Abstract: A gas turbine engine aspirating face seal includes a rotatable engine member and a non-rotatable engine member and a leakage path therebetween. Annular generally planar rotatable and non-rotatable gas bearing face surfaces circumscribed about a centerline are operably associated the rotatable and non-rotatable engine members respectively. Radially inner and outer tooth rings axially extend away from a first one of the rotatable and non-rotatable gas bearing face surfaces across the leakage path and towards a second one of the gas bearing face surfaces. A pull off biasing means is used for urging the inner and outer tooth rings axially away from the second one of the gas bearing face surfaces. The rotatable engine member may be a side plate mounted on a rotor disk and the non-rotatable engine member is mounted on a translatable piston axially movably supported on a stationary face seal support structure.

Abstract: A pump system, including an impeller and an impeller shaft, which has one end secured to the impeller and another end that may be coupled to a motor to drive the impeller. The pump system further includes a substantially liquid-proof barrier which has an opening through which the impeller shaft extends. The opening in the barrier is sealed with a shaft sealing system that includes a supply chamber fluidly coupled with a cavity. The cavity surrounds, and is at least partially bounded by, the impeller shaft. The shaft sealing system further includes a pressure mechanism that is configured to pressurize lubrication matter contained within the supply chamber and cavity, so as to inhibit liquid from passing along the impeller shaft through the cavity and thereby penetrating the liquid-proof barrier. The pressure mechanism is further configured to vary pressure of the lubrication matter based on atmospheric pressure surrounding the pump system.

Abstract: An air turbine starter with an improved seal assembly is provided. A fluid conduit or channel allows higher pressure fluid into one side of a bearing seal. For example, the seal assembly may include a face seal, and a second seal forming a chamber therebetween and a flow passage opens into the chamber for exposing the chamber to the higher pressure.

Abstract: A hydrodynamic machine such as an agitator or a pump has a seal at the fluid medium side in the form of a sliding ring in a coaxial opening in the impeller wheel hub. To prevent particle deposits and blockages in the region of the seal the hub engages into a pot-shaped opening in the housing, forming a conical outwardly enlarging annular gap. Formed on the outside of the hub is a spiral means which when the hub rotates produces a fluid flow outwardly of the annular gap to counteract a deposit of contaminating matter such as particles and fibers from the fluid in the annular gap and thus also at the seal.

Abstract: An axial compressor apparatus and a method for reducing the amount of a bearing lubricant passed into the inlet air to the axial compressor by the use of a brush seal between a shaft bearing supporting a shaft axially positioned in the axial compressor and having a rotor downstream relative to air flow through the axial compressor from the brush seal with the brush seal being in contact with the shaft to reduce the passage of the bearing lubricant past the brush seal and into the inlet air.

Abstract: To avoid formation of condensate or freezing in the tandem gas seals (12, 13) of a gas compressor (1), such as for use in the compression of production of natural gas, when the compressor is temporarily stopped for maintenance or repair of the compressor or instrumentation, the settle out pressure (SOP) in the high pressure gas discharge line (7) from the compressor (1), arising from equalising the inlet and outlet gas pressures, is directed to cause gas to flow through a branch line (25) to the outboard gas seal (13), the gas being heated by an electrical heating coil (28) and its pressure being reduced in a controlled manner. In this way, the gas is prevented from entering its liquid-vapor phase, so that no condensate can form in the inboard and outboard gas seals (12, 13).

Abstract: With a turbo type fluid machine provided with a primary dry gas seal (9) and a secondary dry gas seal (10), abnormality in an amount of a working gas leaked from between a rotating ring (7a, 7b) adapted to rotate with a rotor (4) and a stationary ring (8a, 8b) is detected by a pressure switch (14) and a flow meter (15), which are provided in a primary seal vent line (12), and meanwhile, the working gas leaking from sealing surfaces (17) of a labyrinth seal (16) and the secondary dry gas seal, together with a purge gas purged to a space (18) from outside is discharged outside the machine from a flow passage (34) via a space (33) when abnormality generates in the secondary dry gas seal, a control valve (19) provided in the purge gas line operates to secure a flow rate in the purge gas line, so that a flow rate detected by the flow meter provided in the purge gas line increases, and thus abnormality in the secondary dry gas seal is detected.

Abstract: The present invention provides a modular submersible pump comprising a motor section, bearing section and a pump section. The motor section includes a motor frame and a motor shaft. The bearing section has a bearing frame removably connected to the motor frame of the motor section. A removable cartridge is disposed within the bearing frame and has a shaft extension connected to the motor shaft. The cartridge includes at least one bearing and at least one seal in communication with the shaft extension. The pump section has a pump case removably connected to the bearing frame and having an impeller disposed therein. The impeller is connected to the shaft extension of the removable cartridge.

Abstract: A seal apparatus is comprised of a seal ring 13 and a singer 14 in combination to prevent foreign matter from progressing into the rolling bearing 6a. The amount of compression &dgr; of the second seal lip 23, which occurs when the tip edge of the second seal lip 23 of the seal ring 13 comes in contact with the outside surface of the singer 14, is at least {fraction (1/10)}and up to {fraction (7/10)}the height of the second seal lip 23 in the free state. In addition, the roughness of a portion of the outside surface of the singer 14 which the tip edge of the second seal lip 23 comes in sliding contact with is from 0.2&mgr;m to 2.0&mgr;m in the arithmetic mean Ra, or is from 0.8 &mgr;m to 8.0 &mgr;m in the maximum height Ry. Consequently, a structure of a water pump is provided without increasing the cost thereof, or without enlarging the size to improve the durability of the water pump.

