초록 ▼

A resilient, flexible, pressure-activated, high-temperature seal is adapted to be interposed between high and low pressure regions to provide sealing between opposing surfaces of adjacent relatively movable structures. The seal comprises at least one C-shaped sheet element. The C-shaped element des

A resilient, flexible, pressure-activated, high-temperature seal is adapted to be interposed between high and low pressure regions to provide sealing between opposing surfaces of adjacent relatively movable structures. The seal comprises at least one C-shaped sheet element. The C-shaped element design enables the seal to be pressure-activated to provide a radially outward biasing force, responsive to a seal-activating pressure differential acting across the seal thereby increasing resiliency. A centrally-located, resilient core structure provides load bearing and insulating properties. In an exemplary embodiment where at least two seal elements are used, each layer has a cutout slot pattern and the remaining strip material pattern. The slots provide flexibility to the seal, enabling the seal to be manually contoured to seal around corners and curves. The strip material of each layer covers the slots in each adjacent layer to minimize leakage through the slots. Attached barrier strips can block interface leakage between the seal and the opposing surfaces.

대표청구항 ▼

We claim: 1. An apparatus including: a resilient seal adapted to be positioned between a relatively high fluid pressure and a relatively lower fluid pressure, wherein the seal comprises: at least two seal elements, wherein each seal element is located radially adjacent to another seal element, wher

We claim: 1. An apparatus including: a resilient seal adapted to be positioned between a relatively high fluid pressure and a relatively lower fluid pressure, wherein the seal comprises: at least two seal elements, wherein each seal element is located radially adjacent to another seal element, wherein each seal element includes a sheet having a pattern comprising slots formed by removal of material from the sheet and strips of sheet material extending between the slots, wherein at least some of the strips of an outer seal element of the at least two seal elements respectively overlap at least some of the slots of an adjacent inner seal element of the at least two seal elements, wherein at least some of the strips of the inner seal element respectively overlap at least some of the slots of the outer seal element, at least one barrier strip attached to an outer surface of the inner seal element, wherein the at least one barrier strip is respectively aligned with at least one slot of the outer seal element, wherein the seal is responsive to a sealing activation pressure differential across the seal to cause the seal elements to be biased in a radially outward direction. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein at least some of the strips of each seal element respectively overlap slots of an adjacent seal element. 3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein each slot of each seal element is overlapped by a respective strip of an adjacent seal element. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the pattern comprises strips forming one of a generally S-shape configuration, single-sided comb configuration, or double-sided comb configuration. 5. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each seal element includes a longitudinal axis, wherein each slot of each seal element is angled at an angle non-perpendicular with the longitudinal axis. 6. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the inner seal element comprises a plurality of barrier strips attached thereto, wherein each respective barrier strip is aligned with a respective slot of the outer seal element, wherein the barrier strips provide a barrier to flow through the respective slots of the outer seal element. 7. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each seal element comprises a generally C-shaped cross section. 8. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein each sheet of each seal element is rolled into a generally C-shape. 9. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein each sheet comprises a metal sheet. 10. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the seal provides a resilient biasing spring action in opposition to radially compressive force. 11. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the C-shaped cross section of the seal element extends in an arc greater than 180��. 12. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the adjacent seal elements are operatively arranged to be biasingly engaged against each other responsive to the sealing activation pressure differential, wherein the seal elements relatively expand to provide resilient sealing engagement with a pair of opposing structure surfaces that are movable relative to one another within or out of a plane. 13. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each seal element is in attached engagement with an adjacent seal element. 14. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the attached engagement comprises attachment points connecting two adjacent sealing elements, wherein the attachment points form an attachment pattern. 15. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the seal comprises a radially innermost seal element, wherein the innermost seal element bounds an inner core volume. 16. The apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the seal further comprises a core structure, wherein the core structure includes a load-bearing structure, and wherein the core structure is located in the inner core volume. 17. The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the seal comprises a high temperature seal, and wherein the core structure comprises a fibrous thermal insulation material. 18. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the seal comprises an outermost seal element, wherein the seal comprises at least one anchor tab in attached engagement with the outermost seal element, wherein the at least one anchor tab is attachable to a respective wall of at least one structural component, and wherein the at least one anchor tab is operable to anchor the seal relative to the at least one wall. 19. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the seal is flexibly operative to bend around corners and against adjacent curved surfaces. 20. The apparatus according to claim 1 and further comprising areas having relatively high and lower fluid pressures, first and second structural components each having a respective sealing surface, wherein the first and second structural components are spaced from each other, wherein the seal is positioned between the high and lower fluid pressure areas and in sealing engagement with each of the sealing surfaces. 21. The apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the seal comprises a seal element having a generally C-shaped cross section having an interior area, wherein the interior area is in fluid communication with the relatively high fluid pressure area. 22. The apparatus according to claim 21 wherein the seal is operative to expand outwardly responsive to the pressure differential across the seal, achieving a seal-activating pressure level. 23. The apparatus according to claim 22 wherein the sealing engagement is responsive to seal expansion. 24. The apparatus according to claim 21 wherein at least two seal elements have different coefficients of thermal expansion, wherein the seal is operative to expand outwardly responsive to thermal-activation of the seal.