Abstract: A foil thrust bearing forms the primary rotating interface for a film riding face seal. This face seal includes a spring system that will allow the entire assembly to translate axially relative to a static attachment. The complete assembly will form a hybrid foil/film riding face seal that shows much promise at being sufficiently flexible to enable operation in a gas turbine engine. The seal includes a flexible top plate having a non-flat surface under its working conditions, and a spring support system to allow the top plate to accommodate axial excursions and out-of-flat distortions.

Abstract: A primary objective of a sliding element of the present invention is to decrease a friction coefficient of the sliding face and to improve seal performance thereof.

Abstract: A gas seal assembly comprises a pair of mutually rotatable sealing members A, B, each of which has a face adjacent a gap between the two members. One of the members B is urged in a direction attempting to close the gap h which constitutes a leakage path through the seal assembly. A gas bleed arrangement 7 allows gas from a high pressure side P3 of the seal assembly to bleed into the gap at a position radially spaced between an inner diameter of the members and an outer diameter of the members A,B so as to apply a force tending to separate the members, the force decreasing as the size of the gap increases.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a technical domain of a sliding element engaging a relative rotational motion. A primary objective of a sliding element of the present invention is to decrease a friction coefficient of the sliding face and to improve the seal performance. The element disposes dimples on at least one sliding face of a pair of relatively rotating sliding faces wherein the dimples are inclined towards a rotary direction when viewed along a radial direction. The sliding face of the sliding element also disposes a plurality of ring-formed dimple sections which form annuli of distinct diameters wherein the dimples are arranged along the individual annuli. The sliding face also disposes annular dam sections which are located between the individual dimple sections.

Abstract: A rotary seal assembly including a first member having a sealing face and a second member having a sealing face with a number of pumping grooves therein. At least a first set of pumping grooves stating proximate a center portion of the sealing face and extending outward and at least a second set of pumping grooves starting proximate the center portion of the sealing face and extending inward to direct fluid fed to the center portion of the sealing face simultaneously both inwardly and outwardly from the center portion of the sealing face to provide a uniform fluid film thickness between the sealing faces of the first and second members when one sealing face cones due to thermal and/or pressure effects.

Abstract: A hydrodynamic face seal 100 for sealing between the cylinder head 300 and rotating sleeve 200 of a rotating liner engine. The face of the face seal provides a sealing zone 130 for maintaining a lubricant layer of about 2 micrometers between the face seal and the sleeve; and a loading zone 132. The loading zone includes hydrodynamic lift features such as inclined pads 150 or recessed step pads 152. Oil is supplied to annular oil supply passage 142 between the sealing zone and the loading zone, and flows from the annular oil supply passage to radial passages 144 located between the step pads. A spring pre-load is provided to the seal. An outer secondary seal 190 is provided to contain the lubricant. One or more inner secondary seals is provided to contain lubricant and combustion gases. Spiral oil pumping grooves may be provided.

Abstract: A primary objective of the present invention is to decrease the friction coefficient of the sliding face of a sliding element and to improve its seal performance. The sliding element disposes a plurality of elongate dimples in the outer circumferential region and the inner circumferential region relative to a boundary reference line and the inclination of the dimples located in the outer circumferential region is different from that of the dimples located in the inner circumferential region. The longitudinally forward edge of the outer circumferential dimples relative to a rotational direction is inclined toward the outer circumference and the longitudinally forward edge of the inner circumferential dimples relative to a rotational direction is inclined toward the inner circumference.

Abstract: A method of minimizing oil consumption in a gas turbine engine, by avoiding reliance on air intake into the engine oil circuit for bearing chamber oil sealing purposes. The engine oil circuit has bearing chambers with hydropad seals between the shaft and bearing chamber. During engine operation the ring rotates to cast oil radially outwardly from the shaft axis toward the outer periphery of the bearing chamber under centrifugal force, independent of any gas pressure differential across the sealing surfaces of the hydropad seal.

