Abstract: For monitoring a predetermined level of a liquid in a container an ultrasonic sensor is fitted on the outer surface of the container wall at a measurement point situated at the height of the level to be monitored, said sensor containing an ultrasonic transducer having a diaphragm in contact with the container wall. The components of the ultrasonic sensor including those of the ultrasonic transducer are grouped together in a sensor block which is releasably connected to an adapter secured to the container wall, this adapter being configured so that it can be secured in any way required to containers of differing shape and/or material.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically closing a shutdown seal on an open-drive centrifugal compressor to prevent the loss of refrigerant and damage to the seal, including a seal housing encompassing a rotor shaft, containing a shutdown seal and a running seal; the rotor shaft driven by a motor and axially moveable between the shutdown and running position, the shutdown position illustrated by the shutdown seal in the closed position and the running seal in the open position, the running position illustrated by the shutdown seal in the open position and the running seal in the closed position; a pressurized oil supply to move the shaft between the shutdown and running positions; a first sensor to determine when the motor is operating; a second sensor to measure the oil pressure; a solenoid controlling a release valve to remove pressure from the oil supply to move the shaft from the running position to the shutdown position once the motor has been inoperative for a given period of time and the oil pressure has fallen

Abstract: A head gasket having a pair of armor assemblies with protective shim portions in the zones of adjacency of adjacent pairs of combustion openings. One armor's shim portions face one main surface of a main body of the gasket and the other armor's shim portions face the other main surface of the main body. The associated armors and the shims comprising the armor assemblies encapsulate the zone of adjacency and protect against degradation of that zone and enhance sealing thereat. A method of making the head gasket by applying the armor assemblies from opposite sides of the main body is also disclosed.

Abstract: A gland seal assembly for a slurry pump comprising a main body having a bore therethrough for receiving a rotatable shaft, a packing receiving zone within the bore, the packing including at least two packing rings and a packing sleeve surrounding the packing rings and arranged so that axial compression of the packing sleeve can be translated at least in part, to radial compression of the packing rings.

Abstract: A seal arrangement for a stuffing box, the stuffing box having an outboard seal an inboard seal exposed to process fluid, and a volume pressurized with barrier fluid in which the inboard seal and the outboard seal are disposed, has a container divided into at least two non-communicating chambers by a movable wall, with a first of the chambers being supplied with barrier fluid and communicating with the space in the stuffing box in which the outboard seal is disposed, and a second of the chambers communicating with the stuffing box so as to be at the stuffing box pressure. The movable wall constantly strives to assume an equilibrium position wherein substantially no pressure differential exists across the inboard seal. Due to the absence of such a pressure differential, substantially no contamination of the barrier fluid by the process fluid occurs, and vice versa.

Abstract: The metal-to-metal sealing system includes a first seal configuration on one member of the connection and a second seal configuration on the other member. Each seal configuration includes an annular groove and an adjacent annular tooth. The annular groove and annular tooth form three frustoconical surfaces with the groove having an annular undercut surface and the annular tooth having an annular shoulder surface. A seal cylindrical surface and a pre-ramp cylindrical surface extend from the mouth of the groove and a frustoconical ramp forms the transition surface between the seal and pre-ramp cylindrical surfaces. Further, at the base of the outer side of the annular tooth, there extends a cylindrical surface along the main body of the member. Upon makeup of the connection, the ramps and seal cylindrical surfaces guide and align the seal configurations. Initially the center frustoconical surfaces interferingly engage.

Abstract: An expanded graphite sealing material is provided in which the adaptability of the principal face of an expanded graphite base member is improved, the bonding strength to a coating layer and the like can be increased, and the sealing properties can be enhanced. A method of producing such a sealing material, and a gasket sheet using the sealing material are also of concern. On at least a portion of a principal face of the expanded graphite base member in which expanded graphite particles are pressurized and integrated together, opened thin-leaf graphite portions are formed. The principal face of the expanded graphite base member having the thin-leaf graphite portions can be impregnated with a sealing member such as PTFE or covered with a coating layer. As the form of the sealing material, a sheet, a press-molded product, a fabric, a string, or a braided article can be adopted.

