Sealing device for a rotary regenerative heat exchanger

A sealing device for a rotary type regenerative heat exchanger comprising a rotary regenerative body having a pair of opposed generally planar parallel side surfaces, a pair of flat, rigid seal ring portions each positioned to extend through 360.degree., respectively, over said opposed surfaces on opposite sides of said rotary regenerative body, with a predetermined minute clearance spacing being maintained between each of said seal ring portions and the respective side surfaces of said regenerating body, at least a pair of cross bar portions provided one for each of said seal ring portions and extending crosswise over said opposed side surfaces of said regenerative body from one position on a peripheral edge portion of each of said seal ring portions to another symmetrically opposite position on the same peripheral edge portion of said seal ring portion, with a predetermined minute clearance spacing being maintained between each cross bar portion and the respective side surface of said regenerative body, spacer means for maintaining clearances between said side surfaces of said rotary regenerative body and said respective seal ring portions to a predetermined value, said spacer means including spring means extending about said rotary regenerative body between respective peripheral edge portions of said seal ring portions to provide support for said seal ring portions relative to said regenerative body, cover means acting both as support means for said heat exchanger and to define fluid flow passages for said regenerative body, bellows means resiliently connected between said cover means and said rigid seal ring portions to cooperate with said cover means both to assist in supporting said seal ring portions and define said fluid flow passages, and resiliency means on said cross bar portions for imparting thereto flexibility in order to accommodate possible deformations in the central portions of said regenerative body due to thermal effects.