Brush seal segment having bristle damping

A brush seal segment comprising:

• a) a brush-seal holder having a shape of generally an annular segment of a circular ring, wherein said ring has a longitudinal axis, and wherein said holder has an annular brush-seal back plate and an annular brush-seal front plate each generally coaxially aligned with said axis and each having an inner circumferential edge generally facing said axis;
• and
• b) a plurality of brush-seal bristles each having a free end,
• wherein said bristles are disposed longitudinally between said back and front plates with said free end of generally each bristle extending beyond said edges of said back and front plates,
• wherein said edge of said back plate extends closer to said axis than does said edge of said front plate,
• wherein said front plate has a portion extending to said edge of said front plate with said portion longitudinally spaced apart from said bristles,
• wherein said portion of said front plate has an array of through holes, and
• wherein at least one of said array of through holes is aligned to direct a gas flow to impact said free end of said plurality of brush seal bristles.

A brush seal segment comprising:

• a) a brush-seal back plate having an edge;
• b) a brush-seal front plate having an edge;
• and
• c) a plurality of brush-seal bristles each having a free end;
• wherein said bristles are disposed between said back and front plates with said free end of generally each bristle extending beyond said edges of said back and front plates,
• wherein said front plate has a portion extending to said edge of said front plate with said portion spaced apart from said bristles, and
• wherein said portion of said front plate at said edge of said front plate has a ledge disposed to face an incoming gas flow, projecting generally away from said bristles.

A brush seal segment comprising:

• a) a brush-seal holder having a shape of generally an annular segment of a circular ring, wherein said ring has a longitudinal axis, and wherein said holder has an annular brush-seal back plate and an annular brush-seal front plate each generally coaxially aligned with said axis and each having an inner circumferential edge generally facing said axis;
• and
• b) a plurality of brush-seal bristles each having a free end,
• wherein said bristles are disposed longitudinally between said back and front plates with said free end of generally each bristle extending beyond said edges of said back and front plates,
• wherein said edge of said back plate extends closer to said axis than does said end of said front plate,
• wherein said front plate has a portion extending to said edge of said front plate with said portion longitudinally spaced apart from said bristles, and
• wherein said portion of said front plate at said edge of said front plate has a ledge disposed to face an incoming gas flow, projecting generally longitudinally away from said bristles.