Patent ID: 7434813

Claim:
A compliant seal assembly comprising: a seal pack carrier defining a slot, the seal pack carrier having an upstream face and a downstream face, a seal pack slideably mounted within the slot, the seal pack having an upstream face and a downstream face, wherein the seal pack carrier and the seal pack contact each other to form a high-pressure plenum which abuts the downstream face of the seal pack, and which can be pressurized to apply a force to the seal pack in an upstream direction, and the seal pack carrier and the seal pack further define a low-pressure plenum which abuts the upstream face of the seal pack, and which can be vented to increase an effect of force generated by the high-pressure plenum, and wherein the compliant seal assembly further comprises: a first passage with a length between a first opening and a second opening, wherein the first opening of the first passage is located at an external surface of the upstream face of the seal pack carrier, and the second opening of the first passage communicates with the high-pressure plenum, and a second passage with a length between a first opening and a second opening, wherein the first opening of the second passage is located at an external surface of the downstream face of the seal pack carrier, and the second opening of the second passage communicates with the low-pressure plenum.