality of elongate members, the circumferential member structured to extend circumferentially around the rotatable member and the elongate members being connected to the circumferential member and structured to extend generally radially inward to define a first flow restricting interface with the rotatable member, the at least one brush seal being directed toward the first side of the gas passage; a second seal structured to extend circumferentially around the rotatable member, the second seal being positioned opposite the gas passage from the brush seal and directed toward the second side of the gas passage, the second seal defining a second flow restricting interface with the rotatable member; a housing defining a bore for receiving the dispersion ring, the housing defining an inlet and first and second drains fluidly connected to the bore, the inlet being disposed axially between the first and second drains and fluidly connected to the gas passage, the first drain being fluidly connected to the first interface, and the second drain being fluidly connected to the second interface such that the first and second drains are configured to receive the gas from the inlet via the first and second interfaces, respectively; at least one seal member structured to be received in the bore of the housing axially opposite a respective one of the drains from the gas passage, the seal member and a respective one of the interfaces defining an annular space therebetween in fluid communication with the respective drain, the seal member corresponding to the rotatable member such that the seal member partially restricts the flow of the fluid along the rotatable member and toward the respective drain; and a spacer disposed between the seal member and the respective interface such that the spacer maintains the annular space between the seal member and the respective interface and the annular space is fluidly connected to the respective drain, wherein the dispersion ring is configured to receive a gas from the inlet of the housing, communicate the gas through the gas passage, and deliver the gas to the first and second interfaces such that the gas substantially prevents the flow of fluid through the seal assembly.