Brush secondary seal for cantilevered hydrostatic advanced low leakage seal

Abstract

A hydrostatic seal configured to be disposed between relatively rotatable components includes a seal carrier. The seal also includes a beam extending axially from a forward end to an aft end, the beam cantilevered to the seal carrier at one of the forward end and the aft end, the beam free at the other end. The seal further includes a brush seal operatively coupled to the seal carrier and in contact with the beam.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hydrostatic seal configured to be disposed between relatively rotatable components, the seal comprising:
 a seal carrier;   a beam extending axially from a forward end to an aft end, the beam cantilevered to the seal carrier at one of the forward end and the aft end, the beam free at the other end; and   a brush seal operatively coupled to the seal carrier and in contact with the beam.   
     
     
         2 . The seal of  claim 1 , wherein the beam includes a flange extending radially outwardly into a region at least partially defined by the seal carrier and the beam, the brush seal in contact with the flange. 
     
     
         3 . The seal of  claim 2 , wherein the flange extends perpendicular to the axial direction of the beam. 
     
     
         4 . The seal of  claim 3 , wherein the brush seal extends axially. 
     
     
         5 . The seal of  claim 3 , wherein the brush seal extends radially. 
     
     
         6 . The seal of  claim 2 , wherein bristles of the brush seal are in contact with a forward face of the flange. 
     
     
         7 . The seal of  claim 2 , wherein the flange is oriented at an angle between parallel and perpendicular to a radially outer surface of the beam. 
     
     
         8 . The seal of  claim 7 , wherein the brush seal is oriented at an angle that is perpendicular to the flange. 
     
     
         9 . The seal of  claim 1 , wherein the beam is cantilevered to the seal carrier at the forward end of the beam. 
     
     
         10 . The seal of  claim 1 , wherein the beam is cantilevered to the seal carrier at the aft end of the shoe. 
     
     
         11 . The seal of  claim 1 , wherein the brush seal is in contact with the beam proximate the end of the beam that is free. 
     
     
         12 . A seal assembly disposed in a gas turbine engine, the seal assembly comprising:
 a stator;   a rotor; and   a first hydrostatic seal disposed between the stator and the rotor, the seal comprising:
 a seal carrier; 
 a beam extending axially from a forward end to an aft end, the beam cantilevered to the seal carrier at one of the forward end and the aft end, the beam free at the other end, the beam including a flange extending radially outwardly into a region at least partially defined by the seal carrier and the beam; and 
 a brush seal operatively coupled to the seal carrier and in contact with the flange of the beam. 
   
     
     
         13 . The seal assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the flange extends perpendicular to the axial direction of the beam. 
     
     
         14 . The seal assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the brush seal extends axially. 
     
     
         15 . The seal assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the brush seal extends radially. 
     
     
         16 . The seal assembly of  claim 12 , wherein bristles of the brush seal are in contact with a forward face of the flange. 
     
     
         17 . The seal assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the flange is oriented at an angle between parallel and perpendicular to a radially outer surface of the beam. 
     
     
         18 . The seal assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the brush seal is oriented at an angle that is perpendicular to the flange. 
     
     
         19 . A gas turbine engine comprising:
 a compressor section;   a combustor section;   a turbine section; and   a seal assembly disposed in the gas turbine engine, the seal assembly comprising a stator, a rotor, and a first hydrostatic seal disposed between a stator and the rotor, the seal comprising:
 a seal carrier; 
 a beam extending axially from a forward end to an aft end, the beam cantilevered to the seal carrier at the aft end, the beam free at the forward end, the beam including a flange extending radially outwardly into a region at least partially defined by the seal carrier and the beam; and 
 a brush seal operatively coupled to the seal carrier and in contact with a forward face of the flange of the beam. 
   
     
     
         20 . The gas turbine engine of  claim 19 , wherein the brush seal extends at an angle between 0 and 90 degrees relative to the forward face of the flange.