Abstract: A hydrodynamically lubricating rotary seal for partitioning a lubricant from an environment has a generally circular seal body, a sloping dynamic sealing lip, and an energizer. The dynamic sealing lip is provided for establishing compressed sealing relation with a relatively rotatable surface, and has a sloping dynamic sealing surface that varies in width, and also has a hydrodynamic inlet curvature that varies in position around the circumference of the seal. When the seal is installed against a relatively rotatable surface, the dynamic sealing lip deforms to define a variable width interfacial contact footprint against the relatively rotatable surface that is wavy on the lubricant side, and wedges a film of lubricating fluid into the interface in response to relative rotation. The environment edge of the interfacial contact footprint is substantially circular, and therefore does not produce a hydrodynamic wedging action in response to relative rotation.

Abstract: A bi-direction rotatable face seal with spiral grooves is provided comprising: a rotating ring with a sealing face sealed and fixed on a rotary shaft; a stationary ring with a sealing face mounted in a casing, which is sealed and axially aligned by means of an elastomeric O-ring, a thrust ring, springs and anti-rotating pins; the sealing face of the stationary ring is pushed into engagement with the sealing face of the rotating ring to form a sealing interface; sealing fluid is located on high pressure side of the sealing interface; the rotating ring can rotate relative to the stationary ring in bi-direction without contact.

Abstract: A seal is disposed between a rotating part and a stationary part. At least one of the parts is provided with projections which protrude into the seal gap. The seal gap (5) extends approximately radially so that both parts are provided with projections which extend in an axial direction, which are located concentrically in relation to the axis of rotation of the rotating parts and which engage with each other. Said projections are configured in the form of rows of blade-like elements. This effectively seals approximately radially extending seal gaps.

Abstract: A Roots pump rotates a plurality of rotors by a pair of rotary shafts to draw gas. Each rotary shaft extends through a rear housing member of the Roots pump. An annular shaft seal is fitted around each rotary shaft and is received in a recess formed in the rear housing member. A helical groove is formed in a circumferential side of each rotary shaft. Each helical groove urges oil between the circumferential side of the associated shaft seal and the circumferential wall of the recess to move from a side corresponding to pump chambers toward a gear accommodating chamber when the associated rotary shaft rotates. This preferably prevents oil from leaking to the pump chambers.

Abstract: A non-contacting gas compressor seal assembly is disclosed with an intermediate buffer chamber. The process gas is corrosive or otherwise hazardous and is contained from entering the atmosphere by pumping the barrier gas toward the process fluid. The inboard seal of the assembly is designed to maintain a sealing relationship in the event of loss of buffer gas pressure by operating as a non-contacting seal on the process fluid.

Abstract: A seal ring of a shaft seal has micro-topography depth features, such as wavy faces or radial grooves, formed in the seal face which define a hydrodynamic seal region between opposing seal faces. The micro-topography depth features are formed by an excimer laser shaped such that the beam shape at least has non-linear side edges which define convergent side areas of the beam. The convergent side areas are defined by side edge sections which converge toward each other and preferably are non-linear. For example, the beam shape may be circular or elliptical. The laser beam first cuts repeatedly along the same beam path to define a cut with an increasing depth, whereby the laser beam is shifted incrementally sidewardly to define multiple adjacent beam cuts that form the micro-topography feature such as a valley of a wavy face, a radial groove or the like.

Abstract: A sealing ring for sealing a shaft relative to an interior space. The sealing ring includes a supporting ring and a sealing disc attached to the supporting ring. The sealing disc includes a projection conically deformed in an axial direction of the shaft and has a first section in contact with the shaft. The first section includes a helical groove configured to allow return of a medium toward the interior space and a web separating adjacent turns of the helical groove. The groove has a trapezoidal cross section and/or a cross section larger than a cross section of the web.

Abstract: A sealing ring for a shaft (3), characterised by a sealing lip (1) made of an elastomer material is flexionally dimensioned with a flexional elasticity which is sufficient for pressing a sealing section (10) of the sealing lip (1) against the surface of the shaft (3). The sealing section (11) of the scaling lip (1) is disposed with a cylindrical part of a given length (L) on the periphery of the shaft (3). The sealing lip (1) is provided with a thread (5) at least along the above-mentioned length on the shaft side, whereby a discharged medium is transported back to the sealing area (M) when the shaft (3) is rotated. By dimensioning accordingly, it is possible to dispense with an additional spring for pressing a sealing lip (1) against the shaft (3). The thread (5) is also sealed off from the surrounding area (U) in order to prevent the medium to be sealed from flowing out when the shaft (3) is not in operation.

