Compliant pressure balanced seal apparatus
AssigneeEG&G Sealol, Inc.
InventorJames F. Gardner
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A compliant seal apparatus for sealing a high pressure area from a low pressure area. The compliant seal device comprises a housing including a first wall positioned proximate the high pressure area, and a second wall positioned proximate the low pressure area. A cavity is formed between an inner surface of the first wall and an inner surface of the second wall. A finger having a free end extends from proximate the first wall toward the low pressure area. A member extends from an upper surface of the finger into the cavity to form a sealing engagement with the second wall inner surface. This sealing engagement is located closer than the free end of the finger to the first wall inner surface.
Claims52
A compliant sealing apparatus for sealing a high pressure area from a low pressure area, the sealing apparatus comprising:
- a housing including:
- a first wall positioned proximate the high pressure area, and
- a second wall positioned proximate the low pressure area, said first and second walls positioned adjacent each other with facing inner surfaces of said walls defining, at least in part, a cavity therebetween;
- at least one finger extending from proximate the first wall toward the low pressure area, the finger including a free end;
- and
- at least one member extending from an upper surface of the finger into the cavity to form a sealing engagement with the second wall inner surface, the sealing engagement being located closer than the free end to the first wall inner surface.
A compliant sealing apparatus for sealing a high pressure area from a low pressure area, the sealing apparatus comprising:
- an annular housing including:
- a first annular wall positioned proximate the high pressure area,
- a second annular wall positioned proximate the low pressure area, said first and second walls positioned adjacent each other with facing inner surfaces of said walls defining, at least in part, a cavity therebetween;
- a plurality of fingers, each of the fingers extending from proximate the first wall toward the low pressure area and including a free end;
- and
- a plurality of members, each of the members extending from an upper surface of each the fingers into the cavity to form a sealing engagement with the second wall inner surface, the sealing engagement being located closer than the free end to the first wall inner surface.
A compliant sealing apparatus for sealing a high pressure area from a low pressure area, the sealing apparatus comprising:
- a housing including:
- a base wall,
- a first wall extending from the base wall proximate the high pressure area, the first wall having an inner surface,
- a second wall extending from the base wall proximate the low pressure area, the second wall having an inner surface, and said base wall, said inner surface of said first wall, and said inner surface of the second wall defining, at least in part, a cavity therebetween;
- at least one flexible sheet member extending between the first wall and the second wall, the sheet member including a base end coupled to the first wall and a free end portion positioned within the cavity to form a sealing engagement with the second wall surface and substantially enclose the cavity;
- and
- at least one finger extending from proximate the first wall toward the low pressure area, the finger including a free end located further than the sealing engagement from the first wall inner surface.
A compliant sealing apparatus for sealing a high pressure area from a low pressure area, the sealing apparatus comprising:
- a housing including:
- a base wall,
- a first wall extending from the base wall proximate the high pressure area, the first wall having an inner surface,
- a second wall extending from the base wall proximate the low pressure area, the second wall having an inner surface, and said base wall, said inner surface of said first wall, and said inner surface of the second wall defining, at least in part, a cavity therebetween;
- at least one first flexible sheet member including two opposed edges;
- at least one second flexible sheet member located between the first sheet member and the cavity, the second flexible sheet member including two opposed edges being out of alignment with the two opposed edges of the first flexible sheet member,
- wherein both the first and second flexible sheet members extend between the first wall and the second wall, and include a base end coupled to the first wall and a free end portion positioned within the cavity to form a sealing engagement with the second wall inner surface;
- and
- at least one finger located along a portion of a lower surface of the first flexible sheet member, the finger extending from proximate the first wall toward the low pressure area.
A device having a high pressure area and a low pressure area, the device comprising:
- a rotatable shaft;
- and
- a compliant sealing apparatus for sealing the high pressure area from the low pressure area along the rotatable shaft, the sealing apparatus including:
- a annular housing including:
- a first annular wall positioned proximate the high pressure area,
- a second annular wall positioned proximate the low pressure area, said first and second walls positioned adjacent each other with facing inner surfaces of said walls defining, at least in part, a cavity therebetween;
- a plurality of fingers spaced from the rotatable shaft, each of the fingers extending from proximate the first wall toward the low pressure area, and including a free end;
- and
- a plurality of members, each of the members extending from an upper surface of each the fingers into the cavity to form a sealing engagement with the second wall inner surface, the sealing engagement being located closer than the free end to the first wall inner surface.
A compliant sealing apparatus for sealing a high pressure area from a low pressure area, the sealing apparatus comprising:
- a housing including:
- a base wall,
- a first wall extending from the base wall proximate the high pressure area, the first wall having an inner surface,
- a second wall extending from the base wall proximate the low pressure area, the second wall having an inner surface, and said base wall, said inner surface of said first wall, and said inner surface of the second wall defining, at least in part, a cavity therebetween;
- a first flexible sheet member;
- a second flexible sheet member located between the first sheet member and the cavity,
- wherein both the first and second flexible sheet members extend between the first wall and the second wall, and include a base end coupled to the first wall and a free end portion positioned within the cavity to form a sealing engagement with the second wall inner surface;
- and
- a finger located along a portion of a lower surface of the first sheet member, the finger extending from proximate the first wall toward the low pressure area, and including both a flexible bridge portion coupled to the first wall and a tip portion adjacent the bridge portion, the tip portion having a free end located further than the sealing engagement from the first wall inner surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.