Flexible sealing device

Claim 2

In a flexible sealing device forming a separable joint between two components which comprises a series of metallic seal segments arranged in end-to-end relation, said seal segments being supported by one of said components and being pressed against the surface of the other component by spring means, the improvement wherein said series of seal segments operate within a gap formed between two holders which are secured to one of said components, wherein each said seal segment is composed of two halves separated by a longitudinally extending gap therebetween, wherein said spring means include loading springs and balls which serve to force the end surfaces of said seal segments into pressure contact with the other component and to force the sides of said seal segment halves laterally into pressure contact with the side of the corresponding holder, and wherein a sealing gas is caused to flow through the gaps between the halves of each seal segment to reach the seal junction between said seal segments and the surface of said other component.

Claim 3

A flexible sealing device as defined in claim 1 wherein said sealing gas is introduced into the gap formed between said holders for flow through the gaps between the halves of each seal segment.

Claim 4

A flexible sealing device as defined in claim 1 wherein the halves of seal segments include half-round cut-outs forming circular holes in which said loading springs and balls are received, and each ball presses against a cone portion of the hole.

Claim 5

A circular axially flexible sealing device forming a separable joint between two circular components comprising a pair of radially spaced annular holders, means securing said annular holders to one of said circular components, a circular metallic seal member disposed in the annular gap established between said annular holders and which projects below the holders towards the other circular component, said seal member being divided in the circumferential direction into segments, and each said seal segment itself being divided in a circumferential direction into inner and outer radially spaced halves thereby to establish a circumferentially extending gap therebetween, each said seal segment including a plurality of circumferentially spaced cylindrical holes formed between the segment halves and which terminate in hollow cones, a ball seated in the cone portion of each hole, a loading spring for each ball located in each hole, said loading springs applying a pressure against said balls thereby to press the ends of said seal seGments into sealing contact with said other circular component as said components are moved towards each other, and said loading springs also acting through said balls to force said seal segment halves apart in a radial direction thereby to press the sides thereof into sealing contact with the adjoining sides of said annular holders, and means for introducing a sealing gas into the annular gap between said annular holders for flow therethrough in an axial direction in the circumferentially extending gap formed between the inner and outer halves of said seal segments thereby to reach the seal junction between said seal segments and the surface of said other circular component.

Claim 6

A circular axially flexible sealing device forming a separable joint between two circular components comprising a pair of radially spaced annular holders, means securing said annular holders to one of said circular components, a circular metallic seal member disposed in the annular gap established between said annular holders and which projects below the holders towards the other circular component, said seal member being divided in the circumferential direction into segments, and each said seal segment itself being divided in a circumferential direction into inner and outer radially spaced halves thereby to establish a circumferentially extending gap therebetween, each said seal segment including a plurality of circumferentially spaced cylindrical holes formed between the segment halves and which terminate in hollow cones, a ball seated in the cone portion of each hole, a loading spring for each ball located in each hole, said loading springs applying a pressure against said balls thereby to press the ends of said seal seGments into sealing contact with said other circular component as said components are moved towards each other, and said loading springs also acting through said balls to force said seal segment halves apart in a radial direction thereby to press the sides thereof into sealing contact with the adjoining sides of said annular holders, and means for introducing a sealing gas into the annular gap between said annular holders for flow therethrough in an axial direction in the circumferentially extending gap formed between the inner and outer halves of said seal segments thereby to reach the seal junction between said seal segments and the surface of said other circular component.

Claim 7

A sealing device as defined in claim 4 wherein the radially outer annular holder is provided with a removable circumferentially extending segment providing a gap through which said seal segments together with their loading springs and balls can be inserted into their positions in the annular gap established between said annular holders.

Claim 8

A sealing device as defined in claim 4 wherein said loading springs abut the surface of the circular component to which said annular holders are secured thus to form a stop resulting in compression of the springs so as to apply a force against the balls as said circular components are moved towards one another, and wherein said sealing gas is introduced into said annular gap between said annular holders through openings provided in said circular component in alignment with said gap.