Patent attributes
A seal arrangement for effecting a seal between first and second components arranged for relative rotation about a common axis. Seal arrangement includes a first seal surface associated with the first component, and a second seal surface associated with the second component. First and second seal surfaces are presented for air-riding interaction with one another during relative rotation between components such that, in use, a pressure drop is maintained across seal arrangement. First seal surface incorporates a plurality of spaced-apart hydrodynamic lift-generating features and plurality of ventilation recesses, each ventilation recess being interposed between respective pair of lift-generating features, and wherein each ventilation recess has depth measured normal to first seal surface which is greater than maximum dimension of each lift-generating feature measured normal to first seal surface. Seal arrangement may be embodied in compliant filament seal such as a leaf seal or a brush seal.
