Regenerator seal

Claim 1

In a rotary regenerator heat exchange apparatus having a housing and a matrix carried in said housing for rotation about an axis through two aeriform fluid flow paths including a high pressure fluid flow path and a counterflowing low pressure fluid flow path, the matrix because of these flow paths having a hot side and a cold side and a sealing means disposed between the housing and the matrix on the cold side of the matrix, said sealing means comprising a one-piece wear seal element of graphite filled high temperature plastic material, means associated with the housing and with said wear seal element to retain said wear seal element against rotation and translatory movement transverse to the axis of rotation of the matrix while permitting movement of said wear seal element parallel to the axis of rotation of the matrix, and a leaf seal positioned between the housing and said matrix to bias said wear seal element into sealing engagement with the matrix, each portion of said leaf seal being substantially U-shaped in cross section and having a first leg portion engaging the housing, a second leg portion engaging said seal wear element and an integral arcuate portion therebetween, and retainer means to retain said leaf seal in position within the housing so that the open ends of said Ushaped cross section portions of said leaf seal are acted on by the fluid flowing in the high pressure fluid path.