Abstract: An improved slurry pump sealing system that employs a mechanical seal assembly fixed for axial movement with a bearing housing that moves axially to adjust pump impeller clearance. The relative relationship between the seal components remains unchanged regardless of the axial position of the shaft, impeller, and bearing housing. A contraction assembly with interconnecting members contracts to accommodate the reduction of the distance between the pump casing and shaft bearing housing on adjustment of pump impeller-to-casing clearance. In one embodiment the contraction assembly is a telescoping arrangement. In other embodiments, bellows are employed.

Abstract: A seal ring configuration adapted to be disposed about a shaft to seal a fluid at a pressure differentials across the seal. The seal ring configuration comprises a mating ring and an axially movable primary ring. The primary ring includes a seal face in opposing relationship to the mating ring seal face to define a seal interface. The mating ring seal face or the primary ring seal face defines an annular axially recessed section and a dam section. The recessed section is axially disposed further from the cooperating seal face relative to the dam section. The axially recessed section further includes a face pattern axially spaced further from the dam section than the recessed portion and is capable of generating a hydrodynamic force between the mating ring seal face and the primary ring seal face.

Abstract: A mechanical end face seal with a pair of annular relatively rotating seal face defining seal rings. An annular compression contact ring disposed in surrounding relation to one of the seal rings includes a plurality of pads at asymmetrical locations in interference contact with the outer cylindrical surface of the ring.

Abstract: A seal assembly for sealing between a housing component and a rotating shaft. The seal assembly comprises a pair of relatively rotating rings defining a seal interface. One ring is stationary relative to the housing component. A flexible compressive seal element is compressed axially between the housing component and an axially movable biased compression ring to urge it into radial compressive sealing contact with a cylindrical surface on the stationary ring.

Abstract: A seal assembly for use with a rotating shaft. The seal assembly comprises a seal ring, a seal ring shell and bellows. The seal ring defines an axially extending annular surface and a radially extending seal face. The seal ring shell has a front piece and a back piece secured together. The front piece includes a foot portion defining an axially extending engagement surface for interference-fit engagement with the annular surface of the seal ring. The front piece further includes a radially extending shin portion connected to the foot portion and located radially outward of the foot portion. The foot portion includes an inner foot portion extending axially from connection of the foot portion with the shin portion. The foot portion at its engagement surface has an axial length. The inner foot portion at its engagement surface has an axial length. The shin portion has an axial length. The bellows defines an effective diameter at zero pressure applied on the seal ring.

Abstract: A mechanical end face seal comprising two relatively rotatable seal rings, a resilient bellows for providing a secondary seal between one seal ring and either a housing or a rotating shaft and a finger spring element nested in the bellows. The resilient bellows comprises an elastomeric material, such as molded rubber, and has a single convolution having a general cross-sectional shape of an inverted “Omega.” The finger spring member comprises a plurality of generally “U” shaped spring fingers which provide the axial biasing force to urge the ring faces in sealing relation. In a preferred embodiment, the spring includes ferrules for providing radially inward force on a flange portion of each end of the bellows to maintain the secondary seal.

Abstract: A system of conditioning elements is described for supply of conditioned seal gas to the seal chamber of a rotary machine employing gas lubricated, non-contacting seals. It includes elements to remove particulate solid and liquid and volatile components from the gas and to heat the gas to a predetermined level. It also includes an element to amplify the pressure of the gas. The pressure amplifier is operative in response to a condition of the gas to be supplied to the seal chamber, to ensure that an adequate supply of seal gas is available. The system of conditioning elements may be assembled onto a single skid.

Abstract: A composite body of silicon carbide having binderless, allotropic carbon granules distributed throughout is produced. The nominal size of the binderless allotropic carbon granules can range from 5 to 500 micrometers. The concentration of the binderless allotropic carbon particles can vary from 1.0 to 35.0 weight percent. The process to produce such a composite body is to sinter silicon carbide with binderless, carbon-yielding precursor granules. The composite body is utilized in tribological applications. The dense, impervious silicon carbide-binderless carbon composite exhibits excellent physical and tribological characteristics when used as a mechanical face seal, a sliding bearing arrangement, or some other rubbing component.

Abstract: A non-contacting gas compressor seal assembly is disclosed with an intermediate buffer chamber. The process gas is corrosive or otherwise hazardous and is contained from entering the atmosphere by pumping the barrier gas toward the process fluid. The inboard seal of the assembly is designed to maintain a sealing relationship in the event of loss of buffer gas pressure by operating as a non-contacting seal on the process fluid.

Abstract: A system of conditioning elements is described for supply of conditioned seal gas to the seal chamber of a rotary machine employing gas lubricated, non-contacting seals. It includes elements to remove particulate solid and liquid and volatile components from the gas and to heat the gas to a predetermined level. It also includes an element to amplify the pressure of the gas. The pressure amplifier is operative in response to a condition of the gas to be supplied to the seal chamber, to ensure that an adequate supply of seal gas is available. The system of conditioning elements may be assembled onto a single skid.

