Reverse flow tolerant brush seal
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorMark E. Addis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In accordance with the present application, a fluid seal 30 and fluid sealing element 32, which are tolerant of fluid F direction reversals are provided. A sealing element 32 has at least two brush stages 50 to restrict leakage of the fluid F through a gap 38 between a component and a sealing surface. Each brush stage 50 includes a bristle arrangement 44 sandwiched between a back plate 48 and a common mid plate 46. A value allows 70 the fluid F to bypass a bristle arrangement 44 if the fluid pressure P1 or P2 varies between the chambers. Permanent damage to the sealing element 32 is avoided by allowing the higher pressure fluid F to bypass the upstream bristle arrangement 44 and a properly load the downstream bristle arrangement against a back plate 48.
Claims20
A reverse flow tolerant brush seal element for restricting the transfer of a pressurized fluid between first and second chambers, said brush seal element comprising:
- at least two brush stages, each brush stage including a bristle arrangement disposed between a back plate and a common mid plate forming a bypass chamber between said brush stages;
- a carrier, said carrier extending across said brush stages;
- a valve open to the first and second chambers;
- and
- wherein said valve allows the fluid to bypass a bristle arrangement if the fluid pressure varies between the chambers such that the fluid pressure in the bypass chamber (P3) is equal to the higher of the fluid pressure in the first chamber (P1) or the second chamber (P2).
A reverse flow tolerant brush seal comprising:
- at least two brush stages, each brush stage including a bristle arrangement disposed between a back plate and a common mid plate, the bristle arrangements including a free end extending beyond the mid and back plates forming a bypass chamber between said brush stages;
- a sealing surface, said sealing surface contacting the free ends and forming a restriction to fluid transfer between first and second pressurized chambers;
- a carrier, said carrier extending across said brush stages;
- a valve open to the first and second pressurized chambers;
- and
- wherein said valve allows the fluid to bypass a bristle arrangement if the fluid pressure varies between the chambers such that the fluid pressure in the bypass chamber (P3) is equal to the higher of the fluid pressure in the first chamber (P1) or the second chamber (P2).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.