Abstract: A guided gate valve having a valve body with an interior surface defining a passage having an upstream opening an downstream opening. Upstream and downstream valve seats are mounted within the passage. A guide rail is mounted to the valve body between the valve seats to guide a pair of gates between an open position and a closed position.

Abstract: A shaft seal of the mechanical face seal type split along a diametric plane thereof and which therefore can be installed relative to a shaft without disassembly of attendant equipment. The stationary and rotating components of the seal each may have the half elements thereof assembled in corresponding half elements of an attendant split annular holder and the holder half elements then may be engaged about the attendant shaft and be secured together. Thereafter, the assembled holders may be relatively axially shifted along the shaft toward engagement with each other and mounted in operative association with each other within a diametrically split gland housing, all of which relative assembly of the split stationary and rotating seal components in the corresponding split holder, assembly of the holders about the shaft and assembly of the assembled holders within the gland housing halves may be carried out by a single person, even within a crowded work area.

Abstract: A fluid handling machine having a shaft, a radially disposed housing, and a backup seal. During normal operation, the backup seal is concentric with and radially spaced from the shaft. The backup seal includes a first annular portion located adjacent the backup seal chamber and a second annular portion preferably made of carbon graphite. The backup seal is configured to engage the housing such that when the fluid pressure in the backup seal chamber exceeds a predetermined level, a sufficient axial force is applied to the first annular portion and transmitted therethrough to the second annular portion to cause the second annular portion to close radially into sealing engagement with the shaft.

Abstract: A mechanical seal assembly having a rotatable seal ring connected to the shaft and a non-rotatable seal ring connected to the housing. A cylindrical drive ring encircles the rotatable seal ring and an annular shroud is mounted to the cylindrical drive ring and extends from it terminating in an annular lip that is disposed in contacting relationship with the rotatable seal ring adjacent the seal face of the rotatable seal ring. The shroud may be provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots. A connection is provided for moving the end of the shroud toward the non-rotatable seal ring when the shaft moves toward the non-rotatable seal ring.

Abstract: A secondary mechanical seal assembly is used on a shaft that is rotatable within a housing to seal both gaseous and liquid medium. The assembly includes a stationary seal face element that is fixed relative to the housing and a rotating seal face element that is fixed relative to the shaft. One of the seal face element back surfaces includes at least one slot configured to produce a wave on the front surface of the seal face element when the shaft is rotated. The wave creates an opening force that is sufficient to control wear and prolong seal life when the secondary seal assembly is exposed to a gaseous medium. When exposed to a pressurized liquid medium, the hydrodynamic loading from the liquid medium alters the seal face element waviness, and increases the closing force due to the action of the pressurized liquid on the back surface of the seal face elements, such that excessive leakage is prevented.

Abstract: A multistage centrifugal pump for increasing the pressure of a product fluid passing through it. The pump includes a casing, an impeller shaft mounted for rotation within the casing and a plurality of impellers mounted back-to-back on the impeller shaft. A canned magnetic radial bearing is mounted around the outboard end of the impeller shaft and a magnetic thrust bearing and a magnetic radial bearing are mounted around the drive end of the impeller shaft. The pump is free of any product fluid return line connecting the product fluid chambers at the drive and outboard ends of the shaft.

Abstract: A ball latch mechanism including an annular cage concentrically located between a bearing member and a trigger. The cage includes a slot and a latch ball located in the slot in contacting relation with the trigger. The latch ball is radially movable between a first position in which the ball protrudes from the slot to interfere with movement of the bearing member and a second position wherein the ball is retracted into the trigger. Each slot is circumferentially elongated in relation to the ball such that, upon rotation of the trigger from a latch position to an unlatched position, the ball rolls circumferentially along the cylindrical surface within the slot. A biasing means may be used to urge the ball toward a preferred starting location.

Abstract: A multi-stage centrifugal pump is described having a linear series of impellets mounted on a common impeller shaft, with axial thrusts imparted to the shaft by the impellets being balanced by a sealed high-pressure thrust bearing assembly secured to the pump casing. The pump is particularly suitable for using in pumping an abrasive fluid. A clean lubricating oil is supplied to the thrust bearing assembly at a pressure slightly greater than that of the abrasive pumped fluid, to ensure that the fluid that migrates across a mechanical seal interposed between the impeller assembly and the thrust bearing assembly is the lubricating oil, not the abrasive pumped fluid. High pressure differentials across a breakdown bushing involving the abrasive pumped fluid, and a resulting wear and erosion of pump components, thereby are avoided.

