Gas seal arrangement between rotor and housing

Claim 1

A gas seal arrangement between a rotor having a circular cross section with a concentric axis of rotation and a stationary housing having a configured interior surface and opposed end walls comprising at least one first longitudinal groove in the rotor, first sealing means extending the length of the rotor between the opposed end walls of the stationary housing slidably fitted in the groove for movement in a radial direction relative to the rotor with the outer portion of such means in constant engagement with the configured interior surface of the stationary housing, a plurality of spaced apart secondary longitudinal grooves over the surface of the rotor, secondary sealing means extending the length of the rotor between the opposed end walls of the housing slidably fitted in each of the secondary grooves for movement in a radial direction relative to the rotor with the outer portion of one or more but not all of such means in engagement with the configured interior surface of the stationary housing at any relative position of the rotor and housing, a plurality of sealing members at the ends of the rotor extending between the first and secondary sealing means to form a continuous seal between the rotor ends and the end walls of the stationary housing, each secondary sealing means comprising an apex seal urged in an outward radial direction relative to the rotor, and spaced apart corner block means fitted into the ends of the rotor for supporting the apex seal while preventing it from slipping out of its associated secondary longitudinal groove, the first sealing means comprising a sealing piece fitted into the first longitudinal groove of the rotor, a longitudinal groove in the outer end portion of the sealing piece, an apex seal slidably fitted in the groove of the sealing piece urged in an outward radial direction relative to the sealing piece, spaced apart corner block means fitted into the ends of the sealing piece for supporting the apex seal while preventing it from slipping out of the groove in the sealing piece, a recess formed at both ends of the sealing piece radially inside of the corner block means, a plug seal in the recess urged in the direction of the housing, a rib seal at both ends of the sealing piece for sealing between the corner block means and the plug seal, and a rotational direction rib seal for sealing between the plug seal and the rotor.