Abstract: A composite body of silicon carbide having binderless, allotropic carbon granules distributed throughout is produced. The nominal size of the binderless allotropic carbon granules can range from 5 to 500 micrometers. The concentration of the binderless allotropic carbon particles can vary from 1.0 to 35.0 weight percent. The process to produce such a composite body is to sinter silicon carbide with binderless, carbon-yielding precursor granules. The composite body is utilized in tribological applications. The dense, impervious silicon carbide-binderless carbon composite exhibits excellent physical and tribological characteristics when used as a mechanical face seal, a sliding bearing arrangement, or some other rubbing component.

Abstract: A monitoring seal system comprises a seal housing, a seal assembly, a temperature sensor and a controller. The seal assembly sealingly engages a rotary shaft to prevent fluid leakage between the shaft and the housing. The seal assembly has at least one seal. The seal has a primary ring and a mating ring. The temperature sensor senses the temperature in the vicinity of the seal. The controller determines whether an upset condition has occurred based on at least the temperature in the vicinity of the seal.

Abstract: A mechanical end face seal comprising two relatively rotatable seal rings, a resilient bellows for providing a secondary seal between one seal ring and either a housing or a rotating shaft and a finger spring element nested in the bellows. The resilient bellows comprises an elastomeric material, such as molded rubber, and has a single convolution having a general cross-sectional shape of an inverted “Omega.” The finger spring member comprises a plurality of generally “U” shaped spring fingers which provide the axial biasing force to urge the ring faces in sealing relation. In a preferred embodiment, the spring includes ferrules for providing radially inward force on a flange portion of each end of the bellows to maintain the secondary seal.

Abstract: A non-contacting gas compressor seal assembly is disclosed with an intermediate buffer chamber. The process gas is corrosive or otherwise hazardous and is contained from entering the atmosphere by pumping the barrier gas toward the process fluid. The inboard seal of the assembly is designed to maintain a sealing relationship in the event of loss of buffer gas pressure by operating as a non-contacting seal on the process fluid.

Abstract: A mechanical face seal comprising two seal rings for use in water pumps and other fluids, including a resilient bellows for providing a secondary seal between one seal ring and either a housing or a rotating shaft extending through an aperture in the housing. The resilient bellows preferably comprises an elastomeric material, such as molded rubber, and has a single convolution having a general cross-sectional shape of an inverted “omega.” A finger spring member comprises a plurality of generally “U” shaped spring fingers which are adapted and deformed upon installation to provide an axial biasing force against the seal ring attached to the resilient bellows so as to urge it toward the other ring.

Abstract: A mechanical end face seal comprising two relatively rotatable seal rings, a resilient bellows for providing a secondary seal between one seal ring and either a housing or a rotating shaft and a finger spring element nested in the bellows. The resilient bellows comprises an elastomeric material, such as molded rubber, and has a single convolution having a general cross-sectional shape of an inverted “Omega.” The finger spring member comprises a plurality of generally “U” shaped spring fingers which provide the axial biasing force to urge the ring faces in sealing relation. In a preferred embodiment, the spring includes ferrules for providing radially inward force on a flange portion of each end of the bellows to maintain the secondary seal.

Abstract: A rotary shaft monitoring seal system includes a seal housing; a seal assembly in the housing for sealingly engaging a rotary shaft to prevent fluid leakage between the shaft and the housing; a monitoring port in the housing; and a detector assembly mounted in the port for sensing conditions in the vicinity of the seal assembly.

Abstract: A monitoring seal system comprises a seal housing, a seal assembly, a temperature sensor and a controller. The seal assembly sealingly engages a rotary shaft to prevent fluid leakage between the shaft and the housing. The seal assembly has at least one seal. The seal has a primary ring and a mating ring. The temperature sensor senses the temperature in the vicinity of the seal. The controller determines whether an upset condition has occurred based on at least the temperature in the vicinity of the seal.

Abstract: A mechanical end face seal includes one seal ring having two elements, a seal face extension portion immediately adjacent a sealing face and a seal ring body removed from the sealing face. Each of the ring elements has a radial outer diameter dimension and a radial inner dimension. The seal face extension portion is defined by an annular gap separating the seal ring body from the seal face extension portion. The annular gap opens out onto the high-pressure side of the seal. The axial thickness of the seal face extension portion is much smaller than the radial dimension of the sealing face. The seal face extension portion is connected to the thicker seal ring body by means of a thin connecting “neck”, which has a small radial dimension than the radial dimension of the sealing face. Preferably, the radial dimension of the neck has a ratio relative to the radial width of the ring sealing face between about 0.10 to about 0.70, more preferably about 0.25 to about 0.60, and most preferably about 0.

Abstract: This invention relates to barrier seal systems for sealing the annular space between a housing and a rotating shaft which extends through a bore in the housing. The seal system has inboard and outboard mechanical end face seals. The inboard seal faces have spiral grooves for pumping a buffer fluid from a buffer chamber between the two seals toward the high pressure side of the inboard seal. The primary ring of the inboard seal may be double balanced. For high pressure applications, the buffer fluid may be pressurized and a pumping ring may be included in the outboard seal to circulate buffer fluid. High pressure applications also require two hard seal rings and optimum dam and face widths. Buffer fluid can be supplied to the seal system by a reservoir connected by a gravity feed line. A buffer fluid containment device may be attached to the high pressure side of the seal to prevent process fluid from contaminating the seal faces or secondary seals.