Abstract: A seal assembly to seal fluid under pressure may include a pair of annular mating rings with seal faces. At least one of the seal faces may define a sealing interface between a radially inner edge and a radially outer edge of one of the rings. At least one of the seal faces may include a channel for receiving the fluid under pressure. The channel may include a circumferential channel and one or more radial channels. The radial channels may include a first radial channel extending from the circumferential channel to a first edge of the seal face adjacent the fluid under pressure. The radial channels may include a second radial channel that extends from the circumferential channel toward a second edge of the seal face adjacent a fluid at a lower pressure relative to the fluid under pressure.

Abstract: A seal assembly to seal fluid under pressure may include a pair of annular mating rings with seal faces. At least one of the seal faces may define a sealing interface between a radially inner edge and a radially outer edge of one of the rings. At least one of the seal faces may include a channel for receiving the fluid under pressure. The channel may include a circumferential channel and one or more radial channels. The radial channels may include a first radial channel extending from the circumferential channel to a first edge of the seal face adjacent the fluid under pressure. The radial channels may include a second radial channel that extends from the circumferential channel toward a second edge of the seal face adjacent a fluid at a lower pressure relative to the fluid under pressure.

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 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 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: A mechanical end face seal of the non-contacting type includes a primary seal ring having a back section, a seal face section and a middle section between the seal face and the back sections, each primary ring section having a radial dimension, defined as the difference between the outermost radius and the innermost radius of said respective section, the radial dimension of the back section being in a ratio relative to said middle section of between about 1.5 to about 3.1, and more preferably of between about 1.9 to about 2.5, and most preferably about 2.0 to about 2.3. Additionally, the mating seal ring includes grooves extending from one seal ring circumference toward the other and terminating adjacent a dam at a radius R.sub.g, it is beneficial to have the boundary between the grooves and the dam have a radius R.sub.g slightly larger or smaller, within about 10%, than the outer radius of the middle section.

Abstract: A mechanical end face seal of the non-contacting type includes a primary seal ring having a back section, a seal face section and a middle section between the seal face and the back sections, each primary ring section having a radial dimension, defined as the difference between the outermost radius and the innermost radius of said respective section, the radial dimension of the back section being in a ratio relative to said middle section of between about 1.8 to about 2.8, and more preferably of between about 1.9 to about 2.5, and most preferably about 2.0 to about 2.3. Additionally, the mating seal ring includes grooves extending from one seal ring circumference toward the other and terminating adjacent a dam at a radius R.sub.g, it is beneficial to have the boundary between the grooves and the dam have a radius R.sub.g slightly larger or smaller, within about 10%, than the outer radius of the middle section.

Abstract: A mechanical face seal for a high speed, rotary fluid pressure device comprising rotating and stationary seal rings disposed in a housing and having confronting radial seal faces normally biased into engagement with one another. Oppositely inclined sets of spiral grooves are formed in the seal face of one ring, one set functioning to pump fluid from the reservoir downstream between the seal faces, and the other set functioning to pump fluid between the faces upstream back toward the reservoir. Each downstream pumping groove preferably intersects only one upstream pumping groove. Fluid pressure between the faces forms a gap therebetween, and the reversely inclined groove construction minimizes fluid loss or leakage.

Abstract: A seal system is disclosed for sealing a housing and rotatable shaft against leakage of high vapor-pressure liquids such as natural gas. The method of sealing comtemplates phase change of the liquefied hydrocarbon fluid across a first module. The gas so formed is contained by a second seal module which operates as a dry running gas seal. The seal system has plural, axially spaced spiral-groove seal modules mounted between the shaft and housing. Each seal module has a primary ring affixed to the housing and a mating ring affixed for rotation with the shaft and the modules define an intermediate cavity. The rings have opposed, radially extending faces, one of which has a plurality of downstream pumping spiral grooves extending from one circumference. The grooves of the grooved ring of the upstream module have a pattern which upon shaft rotation creates shear heating of the liquefied hydrocarbon fluid.