Metal leaf rotary seal for rotary drum

A rotary seal for sealing a large, high temperature rotary drum to a stationary hood where said drum is mounted for rotation with respect to said hood about an axis of rotation defining axial planes, said drum having a substantially circularly cylindrical surface near one open end thereof substantially coaxial with said axis of rotation, and said hood being open to the interior of said drum through said open end, said seal comprising:

• a series of overlapping leaves of resilient metal disposed successively to encircle said cylindrical surface, each said leaf having an inner surface and an outer surface and a mounting end and a sealing end, with said mounting end affixed to said stationary hood, and said sealing end disposed at said cylindrical surface with said outer surface concave in a said axial plane, each said leaf extending from said mounting end to said sealing end obliquely relative to a said axial plane therethrough so that said sealing end is displaced circumferentially a substantial distance relative to said mounting end, and each said leaf further having a sealing edge on said outer surface between said mounting and sealing ends extending obliquely of a said axial plane, said sealing edge being disposed beneath the inner surface of an adjacent leaf,
• a wear liner disposed on the inner surfaces of said leaves at their sealing ends for spacing said sealing ends from said cylindrical surface and having an inner surface on a side opposite said sealing ends for mating with said cylindrical surface, and
• means for securing said sealing ends to said wear liner and forcing said inner surface of a respective leaf against said sealing edge of the respective adjacent leaf while leaving said respective sealing edge free to move relative to said respective inner surface upon flexure of said seal when said drum moves radially relative to said hood.