Beth Schmid
Headquarters, Washington, DC            March 20, 1997
(Phone:  202/358-1600)

RELEASE:  97-47

NASA SELECTS 1996 GOVERNMENT INVENTION OF THE YEAR

     A patented high-temperature seal developed for 
the National Aerospace Plane project by Dr. Bruce M. 
Steinetz and Paul J. Sirocky (retired) of NASA's Lewis 
Research Center, Cleveland, OH, has won NASA's 1996 
Government Invention of the Year award.

     The High Temperature, Flexible, Fiber Preform 
Seal has been used for numerous NASA aeronautical 
applications since it was patented in 1992.  The seal, 
which consists of emerging high-temperature (ceramic 
or superalloy) fibers braided into a flow resistant, 
flexible structure, has been demonstrated as an 
enabling technology in several key applications.  The 
patented seal was an enabling technology for the joint 
NASA/DOD/General Electric Integrated High Performance 
Turbine Engine Technology Program resulting in 
successful full-scale tests of the Joint Turbine 
Advanced Gas Generator.  

     The invention is being tested by Pratt and 
Whitney as a replacement seal for structural 
attachment points of large turbine vanes of the F-22 
fighter engine.  In addition, United Technologies is 
evaluating the seal for use in the F-119 turbine-
exhaust case assembly.  The Lewis Research Center is 
working with a major domestic corporation to adapt the 
seal technology for use in a series of high-
temperature reactor designs for industrial gas 
separation applications.

     The seal provides a very high temperature (2000+ 
degrees Fahrenheit) flexible seal for use in numerous 
aerospace and industrial applications.  The seal 
operates at temperatures 1000+ degrees Fahrenheit 
higher than conventional graphite seals.  In addition, 
the seal exhibits low leakage, retains resilience 
after high temperature cycling, and is capable of 
supporting structural loads.

     Steinetz is a Senior Research Engineer at Lewis, 
responsible for coordinating NASA's engine-seal 
development projects.  He earned his Ph.D. in 
Philosophy, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at 
Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, in 
1991.

     Sirocky was a Senior Project Engineer at Lewis 
until 1985, when he retired with 30 years of 
government service.  

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