Abstract: An improved low stress reed valve especially adapted for use as a suction or discharge valve in a reciprocating compressor or the like. The geometry and the relationship of certain key dimensions result in a substantially reduced stress on the valve, thus extending the life of such valves in normal operation.

Abstract: A high pressure mechanical face seal for prevention of leakage along a rotary shaft, wherein a rotary seal ring is mounted in a holder supported on the rotary shaft and a stationary seal ring is mounted in a plate and has a sealing face engaging the end face of the rotary seal ring. A pair of axially spaced pressure areas on the external surface of the stationary seal ring communicate with pressure lines which are appropriately valved to provide settings for high pressure, low pressure or atmospheric pressure to be exerted on either one or both of the spaced areas and provide hydrostatic loading of the stationary seal ring; resulting in a distortion of the ring to provide either a full face contact, an internal diameter contact or an external diameter contact of the seal faces.

Abstract: A sealing system for a rotatable shaft positioned in a passage extending through a housing where both static and dynamic sealing are achieved to prevent fluid leakage along the shaft from the liquid side to the air side of the seal. The system includes a helix formed either on the shaft or on the wall encompassing the shaft to provide a viscous shear pump forming a hydrodynamic seal, and a temporary face seal is provided at the air side end of the helix and adapted to effectuate sealing under static conditions and to diminish face seal contact upon rotation of the shaft.