Abstract: The invention is a mechanical seal assembly for use between a stationary body and a rotating shaft. The seal assembly includes a stationary element, a rotating biasing element and a rotating tensioning element. The rotating biasing element is sealed to the rotating shaft utilizing an o-ring seal. The tensioning member is rigidly mounted to said shaft using an interference fit backed up by set screws or the equivalent. The stationary assembly is centered about the shaft and rigidly fastened to the stationary body. Either the stationary element or the rotating follower element may hold packing in a radial packing groove, as a sealing medium. An axial biasing force provided by coil springs (or other compressive means) on the periphery of the rotating follower plate and secured by the rotating tensioning element insures intimate contact of the packing medium to the stationary element and rotating biasing element sealing face, thus providing a fluid tight seal.

Abstract: A bearing seal includes a bearing housing which houses a rotatable shaft, with a flange of the shaft located outside the housing and an internal annular volume residing between the bearing housing and the shaft, the annular volume bounded at one axial end by the flange. A seal resides in a recess in an outer surface of the housing, the seal including an outwardly extending resilient lip which engages the flange to close off the annular volume at the first axial end, adjacent the flange. The bearing housing includes a fluid passage which extends from an outer surface thereof to the annular volume, the passage including an innermost section oriented tangential to the annular volume. Purge fluid supplied to the annular volume via the external passage causes circumferential flow and substantially radially uniform purge fluid pressure within the annular volume.

Abstract: A method for designing bearings, of improved performance, the load-bearing surfaces of which feature micropores about 2 to 10 microns deep and, preferably, aspect ratios on the order of 7 to 20. The hydrodynamic pressure distribution of a suite of bearing surfaces with different micropore geometries and densities is modeled numerically. The load-bearing surfaces of the bearings are fabricated with micropores having the optimal density and geometry determined by the numerical modeling. Conical micropores may be created by single laser pulses, with the pore size and shape controlled by controlling the laser beam profile, the laser beam power, and the optical parameters of the focusing system.

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: An aerospace housing and shaft assembly comprising a housing, a shaft rotatably mounted within the housing, a seal assembly operatively positioned between the housing and the shaft, and low pressure air (e.g., atmospheric air) having a pressure substantially less than 14 psia and being positioned on one side of the seal assembly. The seal assembly includes a first seal ring mounted on the housing, and a second seal ring mounted on the shaft in facing relation to the first seal ring. One of the first seal ring and the second seal ring includes a hydropad. The hydropad is positioned to pump low pressure air from the inner diameter toward the outer diameter. The hydropads can include an inner edge oriented substantially circumferentially, an outer edge oriented substantially circumferentially and spaced radially outward from the inner edge, a leading edge interconnecting the inner edge with the outer edge, and a trailing edge interconnecting the inner edge with the outer edge.

Abstract: A mechanical end face seal of the non-contacting type includes a primary seal ring having a back section, a seal face section and a middle section between the seal face and the back sections, each primary ring section having a radial dimension, defined as the difference between the outermost radius and the innermost radius of said respective section, the radial dimension of the back section being in a ratio relative to said middle section of between about 1.5 to about 3.1, and more preferably of between about 1.9 to about 2.5, and most preferably about 2.0 to about 2.3. Additionally, the mating seal ring includes grooves extending from one seal ring circumference toward the other and terminating adjacent a dam at a radius R.sub.g, it is beneficial to have the boundary between the grooves and the dam have a radius R.sub.g slightly larger or smaller, within about 10%, than the outer radius of the middle section.

Abstract: At least one of the mating wear surfaces of a sliding mechanical seal is coated with diamond. The coating includes an underlayer of high resistance to wear and an overlayer with a reduced resistance to wear as compared to that of the underlayer. The reduced wear resistance of the overlayer prevents damage by the diamond to the opposing mating surface during the wear-in period of use.

Abstract: The mechanical seal for a compressor comprises a support member fixed to a rotary shaft for rotating therewith, an annular rotating slide member consisting of hard materials and being fitted to the support member by shrinkage, and a stationary slide member exerting pressure against an end surface of said rotating slide member. In order to prevent damage by shrinkage stress and a displacement of said rotating slide member, said rotating slide member comprises at least one peripheral recess formed by a portion of the periphery of said rotating slide member having a smaller outer diameter than the rest of the periphery and said support member comprises an inwardly extending fitting portion engaging the peripheral recess.