Abstract: A fluid ring seal system and method for use with a shaft encircled by a fluid medium chamber including a fluid medium. The system includes a fluid medium sealing segment in fluid flow communication with the fluid medium chamber. The fluid medium sealing segment substantially maintains the fluid medium within the chamber and the fluid medium sealing segment. A contaminant sealing segment is in fluid flow communication with the fluid medium sealing segment and with an outer environment. The contaminant sealing segment substantially prevents a contaminant from migrating into the fluid medium sealing segment. A fluid pathway extends between the fluid medium sealing segment and the contaminant sealing segment along an innermost radius defined by each respective sealing segment. Alternatively or additionally, a stator separates the fluid medium sealing segment and the contaminant sealing segment.

Abstract: A centrifugal fluid seal construction may be employed to provide a pressure seal along a rotating shaft passing through a housing wall, and may also be employed as a containment seal where the pressure drop across the seal is minimal. Each of the disclosed embodiments includes a hollow rotor formed by an annular cup enclosed by an annular cover and adapted to be sealingly mounted on the shaft. Drain holes are present near the outer periphery of the hollow rotor. The housing has structure including an annular cap that defines a cavity in which the rotor is disposed in closely spaced relation to the housing. The housing cap has a cylindrical portion that extends into the rotor through the annular rotor cover and defines therewith an annular gap for fluid that may have leaked to pass radially outwardly under the influence of centrifugal force to the drain holes. Along such path there are conducting means for increasing the surface area in the form of axially spaced annular laminations or unified porous material.

Abstract: A centrifugal fluid seal includes a rotatable hollow rotor formed by an annular cup enclosed by an annular cover having drain holes near its periphery. A stationary annular cap and recirculator jointly define an annular cavity in which the fluid to be sealed is centrifuged outwardly. At the outer limits of such cavity, the recirculator is apertured and receives high pressure fluid which rotates within the hollow recirculator and which is discharged radially inwardly just upstream of the cavity, against the rotor. The stationary annular cap also supports diverting means within the rotor, while the rotor supports annular conducting means for centrifuging any leakage fluid. In one embodiment, the rotor has a centrifugally responsive static seal that ensures sealing and engages the stationary annular cap in the absence of rotation, but automatically disengages from frictional contact with the stationary annular cap during dynamic seal operation.