Abstract: Multiple circumferential rows of textured features are formed between the outer peripheral edge and the inner peripheral edge of a seal. The multiple circumferential rows of textured features form a boundary for incoming dirt and wash away abrasive particles as well as act as lubricant wells. The multiple rows provide additional protection from leakage and wear.

Abstract: A dynamic seal for a drive shaft including a seal housing with at least one inlet for injecting a fluid, (i.e., a liquid or gas) into the seal. The seal also has an expeller device, such as an expeller ring mounted on the drive shaft, for expelling the injected fluid along the drive shaft in the direction of the casing. In addition, the seal may employ sealing rings positioned to prevent the injected fluid from escaping the seal in a direction other than along the shaft toward the casing, such as a glass-filled PTFE ring positioned proximal to the expeller device and a seal adjuster for compressing a graphite-yarn packing ring against the glass-filled PTFE seal ring. Further, the seal may additionally or alternately include a fitted sleeve covering the drive shaft to protect the shaft from wear and corrosion.

Abstract: A shaft sealing ring for a shaft comprises a sealing lip made of an elastomeric material or a PTFE compound and dimensioned so as to be flaccidly bendable. The flexural elasticity is selected such that it will just be sufficient to press a sealing portion of the sealing lip into sealing engagement with the periphery of the shaft. The sealing portion of the sealing lip engages the periphery for a predetermined length. In the sealing portion, the sealing lip is provided along its circumference, at the side of the shaft, with endless, undulating return channels at least throughout this length. These channels return any medium escaping during rotation of the shaft to the space to be sealed. The return channels do not communicate with the surroundings of the shaft sealing ring. No separate contact pressure means, such as a helical ring coil spring is required to press the sealing lip into engagement with the shaft.

Abstract: A non-contact type shaft sealing device comprising a stationary sealing ring (9) disposed to axially oppose a rotational sealing ring (2) provided on a rotational shaft (1) of a device that will be shaft-sealed, wherein a number n of air inlets (9b) provided in the stationary sealing ring (9) is in a range of 3 to 24; a bore diameter d of a throttling mechanism provided in each of the air inlets (9b) is in a range of 0.05 to 3 mm; and concurrently, a dimensionless quantity &agr; defined as &agr;=8 hD/nd2 where h=inter-sealing-surface gap, and D=shaft diameter, is 1≦&agr;≦200. Thereby, ensuring stable sealing characteristics in the non-contact type shaft sealing device, and furthermore, minimizing consumption of a barrier gas to be fed through the air inlets (9b).

Abstract: Rotary barrier face seal of the non-contact type seal with helical grooves for a housing and a shaft, comprising means for introduction of an external barrier fluid towards the sealing interface. Said barrier fluid prevents sealed process fluid from entering past the sealing interface, thus providing sealing means for hazardous or repugnant fluids.

Abstract: The invention provides a stern tube sealing apparatus which prevents an abrasion by cooling and lubricating a sliding contact surface of a first seal ring, prevents a foreign substance and a seawater from entering so as to further improve a durability of a seal ring and a liner, intends to make the sealing apparatus compact and reduce a cost by using no pressurizing apparatus, and has a high reliability of a seal system.

Abstract: A seal suitable for a driveshaft of a pump for cryogenic media. The seal can operate without extraneous confining gas, runs frictionless and assures a long service life, which was unattainable so far. The seal is designed as a tandem axial face seal. A sliding ring has sliding faces on both sides with spiral-shaped grooves terminating at an outer periphery, and the sliding ring is fixedly mounted on a driveshaft. The sliding faces each is adjoined by a sliding ring. The sliding ring is tightly connected via a metal bellows with the housing cover on the pump side, and the sliding ring via the metal bellows with the housing cover on the motor side. With the tandem axial face seal, the pump process pressure is sealed with respect to atmospheric pressure, and only a small, controlled gas leakage occurs. The process gas remains 100% pure.

