Abstract: A typical rotary face seal employs a seal ring rotating relative to a sealing surface and also employs means to urge the seal ring towards the sealing surface in order to effect a seal. The seal ring may itself comprise a seal face bonded to a backing ring. In certain applications, the seal face may deform significantly as a result of the temperature variations experienced and an undesirable crowning of the seal face may occur. Such crowning may be reduced by employing an improved seal ring with anti-crowning features in which the thickness of an edge of the seal face is different from that in the middle of the seal face, or in which a relief slot is employed in the seal face. The improved seal ring is particularly suited for rotary face seals used in a rotary valve in a rotary gas separation device.

Abstract: A typical rotary face seal employs a seal ring rotating relative to a sealing surface and also employs means to urge the seal ring towards the sealing surface in order to effect a seal. The seal ring may itself comprise a seal face bonded to a backing ring. In certain applications, the seal face may deform significantly as a result of the temperature variations experienced and an undesirable crowning of the seal face may occur. Such crowning may be reduced by employing an improved seal ring with anti-crowning features in which the thickness of an edge of the seal face is different from that in the middle of the seal face, or in which a relief slot is employed in the seal face. The improved seal ring is particularly suited for rotary face seals used in a rotary valve in a rotary gas separation device.

Abstract: A composite face seal has an annular seal rotor and an annular seal stator, both having a metal base portion and a radially extending flange. The flange has first and second axially facing surfaces. A first ceramic ring may be mounted to the first surface of the flange of either or both of the seal rotor and the seal stator by a first braze joint. A second ceramic ring may be mounted to the second surface of the flange of either or both of the seal rotor and the seal stator by a second braze joint. Each of the braze joints may include a molybdenum ring disposed between two braze rings or, for thicker seal assemblies, molybdenum and nickel rings disposed between braze rings.

Abstract: A composite face seal has an annular seal rotor and an annular seal stator, both having a metal base portion and a radially extending flange. The flange has first and second axially facing surfaces. A first ceramic ring may be mounted to the first surface of the flange of either or both of the seal rotor and the seal stator by a first braze joint. A second ceramic ring may be mounted to the second surface of the flange of either or both of the seal rotor and the seal stator by a second braze joint. Each of the braze joints may include a molybdenum ring disposed between two braze rings or, for thicker seal assemblies, molybdenum and nickel rings disposed between braze rings.

Abstract: A double gas pressure seal 10 is provided for sealing between a stationary housing 14 and a rotary housing 26. The gas pressure seal includes a stationary ring 42 and a rotary ring 40 each having a radially inner sealing face and a radially outer sealing face. A biasing spring 56 biases one of the rings toward the other ring. An annular groove 68 is provided in one of the rings, with the groove being spaced between the radially inner sealing faces and radially outer sealing faces. A supply port 84 supplies pressurized gas to the annular groove at a pressure higher than the process fluid in the stationary housing. A plurality of radially inner and radially outer recesses 94, 96, 122, 124 are provided on the one of the rings, and corresponding feed channels 98, 100, 126, 128 fluidly interconnect the annular groove with a rotary leading portion of each respective recess.

Abstract: A mechanical seal assembly having multiple compression spring assemblies that are used to bias a stationary seal into sealing engagement with a rotating seal, the springs in the spring assemblies being supported on their internal diameter and having their outside diameter visible for their entire length, each spring assembly further including a releasable, expendable clip that serves to preload the two seal faces against one another, limits relative axial movement between the stationary and rotating seal assemblies, and coaxially aligns the stationary and rotating seal assemblies.

Abstract: This invention relates to a dynamic seal or bearing interface having areas with different roughnesses. The different surface areas both provide asperity tip load support for the opposing interface.

Abstract: A unique wavy-tilt-dam shaped mechanical face seal ring, a mechanical face seal which incorporates the wavy-tilt-dam shaped ring, and an apparatus for shaping seal rings. The face shape of the ring is contoured to include a number of waves, tilts and a dam, for the purposes of promoting hydrostatic and hydrodynamic lift, and minimizing leakage in the seal. The apparatus includes a grinding wheel, a drive motor, a spindle, a cam, a cam follower, and flexure mounts to allow slight rotations of the grinding wheel or the face seal ring being ground, and thereby the apparatus machines contours onto the face of the ring.

Abstract: A unique wavy-tilt-dam shaped mechanical face seal ring, a mechanical face seal which incorporates the wavy-tilt-dam shaped ring, and an apparatus for shaping seal rings. The face shape of the ring is contoured to include a number of waves, tilts and a dam, for the purposes of promoting hydrostatic and hydrodynamic lift, and minimizing leakage in the seal. The apparatus includes a grinding wheel, a drive motor, a spindle, a cam, a cam follower, and flexure mounts to allow slight rotations of the grinding wheel or the face seal ring being ground, and thereby the apparatus machines contours onto the face of the ring.

Abstract: A dynamic seal or bearing interface having areas with different roughnesses. The different surface areas both provide asperity tip load support for the opposing interface.

Abstract: A radially compliant and zero net thermal radial taper mechanical face seal. The seal includes a primary seal ring which is radially compliant to the opposing ring due to its narrow ring length, and an opposing ring which has a geometry and physical characteristics such that the thermal rotation caused by itself and the primary ring is zero. The seal includes further design features for enhancing the radial compliance and the zero net thermal rotation characteristics.