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.

Abstract: A hydrodynamically lubricated sealing element for applications where the pressure of a contained fluid can be significantly greater than the pressure of the seal lubricant. The sealing element retains the pressure of the contained fluid and provides hydrodynamic lubricant pumping activity at the dynamic sealing interface to enhance service life. The invention is particularly suitable for oilfield drilling swivel washpipe assemblies, downhole drilling tools, and rotary mining equipment, and for applications such as artificial lift pump stuffing box assemblies and centrifugal pumps where a rotating shaft penetrates a pressurized reservoir that is filled with abrasive-laden liquids, mixtures, or slurries.

Abstract: The present invention is a generally circular rotary seal that establishes sealing between relatively rotatable machine components for lubricant retention and environmental exclusion, and incorporates seal geometry that interacts with the lubricant during relative rotation to distribute a lubricant film within the dynamic sealing interface. The features of a variable inlet size, a variable dynamic lip flank slope, and a reduction in the magnitude and circumferentially oriented portion of the lubricant side interfacial contact pressure zone at the narrowest part of the lip, individually or in combination thereof, serve to maximize interfacial lubrication in severe operating conditions, and also serve to minimize lubricant shear area, seal torque, seal volume, and wear, while ensuring retrofitability into the seal grooves of existing equipment.

Abstract: A seal backup ring is provided with undulating surfaces which create circumferential convergence with a relatively rotatable surface. The backup ring is configured so that differential pressure acting across a rotary seal forces portions of the backup ring against the relatively rotatable surface, closing, or substantially closing, the extrusion gap that the rotary seal is exposed to. In response to relative rotation between the backup ring and the mating relatively rotatable surface, the circumferential convergence promotes hydrodynamic lubrication within the dynamic interface that exists between the backup ring and the relatively rotatable surface. The modulus of elasticity of the backup ring is greater than the modulus of elasticity of the rotary seal.

Abstract: The present invention is a generally circular rotary seal that establishes sealing between relatively rotatable machine components for lubricant retention and environmental exclusion, and incorporates seal geometry that interacts with the lubricant during relative rotation to distribute a lubricant film within the dynamic sealing interface. A preferably curved elevated contact pressure zone serves to maximize interfacial lubrication in critical areas during severe operating conditions by utilizing lubricant that would otherwise escape at the trailing edge of the hydrodynamic waves. The zones are produced by geometry that serves to minimize lubricant shear area, seal torque, seal volume, and wear, while ensuring retrofitability into the seal grooves of existing equipment.

Abstract: A hydrodynamically lubricating geometry for the generally circular dynamic sealing lip of rotary seals that are employed to partition a lubricant from an environment. The dynamic sealing lip is provided for establishing compressed sealing engagement with a relatively rotatable surface, and for wedging a film of lubricating fluid into the interface between the dynamic sealing lip and the relatively rotatable surface in response to relative rotation that may occur in the clockwise or the counter-clockwise direction. A wave form incorporating an elongated dimple provides the gradual convergence, efficient impingement angle, and gradual interfacial contact pressure rise that are conducive to efficient hydrodynamic wedging. Skewed elevated contact pressure zones produced by compression edge effects provide for controlled lubricant movement within the dynamic sealing interface between the seal and the relatively rotatable surface, producing enhanced lubrication and low running torque.

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.