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A brush seal assembly including a bristle strip having a plurality of bristles mounted at an angle to at least one rail, and an annular holder for supporting the bristle strip is provided. In one embodiment, the bristle strip is flexible such that the strip can be readily bent by hand and the annula

A brush seal assembly including a bristle strip having a plurality of bristles mounted at an angle to at least one rail, and an annular holder for supporting the bristle strip is provided. In one embodiment, the bristle strip is flexible such that the strip can be readily bent by hand and the annular holder is preferably U-shaped. The brush seal assembly may be utilized with conventional mounting techniques, and may be mounted within a unitary or segmented holder. Once installed, the brush seal assembly acts as a static and dynamic seal in order to seal the gap between a high pressure source and a low pressure source.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A brush seal assembly for sealing a gap between a high pressure area and a low pressure area comprising:at least one bristle strip including a bristle pack having a first end welded to at least one flexible, mounting rail by a weld pool having a depth and including a heat affected zone, the at le

1. A brush seal assembly for sealing a gap between a high pressure area and a low pressure area comprising:at least one bristle strip including a bristle pack having a first end welded to at least one flexible, mounting rail by a weld pool having a depth and including a heat affected zone, the at least one flexible rail having a width greater than the combined depth of the weld pool and heat affected zone, and the bristle strip further including a free second end opposite the first end defining an inner diameter; at least one annular holder, the annular holder having an inner wall defining a channel, the channel having an inner diameter sized to receive the bristle strip therein and further including a first side and a second side, each of the first and second sides spaced from the bristle pack so as to form a gap between the bristle pack and each of the first and second sides; and wherein upon insertion of the at least one bristle strip within the at least one annular holder, the bristle pack is spaced from the at least one annular holder, such that the at least one annular holder is out of direct contact with the bristle pack. 2. The brush seal assembly of claim 1, wherein the bristle pack is supported at an angle of about 0 to 70 degrees to the at least one mounting rail.3. The brush seal assembly of claim 1, wherein the an outer diameter of the at least one mounting rail is disposed in contact with the inner wall of the channel along a length thereof.4. The brush seal assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one mounting rail comprises a first and a second mounting rail, each mounting rail having a predetermined width greater than the combined depth of the weld pool and heat affected zone, and being substantially flexible so as to be bendable by hand in order to allow the at least one bristle strip to be fitted and supported within the at least one annular holder.5. The brush seal assembly of claim 1, in combination with a housing constructed and arranged to support the at least one annular holder, wherein the at least one bristle strip and at least one annular holder are supported within the housing such that the second end of the at least one bristle strip is spaced from the housing in an at rest position.6. The brush seal assembly of claim 5, wherein the first and second mounting rails are formed as a unitary member.7. The brush seal assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one annular holder is generally U-shaped.8. The brush seal assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one annular holder includes a crimped portion for securing the brush strip within the at least one annular holder.9. The brush seal assembly of claim 1, wherein the combined depth of the weld pool and heat affected zone is less than about 50% of the width of the at least one mounting rail.10. The brush seal assembly of claim 1, in combination with an L-shaped ring constructed and arranged to support the brush seal assembly, and disposed on a low pressure side of the brush seal assembly during use so as to act as a back plate for the assembly.11. The brush seal assembly of claim 1, in combination with a housing having a slot sized to receive the brush seal assembly therein.12. The brush seal assembly of claim 11, wherein the housing is segmented and includes first and second ends having a stepped and staggered configuration so that a leak path between the lower and the higher pressure sources is indirect.13. The brush seal assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one brush strip comprises two or more brush strips.14. The brush seal assembly of claim 13, wherein the two or more brush strips are supported within a single annular holder.15. The brush seal assembly of claim 13, wherein the two or more brush strips are substantially identical.16. The brush seal assembly of claim 13, wherein the two or more brush strips are non-identical.17. The brush seal assembly of claim 13, wherein each of the two or more brush strips includes an inner rail and an outer rail, the inner rails of each of the two or more bristle strips being disposed in contact with each other, and the outer rails of each of the bristle strips being disposed in contact with the holder.18. A method of forming a brush seal assembly for sealing a gap between a high pressure area and a low pressure area, comprising the steps of:securing a first end of a plurality of bristles at an angle to at least one flexible mounting rail so as to form a bristle strip; providing an annular holder including a first side and a second side, the first and second sides being substantially parallel to each other; inserting the at least one mounting rail within a channel of the annular holder so that an outer diameter of the mounting rails is adjacent an inner diameter of the holder and such that the first and second sides of the annular holder are spaced from the bristles so as to form a gap between the bristles and each of the first and second sides in an at rest position; cutting the length of the bristle strip to the approximate length of the circumference of the annular holder; securing the bristle strip within the annular holder; and machining an inner diameter of the plurality of bristles to a predetermined height. 19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of inserting the bristle strip and annular holder within a housing.20. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of machining the at least one mounting rail to a predetermined width with radiused corners.21. The method of claim 18, wherein the plurality of bristles are secured to the at least one mounting rail by a weld pool having a depth and including a heat affected zone, the combined depth of the weld pool and heat affected zone being less than the width of the at least one mounting rail.22. The method of claim 21, wherein the combined depth of the weld pool and heat affected zone is less than about 50% of the width of the at least one mounting rail.23. The method of claim 18, wherein the bristle strip is secured within the annular holder by crimping a portion of the annular holder so that the bristle strip rests therein and such that relative movement between the annular holder and the bristle strip is minimized.24. A brush seal, assembly for sealing a gap between a high pressure area and a low pressure area comprising:at least one bristle strip including a bristle pack having a first end supported by at least one flexible rail, and the bristle strip further including a free second end opposite the first end; at least one annular holder, the annular holder having an inner wall defining an arcuate channel, the channel having an inner diameter sized to receive the bristle strip therein and further including a first side and a second side, each of the first and second sides spaced from the first end of the bristle pack so as to form a gap between the first end of the bristle pack and each of the first and second sides; a housing including a channel configured and dimensioned to support the at least one annular holder; and wherein upon insertion of the at least one bristle strip within the at least one annular holder, the flexible rail contacts an inner wall of the annular holder, and the bristle pack is spaced from the at least one annular holder, such that the at least one annular holder is out of direct contact with the bristle pack so that upon operation the bristles are unconstrained and are able to move into the gap. 25. The brush seal assembly of claim 24, wherein the housing comprises a segmented housing having:a first end and a second end having a stepped configuration, the first and second ends being staggered with respect so each other; wherein a leak path between the lower and the higher pressure areas is indirect through the housing.