Bundle and place method for the manufacture of brush seals
AssigneeTechnetics Corporation
InventorHarold Howe
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for the production of brush seals, by first forming a linear array of contiguous, parallely aligned brush elements. The elements, each containing a multitude of bristles, are aligned in a resilient, linear support, in which the long axis of the bristles are parallel to each other. The resultant, resiliently supported array of brush elements is easily contoured to various arcuate shapes. For effecting a seal between the rotating elements of a turbine engine, the linear array is contoured in the form of a circular array, in which the free ends of the bristles in the array are joined to an annular backing ring.
Claims10
In the formation of a flexible linear array of parallelly aligned, contiguous bristles, for use in the production of a brush seal, the improvement which comprises;
- providing a multitude of bundles of tightly packed bristles, the bristles of each such bundle being joined at one end thereof,
- placing the bundles on a member to form a linear brush array, such that the long axes of the bristles in the array are parallel to each other, said member maintaining the bundles in such an array,
- applying a material capable of forming a resilient backing at the joined-end portion of each of the bundles, whereby the backing acts as a flexible connector to maintain the bundles in the form of the linear brush array.
A method for forming a flexible linear array of parallelly aligned, contiguous bristles, for use in the production of a brush seal, which comprises;
- providing a ribbon of fibers, said ribbon being composed of a multitude of individual strands of fiber,
- at defined distances along the length of the ribbon, joining the individual strands to each other,
- cutting the ribbon at the resultant junctures to form a multitude of bundles, the strands of each such bundle being joined at one end thereof,
- placing the bundles on a member to form a linear brush array, such that the long axis of each bundle in the array is parallel to each other,
- forming a resilient backing, at the joined-end portion of each of the bundles whereby the backing acts as a flexible connector to maintain the bundles in the form of the linear brush array.
A method for the production of bundles of tightly packed bristles, each such bundle being joined, at least at one end thereof, comprising,
- providing a ribbon of fibers, said ribbon composed of a multitude of individual strands of fiber,
- passing said ribbons through a die, shaped to closely pack the fibers,
- at defined points along the length of the ribbon, joining the individual strands to each other;
- thereby forming a ribbon with a multitude of juncture bands therein,
- cutting the ribbon at the resultant junctures and at points approximately midway between the junctures, to provide about twice as many bundles as junctures.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.