Patent attributes
A seal and method of making seals utilizes folds in order to form creases in a length of material such that the creases reinforce individual seal elements or surfaces while perforations or slots in a seal edge allow air leakage from one side of the seal element or surface to the other. Thus, air pressurization can take place between spaced seal elements or surfaces and this allows air flotation or riding of a rotating component relative to a static housing component. The perforations are typically graduated from the seal edge in order to provide the best pressurization and air-riding effect for proximity or gap control between the sealing edge and the rotating component surface. The slots effectively provide flexibility to the sealing edge such that the seal component emulates a brush seal.
