Apparatus for and method of manufacturing brush seals

Abstract

This invention provides an apparatus for and method of manufacturing a brush seal. The apparatus comprises an annular former 22 having a radially outer 24 and a radially inner 30 portion radially separated from each other by an amount G and held relative to each other by locating means 32, and further includes a travelling wire electro discharge machining device and a guide tube. A brush seal 10 is wound onto the former in the usual manner and the filament material 38 cut in the region of the gap G by the travelling wire 44. The wire is inserted between the filaments by first inserting a tube 52 therebetween and passing the wire 44 therethrough. Machining of the filament material is achieved by traversing the wire around the gap G.

I claim: 
     
       1. An apparatus for manufacturing a brush seal of the type which comprise a pair of annular sideplates having a plurality of filaments of bristle material sandwiched therebetween and projecting radially therefrom and which is produced by winding onto an annular former, the apparatus comprising an annular former having a first radially outer portion having a recess formed on either side thereof to receive a pair of annular sideplates, and a second inner portion spaced radially from the outer portion by a predetermined amount, thereby to define a gap, and held relative thereto by locating means there being further provided means for cutting the filament material in the region of the gap and means comprising a tube for enabling the cutting means to be passed through the filaments. 
     
     
       2. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which the cutting means comprises a travelling wire electro discharge machining apparatus having the machining wire inserted through the filament material in the region of the gap. 
     
     
       3. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which the tube is provided with a slot along its length and a chamfered end. 
     
     
       4. An apparatus for manufacturing a brush seal of the type which comprise a pair of annular sideplates having a plurality of filaments of bristle material sandwiched therebetween and projecting radially therefrom and which is produced by winding onto an annular former, the apparatus comprising an annular former having a first radially outer portion having a recessed former on either side thereof to receive a pair of annular sideplates, and a second inner portion spaced radially from the outer portion by a predetermined amount, thereby to define a gap, and held relative thereto by locating means comprising a plurality of locating pins which locate in holes provided in the outer and inner portions of the annular former. 
     
     
       5. A method of manufacturing a brush seal of the type which comprises a pair of annular sideplates having a plurality of filaments of bristle material sandwiched therebetween, and which is produced by winding onto an annular former having a first radially outer portion having a recess formed on either side thereof to receive a pair of annular sideplates and a second inner portion spaced radially from the outer portion by a predetermined amount, thereby to define a gap, and held relative thereto by locating means, the method including the step of cutting the filaments of bristle material in the region of the gap, thereby to release the seal from the former, in which the machining wire of a travelling wire electro discharge machining apparatus is used to cut the filaments of bristle material and the machining wire is passed through the filaments of bristle material by first inserting a tube through said filaments and then passing said machining wire through said tube. 
     
     
       6. A method of manufacturing a brush seal of the type which comprises a pair of annular sideplates having a plurality of filaments of bristle material sandwiched therebetween, and which is produced by winding onto an annular former having a first radially outer portion having a recess formed on either side thereof to receive a pair of annular sideplates and a second inner portion spaced radially from the outer portion by a predetermined amount, thereby to define a gap, and held relative thereto by locating means, the method including the step of cutting the filaments of bristle material in the region of the gap, thereby to release the seal from the former, in which the machining wire of a travelling wire electro discharge machining apparatus is used to cut the filaments of bristle material, and in which the machining wire cuts through the filaments of bristle material and the locating means as it is traversed around the gap. .Iadd. 
     
     
       7.  An apparatus for manufacturing a brush seal including a pair of sideplates having a plurality of filaments of bristle material sandwiched therebetween and projecting therefrom, the apparatus comprising: support means for supporting at least one pair of sideplates with the filaments projecting radially therefrom; and   a travelling wire electro discharge machining apparatus having a machining wire extending through the filaments for cutting the filaments; and   moving means for moving at least one of the support means and machining wire relative to the other for cutting the filaments. .Iaddend. .Iadd.8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein a plurality of pairs of sideplates are supported in a stack in the support means, and the machining wire cuts the filaments in the stack of sideplates. .Iaddend. .Iadd.9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the sideplates are annular, and one of the support means and the machining wire moves circularly relative to the other. .Iaddend. .Iadd.10. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising locating means for constraining free ends of the filaments, and the machining wire is located in a gap between the sideplates and the locating means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the moving means moves the machining wire relative to the support means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.12. A method for manufacturing a brush seal including a pair of sideplates having a plurality of filaments of bristle material sandwiched therebetween and projecting therefrom, the method comprising the steps of:   supporting at least one pair of sideplates with the filaments projecting radially therefrom;   extending a machining wire of a travelling wire electro discharge machining apparatus through the filaments; and   moving at least one of the sideplates and the machining wire of the travelling wire electro discharge machining apparatus relative to the   
     
     
        other to cut the filaments. .Iaddend. .Iadd.13.  The method of claim 12, wherein the step of supporting includes the step of stacking a plurality of pairs of sideplates for simultaneously cutting the filaments in the stacks of sideplates. .Iaddend. .Iadd.14. The method of claim 12, wherein the sideplates are annular and one of the sideplates and the machining wire moves circularly relative to the other. .Iaddend. .Iadd.15. The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of constraining free ends of the filaments by a locating mechanism spaced from the sideplates by a gap, and locating the machining wire in the gap. .Iaddend. .Iadd.16. The method of claim 12, wherein the machining wire is moved. .Iaddend.