Pressure balanced compliant seal device

An apparatus having a high pressure area and a low pressure area, the apparatus comprising:

• a rotatable shaft;
• and
• a compliant seal device for sealing the high pressure area from the low pressure area along the rotatable shaft, the compliant seal device including
• a base member including an annular base wall, a first wall extending radially inward from the base wall proximate the high pressure area and a second wall extending radially inward from the base wall proximate the low pressure area, the base member having a cavity formed therein between the first wall and the second wall;
• and
• a plurality of flexible sheet members extending between the first wall and the second wall, each of the plurality of flexible sheet members having a base end fixed to the first wall and a moveable free end in sealing engagement with the second wall to substantially enclose the cavity with an adjustable pressure therein.

An apparatus having a high pressure area and a low pressure area, the apparatus comprising:

• a first stationary member;
• a second stationary member;
• and
• a compliant seal device for sealing the high pressure area from the low pressure area along a gap between the first stationary member and the second stationary member, the compliant seal device including
• a base member including an annular base wall, a first wall extending radially inward from the base wall proximate the high pressure area and a second wall extending radially inward from the base wall proximate the low pressure area, the base member having a cavity formed therein between the first wall and the second wall;
• and
• a plurality of flexible sheet members extending between the first wall and the second wall, each of the plurality of flexible sheet members having a base end fixed to the first wall and a moveable free end in sealing engagement with the second wall to substantially enclose the cavity with an adjustable pressure therein.

An apparatus having a high pressure area and a low pressure area, the apparatus comprising:

• a first rotating member;
• a second rotating member;
• and
• a compliant seal device for sealing the high pressure area from the low pressure area along a gap between the first rotating member and the second rotating member, the compliant seal device including
• a base member including an annular base wall, a first wall extending radially inward from the base wall proximate the high pressure area and a second wall extending radially inward from the base wall proximate the low pressure area, the base member having a cavity formed therein between the first wall and the second wall;
• and
• a plurality of flexible sheet members extending between the first wall and the second wall, each of the plurality of flexible sheet members having a base end fixed to the first wall and a moveable free end in sealing engagement with the second wall to substantially enclose the cavity with an adjustable pressure therein.