Abstract: A load responsive hydrodynamic bearing is provided in the form of a thrust bearing or journal bearing for supporting, guiding and lubricating a relatively rotatable member to minimize wear thereof responsive to relative rotation under severe load. In the space between spaced relatively rotatable members and in the presence of a liquid or grease lubricant, one or more continuous ring shaped integral generally circular bearing bodies each define at least one dynamic surface and a plurality of support regions. Each of the support regions defines a static surface which is oriented in generally opposed relation with the dynamic surface for contact with one of the relatively rotatable members. A plurality of flexing regions are defined by the generally circular body of the bearing and are integral with and located between adjacent support regions.

Abstract: A shaft seal device including a casing having a hollow portion, a rotable shaft extending inside the casing from a sealed fluid region to an outer region, a non-contact type first mechanical seal arranged between the casing and the shaft so as to divide the hollow portion into the sealed fluid region and a purge region located between the sealed fluid region and the outer region, and a second mechanical seal arranged between the casing and the shaft so as to divide the hollow portion into the purge region and the outer region.

Abstract: A mechanical face seal includes a pair of relatively rotatable seal rings having opposing seal faces which define a sealing region therebetween. The sealing region extends radially between the inside and outside diameters of the seal rings to seal a fluid in a sealing chamber near one diameter thereof. The seal faces are provided with hydrodynamic lift features near the sealing chamber to provide a lift load that permits a liquid between the seal faces to form a fluid film therebetween. The hydrodynamic lift features primarily function to hydrodynamically generate a hydrodynamic lift load while a plurality of concentric grooves are also provided on the seal face to serve as a leakage barrier during shaft rotation of the that prevents the liquid film from leaking across the seal faces.

Abstract: An improved dual lip radial shaft seal is disclosed. The free end of the dual lip seal extends toward the air side of the seal. Optionally, the dual lip seal has an oil side excluder lip seal, an air side dust excluder lip seal, an elastomeric static seal extending from the elastomeric portion of the dual lip seal. In another optional embodiment, a relief groove is formed in the seal. A unitized seal version is also disclosed with two embodiments.

Abstract: A seal arrangement useful in a rolling cutter rock drill bit includes a pair of rigid rings disposed between the leg of the bit body and the rolling cutter. The rings have opposing faces, which have opposing sealing surfaces. The sealing surfaces occupy a portion of the faces and include wear resistant material. A gap is formed between a portion of the faces, the gap allowing lubrication to flow to the sealing surfaces from the bit's bearing cavity.

Abstract: A mechanical seal for providing fluid sealing between a housing and a rotatable shaft includes a first seal ring having a first seal face and a second seal ring having a second seal face. The first seal face further has a first portion and a second portion and the seal faces of the first and second seal rings are opposed to each other when assembled. The first seal ring or the second seal ring is adapted to rotate with the rotatable shaft, and the other seal ring is restrained from rotating. The seal faces are configured to produce a primarily hydrostatic fluid force between at least a portion of the first portion of the first seal face and at least a portion of the second seal face. In addition, the seal faces are configured to produce a hydrodynamic fluid force and a hydrostatic fluid force between at least a portion of the second portion of the first seal face and at least a portion of the second seal face.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sealing device for a turbomachine bearing, comprising a rotary ring mounted on the portion of the sleeve located on the oil chamber side and a segmented carbon ring which is not in contact with the shaft or with the seal support. The segmented carbon ring bears axially against an annular support by springs. The radial face of the segmented carbon ring engages with the rotary ring via the radial face of the rotary ring by lift slots machined into the rotary ring so as to ensure dynamic sealing during operation, with no friction between the radial faces.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a shaft seal (1) comprising a sealing element (14) mounted co-axially to a rotary sealing ring (10) to form a primary seal between opposed faces thereof to substantially prevent fluid flow across the primary seal. The sealing element (14) is urged axially towards the rotary ring (10) by a springs (15) acting between a pusher sleeve (15) connected to the sealing element 14 and a seal housing (19). A secondary seal formed between the pusher sleeve (15) and the housing (19) by a sealing member (20) located in a channel (21) in the pusher sleeve (15).

