Seal assembly for sealing relatively movable components

A system, comprising:

• a first component;
• a second component movable relative to the first component, wherein a gap is defined between the first component and the second component;
• a rub strip fixed to the first component and positioned within the gap, wherein the rub strip comprises:
• a seal strip engagement surface having a curved convex shape;
• and
• a first component engagement surface, engaged with the first component and opposite the seal strip engagement surface, wherein the first component engagement surface has a planar shape when engaged with the first component and has a curved concave shape when not engaged with the first component;
• and
• a seal strip fixed to the second component and positioned within the gap, wherein the seal strip comprises:
• a rub strip engagement surface having a curved convex shape,
• wherein the rub strip is harder than the rub strip engagement surface;
• and
• a second component engagement surface engaged with the second component and opposite the rub strip engagement surface, wherein the second component engagement surface has a planar shape when engaged with the second component and has a curved concave shape when not engaged with the second component;
• wherein at least a portion of the rub strip engagement surface of the seal strip is deformed against at least a portion of the seal strip engagement surface of the rub strip, at a location within the gap and spaced apart from the first component and the second component, to form a seal between the first component and the second component as the second component moves relative to the first component.

A method of sealing a gap between a first component and a second component, the method comprising:

• fixing a rub strip to the first component, wherein the rub strip comprises:
• a seal strip engagement surface having a curved convex shape;
• and
• a first component engagement surface, engaged with the first component and opposing the seal strip engagement surface, wherein the first component engagement surface has a planar shape when engaged with the first component and has a curved concave shape when not engaged with the first component;
• fixing a seal strip to the second component, wherein the seal strip comprises:
• a rub strip engagement surface having a curved convex shape, wherein the rub strip is harder than the rub strip engagement surface;
• and
• a second component engagement surface engaged with the second component, wherein the second component engagement surface has a planar shape when engaged with the second component and has a curved concave shape when not engaged with the second component;
• and
• deforming the seal strip against the rub strip;
• and
• moving the first component relative to the second component in a scissoring motion.