Abstract: A screened gasket for sealing a junction and filtering fluid flowing through the junction includes a sandwich-type structure with first and second gasket members holding a central screen securely therebetween. An inner seal annularly surrounds the screen and prevents radial fluid leakage between the two gasket members. Outer seals are provided which engage the surfaces of the flanges of the junction.

Abstract: A shaft seal comprises a resilient sealing ring 1 with a peripheral sealing lip which is deflected axially in use so as to bear radially against a shaft. The sealing contact area 2 on the sealing lip is between predetermined limits, each defined by a change in angle of the surface of the sealing lip so that a substantial contact stress is maintained across the whole sealing contact area 2 in use. The seal can be used in an assembly including a carrier 5, 5' in which the seal is mounted. The seal can be used cooperatively with another shaft seal to prevent contaminants passing along the shaft.

Abstract: The present invention provides an annular sealing apparatus for disposition in cooperation with a body defining a bore and a rotating member rotatably received in said bore to inhibit fluid leakage therebetween. The sealing apparatus is comprised of axially juxtaposed first and second comb-like pluralities of uniformly spaced and integral finger members circumscribing the rotating member. Each finger member has substantially the same width and is separated from adjacent finger members by a uniform gap. At the innermost end of each finger is a foot portion sealingly and movably engaging said rotating member. Each foot portion is configured so as to lift away from the rotating member and ride on a thin film of air during engine operation. The first and second comb-like members are positioned so that the fingers of each block the gaps in the other.

Abstract: For monitoring a predetermined level of a liquid in a container an ultrasonic transducer is fitted on the outer surface of the container wall at a measurement point situated at the height of the level to be monitored. The ultrasonic transducer when excited by an alternating voltage pulse having a given transmission frequency which equals the thickness resonant frequency of the container wall, transfers an ultrasonic transmission pulse to the container wall and converts ultrasonic vibrations, generated by reflected echo pulses, into electrical reception signals that are transferred to an evaluation circuit. In the evaluation circuit, on the one hand the presence or absence of echo signals is detected, and, on the other, the ultrasonic vibrations generated by the after-vibration of the container wall at the end of the transmission pulse are evaluated.

Abstract: A seal apparatus is disposed between two elements for providing an effective seal there between and for preventing damage to the seal apparatus due to cutting or blowout as the two machined elements move relative to one another. The seal apparatus consists of a circumferential groove in a first element with at least two o-rings substantially occupying the width of the circumferential groove. A seal ring is disposed between the o-rings and the second element occupying substantially the width of the circumferential groove. The seal ring has sides in slidable contact with the walls of the circumferential groove and a sealing surface in contact with the second element. The seal ring has a first and second chamfer connecting the sides of the seal ring with the sealing surface of the seal ring to allow the seal apparatus to be compressed between the elements. The area where the chamfer intersects the sealing surface defines a sealing edge.

Abstract: A sealing system, particularly useful for packers and anchors, is disclosed. The sealing element or elements are of a nonelastomeric material and are configured with a feature that can add a biasing force on one or both sides of the nonelastomeric sealing element(s) to allow the sealing element(s) to maintain the seal despite temperature or pressure fluctuations in the wellbore. The apparatus allows a packer with a nonelastomeric seal to be set at a broad range of downhole temperatures. The system includes a biasing member in the form of a cylindrical element having narrow width and wider width openings.

