Abstract: A labyrinth type seal assembly having one or more controlled porosity elements retained in the labyrinth pathway between relatively rotatable seal elements. Preferably the controlled porosity elements are formed of open celled foam material such as polyurethane. The controlled porosity elements assist in preventing the ingress of contaminating solid or liquid materials, the loss of sealed materials and the flooding or overloading of drain ports.

Abstract: A labyrinth seal ring designed to function properly regardless of its rotational orientation relative to a horizontal shaft to be sealed. The novel seal ring bore is formed with a series of lands and grooves, with a plurality of axially extending drainage grooves cut across the axially inner lands to allow fluid to drain back into the associated housing interior. The pattern of the drainage grooves varies from land to land so that nowhere is there a direct flow path across more than two lands. The new ring will most likely be used in conjunction with a bearing isolator seal, but it may be used alone in some applications.

Abstract: A bearing isolator seal having a shaft seal assembly that includes a stator housing having an inner radially extending face with a pair of spaced concentric annular flanges of substantially frusto-conical shape extending from a larger diameter end that is fixed to the inner radially extending face to a smaller diameter free end, and a rotor having a peripherally extending radial flange that is fixed to a hub of the rotor and has a contact sealing surface that contacts the free end of the annular flanges of the stator housing.

Abstract: A bearing isolator seal having a shaft seal assembly that includes a stator housing having an inner radially extending face with an annular flange of substantially frusto-conical shape that extends from a larger diameter end that is fixed to the inner radially extending face to a smaller diameter free end, and a rotor having a peripherally extending radial flange of substantially frusto-conical shape that is provided with a smaller diameter end that is fixed to a hub of the rotor, a larger diameter free end, and a contact sealing surface therebetween, the free end being biased into contact with the inner radially extending face of the stator housing and the contact sealing surface being biased into contact with the free end of the annular flange of the stator housing under static seal conditions, the rotor being constructed in a manner causing these areas of contact to be broken under the effect of centrifugal forces generated by rotation of the rotor with the shaft.