Abstract: A bearing seal with a flat elastic sealing lip (2), positioned between an outer bearing ring (3) and an inner bearing ring (4) with an inner sealing edge (5), sliding circumferentially on the inner bearing ring (4). One surface of the sealing lip (2) facing a lubricant space has radial helical paths formed between members (6) projecting from the surface. The sealing lip slides circumferentially on the inner bearing ring and lubricant flows in the helical paths.

Abstract: A lubricated hydrostatic seal comprising (a) surface regions having opposing surfaces; (b) a plurality of micropores in one or more of said surfaces having a pore geometry; and (c) a flow of fluid between said surfaces, wherein said flow of fluid past said micropores provides a lifting force between said surfaces. In a preferred embodiment, the opposing surfaces of the surface regions are nominally parallel. Nominally-parallel surfaces are simple to manufacture and are considerably less expensive than the various converging-surface configurations of the prior art. The nominally-parallel surface configuration can also be utilized in both liquid-lubricated and gas-lubricated hydrodynamic seal applications, and in hybrid-seal applications in which both hydrodynamic and hydrostatic lift are generated.

Abstract: The seal is composed of butt-jointed segments (1) in which the bearing surface (18) on a rotating part (2) subject to wear, includes a hollow chamber (20) communicating through calibrated orifices (22) with a high pressure containment (8). Therefore, it fills up with gas which tends to force it away from the surface, thus reducing the contact pressure without introducing excessive leaks.

Abstract: A face seal assembly comprises a pair of co-operating seal rings of which one is provided for mounting on a rotary component and the other on a stationary component. The seal rings have substantially radially aligned seal faces between which during operation a seal gap is provided for sealing a zone peripherally outward of the seal faces relative to a zone peripherally inward thereof. A plurality of peripherally spaced recesses effective for pumping a gas are provided in at least one of the seal faces, said gas recesses extending from one periphery of the seal face towards, but the of ends said recesses being radially spaced from, the other periphery thereof. A surface area ratio FGFA/FG g in a range between 0.35 and 0.65, preferably 0.4 and 0.6 is provided on the seal face having said gas recesses. FGFA is the total surface area of the gas recesses as a projection onto the seal face, and FG is the total surface area of the seal face.

Abstract: A hydrodynamically lubricating rotary seal for partitioning a lubricant from an environment has a generally circular seal body and sloping, generally opposed projecting static and dynamic sealing lips. The dynamic sealing lip is provided for establishing compressed sealing relation with a relatively rotatable surface, and has a sloping dynamic sealing surface that varies in width, and also has a hydrodynamic inlet curvature that varies in position around the circumference of the seal.

Abstract: A hydrodynamically lubricating seal has a generally circular seal body defining a static sealing surface and having a dynamic sealing lip projecting from the seal body for establishing sealing relation with a relatively rotatable surface. When compressed against a relatively rotatable surface, dynamic sealing lip defines a hydrodynamic geometry which wedges a film of lubricating fluid into the interface between the seal and the relatively rotatable surface in response to relative rotation. The dynamic sealing lip geometry maintains interfacial contact pressure within the dynamic sealing interface for efficient hydrodynamic lubrication and environmental exclusion, which enhances lubrication and environmental exclusion while permitting relatively high initial compression and relatively low torque.

Abstract: A mechanical seal for providing fluid sealing between a housing and a rotatable shaft includes a first seal ring having a first seal face and a second seal ring having a second seal face. The first seal face further has a first portion and a second portion and the seal faces of the first and second seal rings are opposed to each other when assembled. The first seal ring or the second seal ring is adapted to rotate with the rotatable shaft, and the other seal ring is restrained from rotating. The seal faces are configured to produce a primarily hydrostatic fluid force between at least a portion of the first portion of the first seal face and at least a portion of the second seal face. In addition, the seal faces are configured to produce a hydrodynamic fluid force and a hydrostatic fluid force between at least a portion of the second portion of the first seal face and at least a portion of the second seal face.