Abstract: A brush seal is comprised of arcuate seal segments having ends cut in a radial direction with bristles "canted" at an approximate 45.degree. angle relative to radii of the segments, leaving triangular regions adjacent one end of each segment devoid of bristles at the segment interfaces. The brush seals are retrofit into conventional labyrinth seals with the backing plate for the bristles comprising a labyrinth tooth profile extending fully 360.degree. about the seal, including those areas where bristles are not present. The sealing capacity is not substantially degraded, while affording significant sealing improvements over conventional labyrinth seals. Additionally, when retrofit into labyrinth seals with radial movement, the individual labyrinth seal segments are free to move radially independently of one another during transients.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for implementing a vacuum seal between an interface of a transport chamber interface port of a transport chamber and another chamber. The transport chamber being configured to mate with the another chamber in an adjacent relationship. The method includes placing an insert plate having a sealing surface containing a first O-ring into the transport chamber interface port such that the first O-ring is sandwiched between the sealing surface and a surface of the another chamber. Therefore, a vacuum seal is achieved between the transport chamber and the another chamber within the transport chamber interface port via the first O-ring.

Abstract: A sealing system for the compression ring (5) of a piston (1) of an internal combustion engine comprises placing an elastomeric material seal ring (15) behind the compression ring (5) to provide sealing to improve compression ratio and prevent loss of oil. The seal ring may be an O-ring of a neoprene/silicon blend elastomeric material of circular, U-shaped, oval, square, rectangular or trapezoidal shape, and may be hollow or solid. The seal ring may have a cross-sectional diameter of from 50% to 100% of the thickness of the compression ring (5) behind which it fits.

Abstract: A small, compact, easily mountable ultrasonic transducer for measuring the filling level in a container is provided, which transducer transmits virtually no oscillation energy to the container, having a can-shaped transducer housing (1), an electronics housing (2) connected to the transducer housing (1), a transducer element (4), arranged in the transducer housing (1), for the transmission and reception of ultrasonic pulses, a union ring (3) for the sound-decoupling securing of the ultrasonic transducer on the container, in which ring the transducer housing (1) is supported coaxially with respect to the union ring (3) and is fixed therein against displacement in the axial direction, and two resilient elements (7, 8) which are arranged between the transducer housing (1) and the union ring (3) and by means of which the transducer housing (1) and the union ring (3) are held spaced apart from each other in the radial direction in such a way that there is no direct mechanical coupling between them in the radial di

Abstract: Apparatus for promoting heat transfer between a first volume (chamber volume) and a second volume (expandable, substrate support platform volume). Specifically, the apparatus comprises: a chamber defining a chamber volume that contains a chamber atmosphere, e.g., a partial vacuum; a substrate support platform that defines an expandable volume that contains a heat transfer medium, e.g., air; and a seal that isolates the chamber volume from the heat transfer medium. The substrate support platform further comprises: a substrate support platen that has a first surface located within the chamber volume and a second surface located within the expandable volume; a housing sealed to the second surface of the substrate support platen; and a expandable member such as a bellows, attached to the housing, to provide for expansion of the expandable volume that is defined by the housing and the bellows. The housing is typically fabricated of metal and the substrate support is typically fabricated of ceramic.

Abstract: A sealing assembly is disclosed for creating a seal between first and second mating members or components. The sealing assembly basically includes a seal retainer with one or more annular seals coupled thereto. The seal retainer includes a body portion constructed of three layers. The inner layer is designed to retain the seal or seals thereto, while the outer layers or plates are designed to limit the amount of seal compression. The inner layer has at least one resilient retaining element integrally formed therewith as a one-piece, unitary member for engaging and retaining the seal or seals to retain the seal or seals thereto.

Abstract: A seal is provided around an elongated object by providing a plurality of packing pieces having external surfaces, each said packing piece being made of a material composition comprising at least one type of elastomer, and 1-10 percent by weight lubricant, calculated on the total weight of the composition, the lubricant being essentially non-combinable with said elastomer. A bushing is provided around the elongated object, the bushing is packed with the packing pieces, and, in use, the lubricant migrates to the preference, the material composition includes 1-3 percent by weight lubricant, 25-32 percent by weight elastomer, 10-13 percent by weight filler, 1-3 percent by weight activator, 0.01-3 percent by weight accelerator, 0.01-2 percent by weight vulcanizing agent, 35-55 percent by weight flame retardant, 5-8 percent by weight pH-stabilizing agent, 0.