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: 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: 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 rotary shaft sealing assembly in which a first fluid is partitioned from a second fluid in a housing assembly having a rotary shaft located at least partially within. In one embodiment a lip seal is lubricated and flushed with a pressure-generating seal ring preferably having an angled diverting feature. The pressure-generating seal ring and a hydrodynamic seal may be used to define a lubricant-filled region with each of the seals having hydrodynamic inlets facing the lubricant-filled region. Another aspect of the sealing assembly is having a seal to contain pressurized lubricant while withstanding high rotary speeds. Another rotary shaft sealing assembly embodiment includes a lubricant supply providing a lubricant at an elevated pressure to a region between a lip seal and a hydrodynamic seal with a flow control regulating the flow of lubricant past the lip seal.

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 composite, dynamic seal suitable for use in a high temperature environment and method of making same. The dynamic seal includes a resilient, generally ring-shaped seal body having a first layer formed of a first resilient sealing material and a second layer formed of a second resilient sealing material. The first and second layers are preferably molded and cured together simultaneously and chemically cross-linked to each other. The first resilient sealing material is selected for its wear resistant dynamic properties and the second resilient sealing material is selected for its compression set resistant properties. Preferably, the first resilient sealing material is tetrafluoroethylene and propylene copolymer and the second resilient sealing material is fluorocarbon rubber. The first and second resilient sealing materials have compatible cure systems, preferably peroxide cure systems.

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 rotary shaft sealing assembly in which a first fluid is partitioned from a second fluid in a housing assembly having a rotary shaft located at least partially within. In one embodiment a lip seal is lubricated and flushed with a pressure-generating seal ring preferably having an angled diverting feature. The pressure-generating seal ring and a hydrodynamic seal may be used to define a lubricant-filled region with each of the seals having hydrodynamic inlets facing the lubricant-filled region. Another aspect of the sealing assembly is having a seal to contain pressurized lubricant while withstanding high rotary speeds. Another rotary shaft sealing assembly embodiment includes a lubricant supply providing a lubricant at an elevated pressure to a region between a lip seal and a hydrodynamic seal with a flow control regulating the flow of lubricant past the lip seal.

Abstract: A hydrodynamic sealing assembly including a first component having first and second walls and a peripheral wall defining a seal groove, a second component having a rotatable surface relative to said first component, and a hydrodynamic seal comprising a seal body of generally ring-shaped configuration having a circumference. The seal body includes hydrodynamic and static sealing lips each having a cross-sectional area that substantially vary in time with each other about the circumference. In an uninstalled condition, the seal body has a length defined between first and second seal body ends which varies in time with the hydrodynamic sealing lip cross-sectional area. The first and second ends generally face the first and second walls, respectively. In the uninstalled condition, the first end is angulated relative to the first wall and the second end is angulated relative to the second wall. The seal body has a twist-limiting surface adjacent the static sealing lip.

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 hydrodynamically lubricating rotary seal for partitioning a lubricant from an environment has a generally circular seal body, a sloping dynamic sealing lip, and an energizer. The dynamic sealing lip is provided for establishing compressed sealing relation with a relatively rotatable surface, and has a sloping dynamic sealing surface that varies in width, and also has a hydrodynamic inlet curvature that varies in position around the circumference of the seal. When the seal is installed against a relatively rotatable surface, the dynamic sealing lip deforms to define a variable width interfacial contact footprint against the relatively rotatable surface that is wavy on the lubricant side, and wedges a film of lubricating fluid into the interface in response to relative rotation. The environment edge of the interfacial contact footprint is substantially circular, and therefore does not produce a hydrodynamic wedging action in response to relative rotation.

Abstract: A rotary seal is provided that operates hydrodynamically in response to relative rotation even when subjected to exposure to a high fluid pressure from either side, and provides low breakout and running torque. A dynamic sealing lip having a wavy geometry provides hydrodynamic lubrication in response to relative rotation when little or no differential pressure is acting across the seal. When differential pressure exists, controlled fluid pressure-induced distortion results in a distorted dynamic sealing lip configuration that is suitable for hydrodynamic lubrication, regardless of which direction the differential pressure acts from.

Abstract: A hydrodynamic seal for location in a seal groove of a structure, such as a housing and for dynamic sealing engagement with a relatively rotatable surface. Elevated contact pressure zones caused by pressure manipulation features located at least partially on the dynamic sealing surface of the seal provide for controlled lubricant movement within the dynamic sealing interface between the seal and the relatively rotatable surface for enhanced lubrication of the seal even when the seal defines a wide sealing footprint with the relatively rotatable surface. The pressure manipulation feature may be defined by projections at least partially from the dynamic sealing lip which are compressed against the relatively rotatable surface or depressions which define pressure manipulating edges which react with the lubricant in the dynamic sealing interface responsive to relative rotation.

