Abstract: A seal assembly component includes an annular body having a centerline, first and second axial ends spaced along the centerline, an inner circumferential surface, and an opposing outer circumferential surface. The inner surface defines a bore for receiving a shaft and is sized such that the body inner surface frictionally engages the shaft outer surface to couple the component with the shaft. At least three cavities extend axially from the body first axial end and are spaced circumferentially about the centerline. Each cavity is located adjacent to the bore so as to define a separate centering body portion between a radially innermost surface section of the cavity and an axially-extending centering surface section of the body inner circumferential surface located inwardly of the cavity. Any radial growth of each centering body portion is lesser than concurrent radial growth of remaining portions of the body during rotation of the shaft.

Abstract: A seal assembly includes a seal disposed about a shaft and having an annular body with a radial sealing surface and an inner circumferential sealing surface engageable with the shaft. A housing is disposed about the shaft and has a first inner circumferential surface defining a first annular chamber about the shaft, the seal being disposed within the first annular chamber, a second inner circumferential surface spaced radially inwardly from the first inner circumferential surface and spaced from the outer surface of the shaft by a radial clearance so as to define a second annular chamber. A radial seal contact surface extends between the first and second inner circumferential surfaces and is sealingly engageable by the sealing surface of the seal to prevent flow between the two chambers, and circumferential pressure groove(s) are formed in the seal contact surface and are fluidly coupled with the first chamber.

Abstract: A retainer device is for a seal assembly for sealing between a shaft rotatable about a central axis and a housing having a bore. The seal assembly includes at least one annular seal disposed within the housing bore and about the shaft and at least one spring for biasing the seal along the axis. The retainer device includes a generally annular body disposeable within the housing bore so as to be spaced axially from the at least one seal. The body is coupleable with the housing such that the body is generally nonrotatable about the central axis and includes at least one retainer lug extending at least generally axially from the body. The lug is engageable with the seal to prevent angular displacement of the seal about the axis. The body has at least one generally radially-extending spring contact surface contactable by an end of the at least one spring.

Abstract: A machining fixture configured to secure a blank part having part inner and outer circumferential surfaces, a part first axial face opposing a part second axial face, and at least two threaded part openings extending inwardly from the part second axial face and toward the first axial face. The machining fixture includes an annular body sized to be disposable upon a pallet of a machine table and has an upper surface including a substantially flat annular surface section, opposing lower surface and at least two through-holes extending between the upper and lower surfaces. At least two fasteners are disposed at least partially within a separate one of the at least two through-holes such that the at least two fasteners project upwardly from the upper surface, and the at least two fasteners are configured to threadedly engage a separate one of the at least two part openings to removably clamp the part second face against the body flat surface section.

Abstract: An anti-rotation device is for a circumferential seal disposed within a housing and having an annular body and one or more openings with facing first and second sides. The device includes at least one and preferably a plurality of lugs each having a first axial end coupled with the housing, preferably through an annular carrier disposed within the housing, an opposing second axial end, inner and outer radial ends each extending axially between the first and second axial ends, and opposing first and second retainer surfaces extending axially between the first and second axial ends and radially between the inner and outer radial ends. At least one retainer surface is convexly curved and each lug is disposable within a seal opening such that the convexly curved retainer surface is contactable with one of the seal opening sides to prevent angular displacement of the seal with respect to the housing.

Abstract: A telemetry unit for high speed shafts includes a metallic annular carrier having an inner circumferential surface defining a bore, for receiving a shaft or sleeve to rotatably couple the telemetry unit with the shaft, an outer circumferential surface, opposing axial ends, and interior cavities. An annular insulator formed of an electrically insulative material has an inner circumferential surface disposed about the carrier outer surface, an outer circumferential surface, and opposing axial ends. A generally circular antenna is disposed circumferentially about the insulator outer surface and an annular retainer is disposed about the insulator outer surface such that the antenna is generally sandwiched between the retainer and the insulator to generally fix the antenna relative to the carrier. The carrier engages a portion of the insulator outer surface to prevent radially-outward displacement of the insulator when the telemetry unit rotates about the axis.

