Abstract: A passive thermal control valve comprising a thermal actuator coupled to a valve body having first and second ports. The thermal actuator including an actuator body having an inner bore. An adjustment stop engages the actuator body. A cylinder is received within the actuator body inner bore and the cylinder has a cylinder bore open at one end. An actuator spring within the actuator body biases the cylinder towards the adjustment stop. An actuator rod is at least partially received within the cylinder and has first and second ends. At least a portion of the actuator rod is allowed to extend through the open cylinder bore. A sealing element forms a seal between the actuator rod and the cylinder and defines a sealed chamber within the cylinder. A thermal fluid is contained within the cylinder. A lever mechanism is connected to the valve body and includes a lever having a first end connected to the valve body. A valve spool is connected to a lever second end.

Abstract: A sealing assembly for forward and reverse differential pressure, the sealing assembly including a housing having a first bore portion joined by a housing surface to a second bore portion, a shaft relatively movable with respect to the housing, an annular seal carrier located radially outward of and encircling at least a portion of the shaft. The seal carrier has an annular neck transitioning to an outwardly extending wall and having an axial extension adjoining the outwardly extending wall. The annular neck extends through the first bore portion and the axial extension and wall is positioned within the second bore portion. A dynamic seal is located between and has sealing contact with the axial extension and the shaft and partitions a lubricant fluid from an environment fluid. The dynamic seal has a lubricant fluid side exposed to the lubricant fluid and an environment fluid side exposed to the environment fluid. An end cap having an inner axial extension with an end face is secured to the housing.

Abstract: A passive, modulating flow control valve including a poppet having a precisely designed and constant unbalanced area. A spring rate is selected to achieve the desired poppet travel over the desired range of differential pressure. Preferably, the spring preload is selected such that the poppet will remain fully open until a specified minimum differential pressure is reached. The unbalanced area and spring force allow the poppet to reposition proportional to the differential pressure throughout the design range of differential pressure. An array of radial holes in the poppet are used to define the trim characteristics. As the poppet is pushed closed by the differential pressure, few radial holes remain uncovered, which increases the flow resistance. The single modulating poppet includes flow and trim characteristics that respond directly to differential pressure acting on it to achieve tight control of the mass flow rate.

Abstract: A seal configuration, mold and manufacturing process that inhibits undesirable elastomer migration onto critical radially inwardly facing portions of a plastic-lined dynamic sealing lip, for improved high-pressure seal operation. The seal configuration is a hydrodynamically lubricating rotary seal for differential pressure acting in either axial direction that establishes compressed sealing engagement with a relatively rotatable surface and wedges a film of lubricating fluid into the interface between the rotary seal and the relatively rotatable surface in response to relative rotation that may occur in the clockwise or counter-clockwise direction. The rotary seal having a dynamic lip with hydrodynamic waves on both sides of the dynamic lip with the axial width of the seal minimized while maximizing the axial width of the dynamic sealing surface.

Abstract: A passive thermal control valve comprising a thermal actuator coupled to a valve body having first and second ports. The thermal actuator including an actuator body having an inner bore. An adjustment stop engages the actuator body. A cylinder is received within the actuator body inner bore and the cylinder has a cylinder bore open at one end. An actuator spring within the actuator body biases the cylinder towards the adjustment stop. An actuator rod is at least partially received within the cylinder and has first and second ends. At least a portion of the actuator rod is allowed to extend through the open cylinder bore. A sealing element forms a seal between the actuator rod and the cylinder and defines a sealed chamber within the cylinder. A thermal fluid is contained within the cylinder. A lever mechanism is connected to the valve body and includes a lever having a first end connected to the valve body. A valve spool is connected to a lever second end.

Abstract: A passive thermal control valve comprising a thermal actuator coupled to a valve body having first and second ports. The thermal actuator including an actuator body having an inner bore. An adjustment stop engages the actuator body. A cylinder is received within the actuator body inner bore and the cylinder has a cylinder bore open at one end. An actuator spring within the actuator body biases the cylinder towards the adjustment stop. An actuator rod is at least partially received within the cylinder and has first and second ends. At least a portion of the actuator rod is allowed to extend through the open cylinder bore. A sealing element forms a seal between the actuator rod and the cylinder and defines a sealed chamber within the cylinder. A thermal fluid is contained within the cylinder. A lever mechanism is connected to the valve body and includes a lever having a first end connected to the valve body. A valve spool is connected to a lever second end.