Abstract: A seal assembly having a first seal ring of a generally annular shape and defining radial and circumferential directions, and a second seal ring positioned in facing relation to the first seal ring. One of the first seal ring and the second seal ring includes a plurality of hydropads. Each hydropad has 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. Both the leading edge and the trailing edge are substantially straight and are positioned at the same angle relative to a radial axis passing through a mid-point of each edge, respectively.

Abstract: The present invention is a self adjusting, volume balanced, single energizer rigid face seal for rolling cutter drill bits with floating journal bearings. Volume balancing is accomplished by utilizing a floating static seal between the rigid face seal ring and the bearing shaft. This floating static seal ring is moved axially within a annular groove by the volume pulses caused by the axial play of the cutter when in operation. At one end of the annular groove the geometry of the rigid seal ring and bearing shaft are set such that the seal assembly achieves volume balance when the bearing is running on its OD. If the bearing is running on its OD, the floating static seal will move from where ever it is in the annular groove by the volume pulses until it reaches the balance volume position.

Abstract: A seal assembly which cooperates between relatively rotatable members for creating a sealing relationship between areas of high and low pressures. The assembly includes a face seal arrangement nonrotatably associated with one of the relatively rotatable members, which face seal arrangement defines thereon a pair of annular sealing faces, and an annular brush having a plurality of bristles disposed in an annular array. The brush bristles are mounted on the holder such that free ends thereof are in sealing contact with the other member to form a first seal between the areas of high and low pressures, whereby the brush is rotatable along with the other member to minimize wear thereto. The brush defines thereon a pair of annular sealing faces which are disposed in axially adjacent and opposed face-to-face relation with the respective sealing faces of the face seal arrangement to form a second seal between the areas of high and low pressures.

Abstract: The invention relates to a non-contacting shaft seal formed between a rotating sealing ring (3) and a non-rotating circular sealing element (1). The sealing element (1) is spring-loaded towards the sealing ring (3). Gas is pumped into spiral grooves (6) formed in the sealing face (5) of either the sealing ring (3) or the sealing element (1) and extending from an edge thereof during rotation of the sealing ring (3) and a gap (S) is created between the sealing element (1) and the sealing ring (3) against the force of the spring. Each groove is divided into two channels by a wedge-shaped partition (7) extending from the end wall of the groove (6). During speed changes of the rotating sealing ring (3), the gap (S) is maintained by high pressure at the closed end of the channels. The partition (7) is designed to offer little resistance to gas flow in the channel.

Abstract: A double gas pressure seal 10 is provided for sealing between a stationary housing 14 and a rotary housing 26. The gas pressure seal includes a stationary ring 42 and a rotary ring 40 each having a radially inner sealing face and a radially outer sealing face. A biasing spring 56 biases one of the rings toward the other ring. An annular groove 68 is provided in one of the rings, with the groove being spaced between the radially inner sealing faces and radially outer sealing faces. A supply port 84 supplies pressurized gas to the annular groove at a pressure higher than the process fluid in the stationary housing. A plurality of radially inner and radially outer recesses 94, 96, 122, 124 are provided on the one of the rings, and corresponding feed channels 98, 100, 126, 128 fluidly interconnect the annular groove with a rotary leading portion of each respective recess.

Abstract: A seal ring mountable to a rotating member for rotation therewith, the seal ring including a gap or other feature providing controlled leakage therethrough, a radial inner circumferential face, an opposite radial outer circumferential face, and at least one axial end face extending between the inner circumferential face and the outer circumferential face, wherein at least one face includes elements for receiving and holding a lubricant for providing lubrication between the face and a surface located in opposing relation thereto during rotation of the seal ring relative to the surface.

