Abstract: A rotary union for supplying a heat exchange fluid to a rotating body includes a pair of hydrodynamic bushing bearings to retain the union housing within the desired alignment with the rotating body, a thrust bearing assembly secured to the rotating body, and a seal assembly positioned forwardly of the pair of bushing bearings. The hydrodynamic bushing bearings are located within the union and are lubricated by the flow of the heat exchange fluid within the union.

Abstract: An inner diameter pressurized mechanical end face seal includes at least one seal module with adjacent relatively rotating rings each having a radially extending face confronting the face of the other ring. At least one of the rings, preferably the rotating ring, has plural spiral grooves adjacent to or extending from the inner diameter of the ring whereby the fluid pressure from the inner diameter together with the centrifugal force of the rotating ring expel any fluid leaking from the seal outwardly from the sealed chamber with sufficient force to inhibit contaminants from outboard the seal ring interface area from entering the seal. The structure and material comprising one or both of the rings provides structural integrity to each ring, thereby permitting the inner diameter pressurized seal rings to withstand fluid pressures up to at least as high as 1200 psi. Preferably, the ring material is a composite plastic material, such as polyamide-imide.

Abstract: A mechanical seal for use between a housing and a rotatable shaft supported by the housing, having adjacent annular primary and mating sealing rings, each ring having a generally radial sealing face. Means seals and holds the first sealing ring nonrotatably relative to the housing, and means seals and holds the second sealing ring to rotate with the shaft. One sealing ring is movable axially of the shaft, and springs urge this one ring toward the other sealing ring, which is axially fixed relative to the shaft. The axially moveable seal ring is centered coaxially with respect to the axis of the seal ring through engagement of a centering element which is centered relative to the shaft and which engages the axially moveable sealing ring to center it relative to the shaft. The centering element engages the axially moveable sealing ring to effect such centering at the periphery of the axially moveable ring exposed to the pressurized fluid to be sealed.