摘要 |
A self-centering brush seal is disposed in an annular groove formed in a stationary component about a rotatable component, the stationary and rotatable components having a common axis. The brush seal includes a plurality of bristles projecting into sealing engagement with the rotating component. The brush seal has a radial clearance in the groove enabling the brush seal for free-floating radial excursions within the groove to maintain concentricity with the rotary component notwithstanding deviation of the axis of rotation of the rotating component relative to the axis of the fixed component. In another form, the brush seal comprises a plurality of arcuate segments having a helical coil spring biasing the segments for radial movement enabling the tips of the bristles to seal against the rotatable component. In a further embodiment, leaf springs bias each segment to maintain its bristles in engagement with the rotatable component. In a still further embodiment, the seal segments are pressure balanced in a radial direction with an O-ring seal sealing high and low pressure regions on opposite sides of the segments.
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