Brush seal device having a recessed back plate

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

• a rotatable shaft;
• a brush seal device for sealing the high pressure area from the low pressure area along the rotatable shaft, the brush seal device including
• an annular retaining plate having a first side facing the high pressure area and a second side opposite the first side;
• an annular back plate having an inside diameter less than the inside diameter of the annular retaining plate and having a first side facing the low pressure area and a second side opposite the first side, the second side of the back plate having an outer peripheral portion and an inner peripheral portion, the inner peripheral portion of the second side of the back plate having a recessed surface formed therein extending from an inner peripheral edge of the back plate outwardly to the outer peripheral portion;
• and
• a plurality of bristles between the second side of the retaining plate and the outer peripheral portion of the second side of the back plate, the plurality of bristles extending inwardly from the outer peripheral portion of the second side of the back plate and being oriented relative to the recessed surface to permit movement of the plurality of bristles toward the recessed surface.

A brush seal device for sealing a high pressure area from a low pressure area, the brush seal device comprising:

• an annular retaining plate having a first side facing the high pressure area and a second side opposite the first side;
• an annular back plate having a first side facing the low pressure area and a second side opposite the first side, the second side of the back plate having an outer peripheral portion and an inner peripheral portion, the inner peripheral portion of the second side of the back plate having a recessed surface formed therein extending from an inner peripheral edge of the back plate outwardly to the outer peripheral portion, the recessed surface being contoured to increase in depth toward an inner peripheral edge of the back plate;
• and
• a plurality of bristles between the second side of the retaining plate and the outer peripheral portion of the second side of the back plate, the plurality of bristles extending inwardly from the outer peripheral portion of the second side of the back plate and being oriented relative to the recessed surface to permit movement of the plurality of bristles toward the recessed surface.

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

• a rotatable shaft;
• a brush seal device for sealing the high pressure area from the low pressure area along the rotatable shaft, the brush seal device including
• an annular retaining plate having a first side facing the high pressure area and a second side opposite the first side;
• an annular back plate having a first side facing the low pressure area and a second side opposite the first side, the second side of the back plate having an outer peripheral portion and an inner peripheral portion, the inner peripheral portion of the second side of the back plate having a recessed surface formed therein extending from an inner peripheral edge of the back plate outwardly to the outer peripheral portion, the recessed surface being contoured to increase in depth toward an inner peripheral edge of the back plate;
• and
• a plurality of bristles between the second side of the retaining plate and the outer peripheral portion of the second side of the back plate, the plurality of bristles extending inwardly from the outer peripheral portion of the second side of the back plate and being oriented relative to the recessed surface to permit movement of the plurality of bristles toward the recessed surface.

A brush seal device for sealing a high pressure area from a low pressure area, the brush seal device comprising:

• an annular retaining plate having a first side facing the high pressure area and a second side opposite the first side;
• an annular back plate having a first side facing the low pressure area and a second side opposite the first side, the second side of the back plate having an outer peripheral portion and an inner peripheral portion, the inner peripheral portion of the second side of the back plate having a recessed surface formed therein extending from an inner peripheral edge of the back plate outwardly to the outer peripheral portion;
• a plurality of bristles between the second side of the retaining plate and the outer peripheral portion of the second side of the back plate, the plurality of bristles extending inwardly from the outer peripheral portion of the second side of the back plate and being oriented relative to the recessed surface to permit movement of the plurality of bristles toward the recessed surface;
• and
• a flexible annular member disposed between the plurality of bristles and the second side of the back plate.

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

• a rotatable shaft;
• a brush seal device for sealing the high pressure area from the low pressure area along the rotatable shaft, the brush seal device including
• an annular retaining plate having a first side facing the high pressure area and a second side opposite the first side;
• an annular back plate having a first side facing the low pressure area and a second side opposite the first side, the second side of the back plate having an outer peripheral portion and an inner peripheral portion, the inner peripheral portion of the second side of the back plate having a recessed surface formed therein extending from an inner peripheral edge of the back plate outwardly to the outer peripheral portion;
• a plurality of bristles between the second side of the retaining plate and the outer peripheral portion of the second side of the back plate, the plurality of bristles extending inwardly from the outer peripheral portion of the second side of the back plate and being oriented relative to the recessed surface to permit movement of the plurality of bristles toward the recessed surface;
• and
• a flexible annular member disposed between the plurality of bristles and the second side of the back plate.