Abstract: A seal configuration, mold and manufacturing process that inhibits undesirable elastomer migration onto critical radially inwardly facing portions of a plastic-lined dynamic sealing lip, for improved high-pressure seal operation.

Abstract: A passive thermal control valve comprising a thermal actuator coupled to a valve body having first and second ports. The thermal actuator including an actuator body having an inner bore. An adjustment stop engages the actuator body. A cylinder is received within the actuator body inner bore and the cylinder has a cylinder bore open at one end. An actuator spring within the actuator body biases the cylinder towards the adjustment stop. An actuator rod is at least partially received within the cylinder and has first and second ends. At least a portion of the actuator rod is allowed to extend through the open cylinder bore. A sealing element forms a seal between the actuator rod and the cylinder and defines a sealed chamber within the cylinder. A thermal fluid is contained within the cylinder. A lever mechanism is connected to the valve body and includes a lever having a first end connected to the valve body. A valve spool is connected to a lever second end.

Abstract: A rotary shaft sealing assembly having a rotatable shaft, a seal housing having a groove bore located radially outward of and facing the rotatable shaft, and a sealing element in sealing contact with the shaft and groove bore. The sealing element having seal body first and second ends and tangs extending axially from the seal body first end. A shelf member has an outer groove wall and a shelf defining an inner groove wall. The inner and outer groove walls providing axial support to the sealing element in certain conditions of assembly and operation. The seal housing or the shelf member providing restraints, with a portion of the restraints in circumferential alignment with the tangs and blocking rotation of the sealing element. The shelf, located radially between the shaft and the restraints, blocks and prevents loss of the restraints.

Abstract: A flow conditioning assembly comprising an integral elbow flow conditioner and a downstream flow conditioner. The elbow flow conditioner includes a pipe elbow with one or more flow conditioning elements. Each flow conditioning element includes one or more turning guides. Each turning guide is generally circular and radially spaced from one another and an inner surface of the elbow. Spaced vanes maintain the radial spacing of the turning guides. The vanes divide the radial space between the turning guides and pipe elbow into a plurality of flow channels that turn in generally the same direction as the inner surface of the pipe elbow. The downstream flow conditioner comprises a flow conditioning structure within a pipe element. The flow conditioning structure includes one or more flow guides of generally circular form radially spaced from one another and the pipe element. Spaced support vanes maintain the radial spacing of the flow guides.

Abstract: A flow conditioning assembly comprising an integral elbow flow conditioner and a downstream flow conditioner. The elbow flow conditioner includes a pipe elbow with one or more flow conditioning elements. Each flow conditioning element includes one or more turning guides. Each turning guide is generally circular and radially spaced from one another and an inner surface of the elbow. Spaced vanes maintain the radial spacing of the turning guides. The vanes divide the radial space between the turning guides and pipe elbow into a plurality of flow channels that turn in generally the same direction as the inner surface of the pipe elbow. The downstream flow conditioner comprises a flow conditioning structure within a pipe element. The flow conditioning structure includes one or more flow guides of generally circular form radially spaced from one another and the pipe element. Spaced support vanes maintain the radial spacing of the flow guides.

Abstract: A flow conditioning assembly comprising an integral elbow flow conditioner and a downstream flow conditioner. The elbow flow conditioner includes a pipe elbow with one or more flow conditioning elements. Each flow conditioning element includes one or more turning guides. Each turning guide is generally circular and radially spaced from one another and an inner surface of the elbow. Spaced vanes maintain the radial spacing of the turning guides. The vanes divide the radial space between the turning guides and pipe elbow into a plurality of flow channels that turn in generally the same direction as the inner surface of the pipe elbow. The downstream flow conditioner comprises a flow conditioning structure within a pipe element. The flow conditioning structure includes one or more flow guides of generally circular form radially spaced from one another and the pipe element. Spaced support vanes maintain the radial spacing of the flow guides.