Abstract: A load responsive hydrodynamic bearing is provided in the form of a thrust bearing or journal bearing for supporting, guiding and lubricating a relatively rotatable member to minimize wear thereof responsive to relative rotation under severe load. In the space between spaced relatively rotatable members and in the presence of a liquid or grease lubricant, one or more continuous ring shaped integral generally circular bearing bodies each define at least one dynamic surface and a plurality of support regions. Each of the support regions defines a static surface which is oriented in generally opposed relation with the dynamic surface for contact with one of the relatively rotatable members. A plurality of flexing regions are defined by the generally circular body of the bearing and are integral with and located between adjacent support regions.

Abstract: A hydrodynamically lubricating seal has a generally circular seal body defining a static sealing surface and having a dynamic sealing lip projecting from the seal body and defining a dynamic sealing surface, a non-hydrodynamic edge and a non-circular angulated flank having a flank angle. The flank angle and the dynamic sealing surface have theoretical intersection being positioned from the non-hydrodynamic edge by a variable distance having a minimum dimension being greater than {fraction (1/16)} inch and also having a maximum dimension. The circular seal body defines a theoretical center-line and, when viewed in a longitudinal cross-section taken along the theoretical center-line, a hydrodynamic inlet curve is shown that blends the theoretical intersection between the flank angle and the dynamic sealing surface. This hydrodynamic inlet curve is tangent to the dynamic sealing surface at a location of tangency and has a rate of curvature less than the rate of curvature of a ⅛ inch radius.

Abstract: A wedge gate valve having a valve body defining a valve chamber and flow passages and upwardly diverging circular seat surfaces of circular, flat configuration and defining seat planes. A valve disk or wedge having downwardly converging sealing surfaces is movable within said valve chamber between open and closed positions for controlling flow through the valve. Pressure boundary plates connected by hubs to the valve disk define the sealing surfaces of the disk and have bottom corners that establish line contact with the downstream seat surface and prevent any portion of said sealing surfaces of said valve disk from crossing the sealing plane of the downstream seat in the event of flow responsive downstream movement of the valve disk during its opening and closing movement. Guide ears of the disk are provided with flexible upper and lower extremities and rounded or chamfered inner end surfaces to minimize localized peak contact stress with disk guide rails of the valve body.

Abstract: A hydrodynamically lubricated rotary seal or packing assembly which provides environmental exclusion, lubricant retention and hydrodynamic interfacial lubrication in applications where the environment pressure may be higher than the lubricant pressure. The invention is particularly suitable for oilfield drilling swivels 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 which is filled with abrasive-laden liquids, mixtures or slurries. The invention provides a unique sealing mechanism which controls high pressure abrasive fluids, and which accomplishes hydrodynamic lubricant pumping activity to maintain efficient lubrication at the dynamic sealing interfaces thereof to thus significantly enhance service life.

Abstract: A rotary seal is provided that operates hydrodynamically in response to relative rotation even when subjected to exposure to a high fluid pressure from either side, and provides low breakout and running torque. A dynamic sealing lip having a wavy geometry provides hydrodynamic lubrication in response to relative rotation when little or no differential pressure is acting across the seal. When differential pressure exists, controlled fluid pressure-induced distortion results in a distorted dynamic sealing lip configuration that is suitable for hydrodynamic lubrication, regardless of which direction the differential pressure acts from.

Abstract: A novel hydrodynamically lubricated compression type rotary seal that is suitable for lubricant retention and environmental exclusion. Particularly, the seal geometry ensures constraint of a hydrodynamic seal in a manner preventing skew-induced wear and provides adequate room within the seal gland to accommodate thermal expansion. The seal accommodates large as-manufactured variations in the coefficient of thermal expansion of the sealing material, provides a relatively stiff integral spring effect to minimize pressure-induced shuttling of the seal within the gland, and also maintains interfacial contact pressure within the dynamic sealing interface in an optimum range for efficient hydrodynamic lubrication and environment exclusion. The seal geometry also provides for complete support about the circumference of the seal to receive environmental pressure, as compared the interrupted character of seal support set forth in U.S. Pat. Nos.

Abstract: A hydrodynamically lubricating rotary seal for partitioning a lubricant from an environment has a generally circular seal body and sloping, generally opposed projecting static and dynamic sealing lips. The dynamic sealing lip is provided for establishing compressed sealing relation with a relatively rotatable surface, and has a sloping dynamic sealing surface that varies in width, and also has a hydrodynamic inlet curvature that varies in position around the circumference of the seal.