Abstract: A high-speed test rig is for rotationally testing articles such as seals, bearings, couplers, etcetera. The test rig includes a shaft extension sized to receive a test article annular body about an outer surface and a primary shaft including of a solid rod. The rod has two outer circumferential base surface sections each having an outside diameter and disposed within a separate bearing such that the shaft assembly is rotatable about an axis. The rod has a first end coupled with the shaft extension, such that a cantilever beam is defined between the shaft extension outer end and a first bearing, and a second end coupled with a motor shaft.

Abstract: A combination bearing and seal assembly includes a tubular outer body connectable with an outer member and having first and second axial ends, opposing inner and outer surfaces and a bearing outer raceway on the outer body inner surface. A tubular inner body is disposed within an outer body bore and is disposeable about and coupleable with the rotatable member. The inner body has inner and outer surfaces, opposing outer and inner axial ends, the inner axial end providing a generally radial seal contact surface, and a bearing inner raceway on the inner body outer surface. Rolling elements disposed between the outer and inner raceways rotatably couple the outer and inner bodies and form a bearing. An annular seal is within the outer body bore, is coupled with the tubular outer body and has a generally radial sealing surface sealingly engageable with the inner body contact surface.

Abstract: A sleeve mountable on a rotatable shaft and configured to form a non-contacting seal with a seal ring surrounding and radially spaced from the sleeve, the sleeve including a radially inner surface configured to be mounted on the rotatable shaft, a radially outer surface, an axially inner surface between the radially inner surface and the radially outer surface, an axially outer surface between the radially inner surface and the radially outer surface and a bore configured to provide fluid communication between gas at the axially inner surface of the sleeve and the radially outer surface of the sleeve.

Abstract: A seal assembly includes a plurality of arcuate seal bodies spaced about a central axis and coupled to form an annular seal disposeable within a housing first chamber. Each seal body has an inner circumferential sealing surface for sealingly against a rotatable member outer surface and an axial end having a radial sealing surface sealingly engageable with a housing radial surface to separate the first chamber and a second housing chamber. One or more lift ramps extend outwardly from the body inner surface and generate an outwardly directed force on the seal body when the inner member rotates within the seal. An elongated projection extends axially from the body end, has radially inner and outer surfaces, and is disposeable within the housing second chamber. The projection outer surface is exposable to fluid pressure within the second chamber to generate a pressure differential between the projection inner and outer surfaces.

Abstract: A combination bearing and seal assembly includes a tubular inner body disposable about a shaft so rotate about an axis and has a first outer circumferential surface section providing an inner bearing race and a second outer circumferential surface section spaced axially from the first surface section and providing a seal engagement surface. A tubular outer body is disposed about the inner body and has an inner circumferential surface section providing a bearing outer race and rolling elements are disposed between the two races to form a bearing. A seal member(s) form an annular seal between the inner and outer bodies and is spaced axially from the bearing. The seal member(s) have inner sealing surface(s) engageable with the inner body engagement surface when the inner body is generally stationary and the seal is configured to displace radially outwardly from the engagement surface when the inner body rotates about the axis.

Abstract: A seal assembly is for sealing about a shaft rotatable about a central axis and includes a generally annular seal disposable about the shaft. The seal has a first axial end exposable to a higher pressure fluid, an opposing second axial end exposable to a lower pressure fluid, an outer circumferential surface exposable to the higher pressure fluid and an inner circumferential sealing surface. The inner sealing surface extends about the shaft to define an annular clearance space between the shaft outer surface and the seal inner surface, which provides a flow path between the seal axial ends. The seal is configured such that a differential of at least a predetermined magnitude between fluid pressure on the seal outer surface and fluid pressure on the seal inner surface deflects at least the seal second axial end radially inwardly to reduce the volume of the clearance space.

Abstract: A seal assembly includes first and second generally annular seals disposable about the shaft so as to be spaced apart axially along the shaft central axis. Each seal has an inner circumferential sealing surface and inner and outer axial sides, each inner axial side facing the other seal inner axial side. The first seal has at one or more coupling pockets extending inwardly from the first seal inner axial side and the second seal has one or more retaining pockets extending inwardly from the second seal inner axial side, each retaining pocket being aligned with one coupling pocket. One or more biasing members each have a first end disposed within one coupling pocket and an opposing, second end disposed within one retaining pocket, the biasing member being configured to exert an axial biasing force on each one of the first and second seals.

