A report discusses tests of finger seals, which were described in “Pressure- Balanced, Low-Hysteresis Finger Seal” (LEW-16840), which appears on page 52 in this issue. Like a labyrinth or brush seal, a finger seal is used (typically in a gas turbine) to minimize a leakage flow along a rotating shaft. The report describes baseline (subject to considerable hysteresis) and pressure- balanced (low-hysteresis) brush seals and presents results of hysteresis, performance, and endurance tests of the seals in a seal rig at Glenn Research Center. The report concludes that a finger-seal design is ready for engine testing.

This work was done by Margaret P. Proctor and Bruce M. Steinetz of Glenn Research Center, Gul K. Arora of AlliedSignal Engines, and Irebert R. Delgado of the U. S. Army Research Laboratory. To obtain a copy of the report, “Pressure-Balanced, Low-Hysteresis Finger Seal Test Results” access the Technical Support Package (TSP) free on-line at www.nasatech.com/tsp  under the Mechanics category.

Inquiries concerning rights for the commercial use of this invention should be addressed to NASA Glenn Research Center, Commercial Technology Office, Attn: Steve Fedor, Mail Stop 4–8, 21000 Brookpark Road, Cleveland, Ohio 44135. Refer to LEW-16973.