High temperature seal assembly

A seal assembly, comprising:

• a semi-tubular sealing element defining a longitudinal axis and having first and second longitudinal side portions, the first side portion being configured as a longitudinal array of arcuate fingers curving partially around the longitudinal axis, the second side portion being configured as a longitudinal depressor portion extending toward the array of arcuate fingers and having a free edge spaced radially and circumferentially from the fingers in the array;
• and a retainer comprising a base and a pair of resiliently deformable opposed side walls extending from the base, the base and the side walls defining a channel configured to retain the sealing element, wherein each of the side walls extends from the base to an upper edge, wherein the upper edges of the side walls define between them a channel entrance opening that has a first, relaxed width, and a second, resiliently deformed width when the sealing element is retained in the channel, the resiliently deformed width being greater than the relaxed width, and wherein the sealing element is retained in the channel in a position in which the depressor portion and the arcuate fingers extend outside of the channel entrance opening in a position in which the depressor portion is configured to force the sealing element resiliently against the side walls of the retainer in response to a compressive load applied to the depressor portion, wherein once installed, the sealing element maintains the channel entrance opening in the second resiliently deformed width without assistance.

A method of making a seal assembly, comprising:

• (a) providing a sheet of high spring strength, high temperature metal alloy having first and second opposed side edges;
• (b) forming a semi-tubular sealing element by:
• (b)(1) forming a first portion of the sheet including the first side edge into a linear array of fingers;
• (b)(2) bending the fingers partially around a longitudinal axis to form a linear array of arcuate fingers;
• and (b)(3) forming a depressor portion by bending a second portion of the sheet including the second side edge toward the array of arcuate spring fingers so that the second side edge overlies the longitudinal axis and is spaced radially and circumferentially from the arcuate fingers;
• (c) providing a sealing element retainer comprising a base and a pair of resiliently deformable opposed side walls extending from the base, the base and the side walls defining a channel configured to retain the sealing element, the channel having an entrance opening defined between the side walls and having a relaxed width and a resiliently deformed width greater than the relaxed width;
• and (d) installing the sealing element into the channel with the depressor portion and the arcuate fingers extending outside entrance opening of the channel, whereby installing the sealing element forces the entrance opening of the channel from its relaxed width to its deformed width, and whereby once installed, the sealing element maintains the channel entrance opening in the resiliently deformed width without assistance.