Abstract: A circumferential shaft seal segment has radial inner and outer faces and first and second axial faces, and at least one feed slot in the radial inner face extending from the first axial face toward the second axial face. At least one recess extends from the at least one feed slot and has first and second axially spaced side walls, a bottom between the side walls, a first end at the feed slot and a second end circumferentially spaced from the feed slot. The recess includes a first portion extending from the first end and a second portion extending from the second end, and a radial depth of the first portion is a first function of a distance from the feed slot and a radial depth of the second portion is a second, different, function of the distance from the feed slot.

Abstract: A seal assembly is for sealing about a shaft rotatable about a central axis and includes a generally annular seal disposeable about the shaft. The seal has a first axial end exposable to a higher pressure fluid, an opposing second axial end exposable to a lower pressure fluid, an outer circumferential surface exposable to the higher pressure fluid and an inner circumferential sealing surface. The inner sealing surface extends about the shaft to define an annular clearance space between the shaft outer surface and the seal inner surface, which provides a flow path between the seal axial ends. The seal is configured such that a differential of at least a predetermined magnitude between fluid pressure on the seal outer surface and fluid pressure on the seal inner surface deflects at least the seal second axial end radially inwardly to reduce the volume of the clearance space.

Abstract: A seal assembly includes first and second generally annular seals disposable about the shaft so as to be spaced apart axially along the shaft central axis. Each seal has an inner circumferential sealing surface and inner and outer axial sides, each inner axial side facing the other seal inner axial side. The first seal has at one or more coupling pockets extending inwardly from the first seal inner axial side and the second seal has one or more retaining pockets extending inwardly from the second seal inner axial side, each retaining pocket being aligned with one coupling pocket. One or more biasing members each have a first end disposed within one coupling pocket and an opposing, second end disposed within one retaining pocket, the biasing member being configured to exert an axial biasing force on each one of the first and second seals.

Abstract: A circumferential seal assembly for sealing about a rotatable shaft includes two or more generally arcuate bodies coupleable together to form a generally annular seal disposeable about a shaft outer surface. Each arcuate body has opposing female and male circumferential ends. Each female end includes a recess defined between a radially-inner arm and a radially-outer arm each extending generally circumferentially from a remainder of the arcuate body. Each male end includes a projection extending circumferentially from the remainder of the arcuate body and is sized to be disposeable within the recess of an adjacent arcuate body to couple the arcuate body with the adjacent arcuate body. Further, the female end inner arm of each arcuate body is disposed radially between the shaft outer surface and at least a portion of the male end projection of the adjacent arcuate body when the arcuate body is coupled with the adjacent arcuate body.

Abstract: A circumferential shaft seal segment includes a radial outer face, a radially inner face, a first axial face extending from the radial outer face to the radial inner face and a second axial face axially spaced from the first axial face and extending from the radially outer face to the radially inner face. The seal has a bleed slot in the radially inner face extending from the first axial face toward the second axial face, and there are first and second recesses in the radially inner face in communication with the bleed slot that extend from circumferentially opposite sides of the bleed slot.

Abstract: A sleeve mountable on a rotatable shaft and configured to form a non-contacting seal with a seal ring surrounding and radially spaced from the sleeve, the sleeve including a radially inner surface configured to be mounted on the rotatable shaft, a radially outer surface, an axially inner surface between the radially inner surface and the radially outer surface, an axially outer surface between the radially inner surface and the radially outer surface and a bore configured to provide fluid communication between gas at the axially inner surface of the sleeve and the radially outer surface of the sleeve.

Abstract: A ring seal for a shaft includes a plurality of arc-shaped ring segments, each of the plurality of ring segments having a radially outer face, a radially inner face, a first axial side face, a second axial side face, a first end and a second end, a spring holding the plurality of arc-shaped segments in an arch-bound configuration, and at least one circumferential ramp in the radially inner face of each of the plurality of ring segments configured to generate an air cushion when a shaft rotates inside the ring seal. Also a ring sealing system including the ring seal and a shaft.