Abstract: A sealing arrangement having inboard and outboard dynamic seals in a housing separated by a barrier fluid and having a sealed relationship with a relatively movable bearing-guided shaft. A bearing chamber having bearing lubricant exposed to the inboard dynamic seal. The inboard dynamic seal is a hydrodynamic seal having a hydrodynamic pumping action in response to relative rotation between the shaft and the inboard dynamic seal. The hydrodynamic pumping action forcing a film of the bearing lubricant between the inboard dynamic seal and the shaft. The hydrodynamic pumping-related leakage of the inboard dynamic seal being returned to the bearing chamber in which the shaft guidance bearings are located.

Abstract: A sealing assembly includes a first machine component having a seal groove defined by radially oriented jacket support and energizer positioning walls and an energizer compressing wall that faces axially toward a second machine component. A seal located within the seal groove has an energizer element and a telescoping jacket. The jacket has a first leg portion having a jacket sealing surface facing toward the second machine component and an energizer contacting wall facing toward the energizer element. The energizer element is compressed between the energizer contacting and energizer compressing walls and loads the jacket sealing surface against the second machine component. A jacket second leg portion extends generally axially and has an energizer supporting wall facing toward the energizer element and a supported wall facing radially and adjoining the jacket support wall. The second leg portion is interposed between the energizer element and the jacket support wall.

Abstract: A hydrodynamically lubricating rotary seal for differential pressure acting in either axial direction that establishes compressed sealing engagement with a relatively rotatable surface and wedges a film of lubricating fluid into the interface between the rotary seal and the relatively rotatable surface in response to relative rotation that may occur in the clockwise or counter-clockwise direction. A multi-function edge and angled flank of the hydrodynamic wave form are truncated by the lubricant end of the seal, improving the dynamic performance of the seal in circumstances where the pressure acting on the environment end of the seal is greater than the pressure acting on the lubricant end of the seal. This improvement is believed to be the result of reduced contact pressure, and reduced radial deformation of the wave form, compared to prior art seals.

Abstract: A sealing arrangement having inboard and outboard dynamic seals in a housing separated by a barrier fluid and having a sealed relationship with a relatively movable bearing-guided shaft. A bearing chamber having bearing lubricant exposed to the inboard dynamic seal. The inboard dynamic seal is a hydrodynamic seal having a hydrodynamic pumping action in response to relative rotation between the shaft and the inboard dynamic seal. The hydrodynamic pumping action forcing a film of the bearing lubricant between the inboard dynamic seal and the shaft. The hydrodynamic pumping-related leakage of the inboard dynamic seal being returned to the bearing chamber in which the shaft guidance bearings are located.

Abstract: The invention is a sealing assembly for equipment with movable shafts—such as coaxial and side port swivels, hydraulic swivels, and rotary control devices—that prevents the loss of a high pressure fluid through the clearance existing between a housing and the shaft. The invention is disclosed in the context of a coaxial swivel that conducts high pressure fluid from a stationary first conduit to a rotating second conduit that has dynamic runout, and may be misaligned relative to the first conduit.

Abstract: The invention is a sealing assembly for equipment with movable shafts—such as coaxial and side port swivels, hydraulic swivels, and rotary control devices—that prevents the loss of a high pressure fluid through the clearance existing between a housing and the shaft. The invention is disclosed in the context of a coaxial swivel that conducts high pressure fluid from a stationary first conduit to a rotating second conduit that has dynamic runout, and may be misaligned relative to the first conduit.

Abstract: A seal backup ring assembly is provided that eliminates fluid differential pressure acting radially on the backup ring, preventing collapse of the backup ring against a shaft. The backup ring is assembled so that the initial clearance (extrusion gap) between the backup ring and relatively rotating member is not affected by the differential pressure acting across the assembly. This allows for an initially small extrusion gap to be present throughout the differential pressure range.

Abstract: A dynamic sealing mechanism for a machine assembly that includes a seal housing of generally cylindrical form having opposed ends, the seal housing axially positioned between a pressure housing and a retaining member and laterally translatable relative to the pressure housing. The dynamic sealing mechanism includes a shaft located at least partially within the seal housing, the shaft having a sealing surface of generally cylindrical form, relatively movable with respect to the seal housing, and having at least one radial bearing positioned radially by the shaft and locating the radial position of the seal housing. At least three fluid pressure-generated forces act axially on the seal housing to produce a net fluid pressure-generated axial force that is negligible.