Abstract: A release and arming mechanism for an ordnance device having an arming block, a pair of opposed jaws pivotally mounted to the arming block, and a solenoid that, when energized, holds the jaws in a closed position around an arming wire. A release lanyard connectable to the ordnance device is clipped to the jaws in such a manner as to hold the jaws in the closed position until such time as the ordnance device is launched. A spring may be placed between the jaws below their pivot points to force the jaws open upon disconnection of the release lanyard.

Abstract: A generally cylindrical thermal shield for a heat exchanger in a centrifugal pump which includes a fixed inner diameter vertical wall that forms an annular clearance coaxially around the pump impeller shaft, an outer vertical wall that has a diameter greater than the diameter of the inner vertical wall, and a bottom section that extends upwardly between the inner and outer diameter vertical walls such that the bottom section meets the outer wall at an obtuse angle and meets the inner wall at an acute angle. Such a construction prevents any part of the outer wall from being located opposite the journal return holes of the impeller chamber and minimizes or eliminates erosive wear that may otherwise occur from the flow of fluid from the return holes against the bearing journal.

Abstract: A mechanical seal assembly for use in a pump seal chamber, through which a pump shaft rotates and in which a process fluid is contained by a stationary seal and a rotating seal, converts the velocity head of the circulating process fluid in the seal chamber back to a positive static pressure at the stationary seal and rotating seal faces and ensures a steady film of the process fluid at the seal faces. The mechanical seal assembly converts the velocity head to a positive static pressure through one or more velocity recovery tubes that project outwardly from the pump housing into the sealed chamber, or that project outwardly from the rotating seal into the seal chamber, and communicate with respective passages through the seals and channel the process fluid to the seal faces.

Abstract: A pump assembly which overcomes a shaft and cover cracking problem comprising a means for heating the seal purge water flowing along the shaft before it exits into an annulus (mixing region) thus reducing the temperature difference between the cooler seal purge water and the hotter product water prior to the mixing of the two waters.

Abstract: An improved mechanical seal assembly for separating high pressure fluid from lower pressure fluid including a vented Quad-ring in a non-rotatable seal ring for providing lower sliding friction and improved, more consistent pressure deflection of the non-rotating seal face, an improved means for positioning a pressure breakdown means located in the high pressure fluid for controlling the pressure differential between the high pressure fluid and the low pressure fluid by a predetermined amount and means for improving the circulation of clean fluid around the outer periphery of the seal assembly under conditions where the fluid being pumped is contaminated.

Abstract: A method of treating a surface of a machine element to permit the outer layers thereof to freely expand when repeatedly subjected to sudden temperature variations without thermal stressing the inner layers thereof.

Abstract: A method of treating a surface of a machine element to permit the outer layers thereof to freely expand when repeatedly subjected to sudden temperature variations without thermal stressing the inner layers thereof.

Abstract: An improved mechanical seal using hard non-weldable seal rings in which the seal ring is supported by a seal ring flange and in which a GRAFOIL gasket is positioned in an annular recess between the seal ring and the flange; the seal ring being held in the flange by means of a retainer ring welded to the flange, thereby avoiding the use of interference fits and/or lap fits between the flange and the seal ring.

Abstract: In a fluid handling appartus comprising a multi-stage mechanical seal assembly, an additional mechanical seal assembly to maintain a substantially constant exit pressure of leakage from the last stage of the multi-stage mechanical seal assembly, and a novel driving arrangement between the motor and the fluid machine.

Abstract: A pump having a heat exchanger including a rotating baffle sleeve secured to the pump shaft. A seal baffle on the rotating baffle sleeve extends over the pump seal assembly cartridge. A cooling cylinder containing circulating component cooling water is suspended within the rotating baffle sleeve and defines a flow passageway therein for cooling heated product water, before the product water contacts the shaft seal. A seal injector distributor ring uniformly distributes seal injection water to the seal. A thermal shield in the heat exchanger reduces thermal stresses in the heat exchanger. A slotted or grooved keyway spacer ring facilitates replacement and alignment of a hydrostatic bearing.

Abstract: A pump having a heat exchanger including a rotating baffle sleeve secured to the pump shaft. A seal baffle on the rotating baffle sleeve extends over the pump seal assembly cartridge. A cooling cylinder containing circulating component cooling water is suspended within the rotating baffle sleeve and defines a flow passageway therein for cooling heated product water, before the product water contacts the shaft seal. A seal injector distributor ring uniformly distributes seal injection water to the seal. A thermal shield in the heat exchanger reduces thermal stresses in the heat exchanger. A slotted keyway spacer ring facilitates replacement and alignment of a hydrostatic bearing.

Abstract: A bellows type mechanical seal assembly in which the bellows is provided with inactive or non-functional diaphragms to increase the pressure capacity of the seal assembly.