Flexible seal assembly

Abstract

Flexible seal assemblies having a relatively low torsional rigidity and high longitudinal flexure to thereby allow the flexible seal assembly to flex between adjacent components and maintain a seal, even when movement between adjacent components occurs, is described. In some embodiments, the flexible seal assembly includes one or more layers of metal matrix material, the metal matrix material being comprised of a plurality of short segments of thin wire arranged randomly and sintered together to form a semi-rigid sheet. The one or more layers of metal matrix material can be sandwiched between an upper casing and a lower casing of a metal alloy casing. In various embodiments, additional features are provided for helping to make sure the seal assembly stays together, such as spot welds formed through the seal assembly, an S-shaped casing, and a recess/protrusion feature provided on adjacent layers of metal matrix material.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.