Abstract: An improved annular face seal ring mountable in opposed alignment to another face seal ring to form a sliding interface in a mechanical seal assembly. It includes a sealing ring face on an axially facing surface of the ring. At least two circumferential disposed preformed waves are on the sealing ring face having high areas and low areas on the sealing ring face. The waves of the sealing ring face have a lapped surface and/or a surface roughness of about 4 .mu. inch R.sub.a or less.

Abstract: A wavy face ring having a smooth face and a method of manufacturing this wavy face ring. In particular, the method includes providing a ring blank having a face surface and a peripheral surface and applying a predetermined force to the peripheral surface of the ring. This force deforms the face surface of the ring blank into a first deformation pattern. The face surface of the ring blank is then treated while the force is being applied to the peripheral surface of the ring blank. Finally, the force is removed from the peripheral surface of the ring blank to allow the face surface of the ring to relax and assume a second deformation pattern. A wavy face ring assembly is also provided that includes opposing rings mounted about a rotating shaft. One of the rings is stationary with respect to the other and one of rings has a wavy face treated by a lapping machine. The ring can be a seal ring or a thrust 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 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 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.