Abstract: A mechanical seal for providing fluid sealing between a housing and a rotatable shaft includes a first seal ring having a first seal face and a second seal ring having a second seal face. The first seal face further has a first portion and a second portion and the seal faces of the first and second seal rings are opposed to each other when assembled. The first seal ring or the second seal ring is adapted to rotate with the rotatable shaft, and the other seal ring is restrained from rotating. The seal is a non-contacting seal that provides for the introduction of a barrier fluid between the seal faces. A first surface of the first seal ring and a first surface of the second seal ring are exposed to the process fluid. An opening force is developed between the first and second seal faces that inhibits contact between the seal faces.

Abstract: The present invention provides a face seal with spiral grooves comprising: a rotating ring including a sealing face; a stationary ring including a sealing face; the face is confronted with the face of the rotating ring to form a circular interface having a circle center; the faces of the rings can rotate relatively to each other; two spiral groove sets are provided at least on one of the faces of the rotating and the stationary rings, wherein one set disposed on the high pressure side, i.e. at the upstream, and the other set disposed on the low pressure side, i.e. at the downstream; the spiral angles of these two spiral groove sets are opposite to each other; the radial length of an upstream spiral groove is greater than that of a downstream spiral groove; and an annular flat belt is further provided at the downstream of the downstream spiral groove set.

Abstract: A face seal is provided for a rotating shaft for sealing between a normally high pressure region and a normally lower pressure region, having a seal ring shaped to form a gap between the ring and a runner surface on the shaft, which gap converges in the direction of fluid flow and deliberately creates turbulent flow along the seal gap and sufficient clearance between the rotating runner and the seal ring to accommodate distortions in the seal ring which may occur over its lifetime. A servo system is coupled to the seal ring which moves the seal ring away from the runner during low pressure differences between the regions and which restores the sealing function along the seal gap when the pressure difference between the regions increases sufficiently.

Abstract: This invention discloses a completely different hydrodynamic gas seal configuration from both the Rayleigh bearing and other prior art. Instead of the shallow, wide, and short single pocket geometry for the Rayleigh bearing, and instead of the multiple depth grooves of the other prior art teachings, the hydrodynamic seal in this invention has a sealing face with lift pockets therein that are deep (normally in the range of about 0.010 inches to about 0.025 inches deep), narrow, long, multiple, coextensive, parallel, and single-depth. This invention incorporates the same basic hydraulic principle of generating pressure rise by the shearing gradient between the rotating shaft and stationary carbon elements, and therefore produces a force which is opposite in direction to the rubbing force generated by the ambient pressure drop across the seal. In this invention the forces are more evenly balanced across the axial face of the seal ring segments, thereby accommodating any conicity of the shaft race.

Abstract: A contacting mechanical end face seal for use in applications having slow shaft rotational speeds, such as mixers, agitators and reactors, includes at least one seal ring having a face with spiral grooves. Both hydrostatic and hydrodynamic lift characteristics in the seal are utilized to generate and maintain a seal gap having sufficient stiffness to prevent contact of the seal ring faces during operation. Specific characteristics, or combinations of them, include a land to groove ratio between 0.2-0.9, tapered groove surfaces which are inclined from the O.D. toward the dam, groove area to land area ratios greater than 1.5, a stepped groove having a greater depth at the O.D. relative to the depth adjacent the dam, alternating deep and shallow grooves, and groove area to dam area ratio in the interface greater than 1.2.

Abstract: A static pressure-type generating non-contact gas seal in which a diameter d2 of a second outer circumferential portion (42) of a stationary seal ring (4) in contact with a second O-ring (62) is made smaller than the diameter d1 of a first outer circumferential portion (41) of the stationary seal ring (4) in contact with a first O-ring (62). Because of d1>d2, the pressure of a seal gas (8) led to a first closed space (71) produces a force thrusting the stationary seal ring (4) toward a rotary seal ring (2). A second closed space (72) communicates with an inside region (F) through a back pressure lead-in path (45). The inside gas pressure in the second closed space (72) acts as back pressure on the stationary seal ring (4). The groove width b of static pressure generating grooves (9) formed on the seal end face of the stationary seal ring (4) is decided so that a ratio of the groove width d to the radial width, that is, the seal face width B of the stationary seal ring end face (40), i.e. b/B, is 0.05.