Abstract: A hermetic motor compressor unit for household and similar refrigeration appliances, comprising a sealed casing having a bottom that forms a sump for holding lubricating oil. Inside of the casing is a compressor and driving motor that share a common hollow crankshaft that rotates about a vertical axis. To ensure effective lubricating oil flow into the hollow crankshaft, a means for providing suction comprising a sleeve is rigidly fixed to the lower end portion of the crankshaft. A fluted member made of a material with a lower thermal conductivity than the material from which the hollow crankshaft is made that is connected to the stator of the drive motor is inserted into the sleeve to draw the lubricating oil from the sump. The lubricating oil is drawn in from the oil sump into recesses in the fluted member when the sleeve is rotated into the position in which it allows the recesses to communicate with lower apertures in the sleeve. This occurs during the downstroke of the fluted member.

Abstract: A fluid pump (10) has a body housing (14) a fluid pumping chamber having a rotatable pumping member (16), a drive shaft (12) which passes through an aperture in the body into the pumping chamber to effect rotation of the pumping member in use, a seal (18) between the pump body and drive shaft to inhibit fluid moving along the shaft out of the pumping chamber, and a dividing shroud (32) operably located between the seal and the rotatable pumping member to divide the fluid pumping chamber (30) between the seal and the rotatable pumping member.

Abstract: A centrifugal pump with a floating ring seal (34) provided in a sealing chamber (32) for pumped fluid and web-like flat pieces arranged in the sealing area (32) between the outer wall and the floating ring seal (34) extending in a longitudinal section approximately parallel to the pump shaft (14). At least one closable ventilation opening (47) is arranged in the head area of the sealing chamber (32), in addition to one blade-like flat piece (60, 60a) which is disposed on the peripheral wall (48) on both sides of the ventilation opening (47). From a cross-sectional point of view, both flat pieces (60, 60a) are inclined towards each other and define an antechamber with a slit (70) which is parallel to the pump shaft (14) at a distance from the peripheral wall. Preferably, the blade-like flat pieces (60, 60a) are fixed to the radial wall (55) and the free blade edge parallel thereto defines a radial slit with the other radial wall.

Abstract: A pump (1) for pumping a slurry comprises a pump housing (2) defining a pumping chamber (5) with an impeller (6) located therein for pumping the slurry from an axial inlet port (7) to a radial outlet port (8). The impeller (6) is carried on a pump shaft (10) which is in turn rotatably carried in a shaft carrier sleeve (18) in a carrier housing (12) which also carries the pump housing (2). The shaft carrier sleeve (18) and the pump shaft (10) are axially adjustable in the direction of the arrows A and B for adjusting an axial clearance gap (25) between the impeller (6) and the pump housing (2). A shaft seal (9) for sealing the pumping chamber (5) comprises a packed gland seal (42) and a rotating sealing ring (38) and a stationary sealing ring (39). A lubricating fluid cavity (40) is located between the packed gland seal (42) and the rotating and stationary sealing rings (38,39) for lubricating axially facing rotating and stationary sealing surfaces (52,58).

Abstract: A large number of nozzle vanes 16 are arranged in an annular channel 10 formed between opposed surfaces of turbine housing 1 and turbine shroud 9. A recess 20 is constructed on the formation surface of the annular channel 10 of the turbine housing 1, and in this recess, a clearance control plate 21 is disposed so that the clearance C between the plate and nozzle vanes 16 becomes constant. Two gaskets 25 whose outer rims are formed in a bead shape are laid in a gap S on the rear side of clearance control plate 21, in such a manner that outer rims of the gaskets separate from each other. In this configuration, outer rims widen when gas pressure is applied, and gas can be sealed stably without leakage.

Abstract: A water pump with a plurality of elastomeric blades on a rigid impeller is disclosed. The impeller has a tubular extension with a pair of flats on the outer diameter of the extension. The seal seat has a corresponding pair of flats on its inner diameter to engage the flats on the tubular extension for positive rotation. The impeller also has a retaining lip formed on its inner diameter and a sealing shoulder to form a retaining cavity along the tubular extension. The retaining lip receives the seal seat in the cavity by stretching the lip radially into a gap to accommodate the outer diameter of the seal seat. This stretch to fit feature eliminates the need to control the outer diameter of the seal ring to precise dimensions. The lip forms a static seal with the outer diameter of the seal seat. The elastomeric shoulder provides a static seal against the seal seat.

Abstract: An air turbine starter with an improved seal assembly disposed between the turbine and the housing is provided. The seal assembly comprises a face seal, a non-contacting seal axially spaced therefrom to define an air filled annular chamber therebetween and a flow passage having an exit fluidly communicating with said chamber and an inlet fluidly communicating with a source of air.

Abstract: A rocket engine shaft seal which prevents leakage from escaping from the pump to the turbine along the shaft 1. The seal has a bellows spring 8 for pushing the floating ring seal 2 into contact with the mating ring 4 when the rocket engine is off, thus sealing the liquid in the pump section more reliably. When the engine is on, the pressure of the fuel will overcome the force of the bellows spring 8, moving the floating ring seal 2 away from contact with the mating ring 4, so as to save wear on the face contact portion 5 of the floating ring seal and preserve a good seal when the engine is off. The floating ring seal 2 has an inner diameter 11 for forming a seal with the shaft 1. The shaft 1 may have a labyrinth on it for forming a labyrinth seal with the floating ring seal 2, or with the floating ring seal and the bellows adapter's arm portion 13 for forming a longer labyrinth seal.

Abstract: In a centrifugal pump, a sealing ring is affixed to the rotating shaft through which pumpate flows, and a non-rotating, axially slidable sealing member is biased against the sealing ring. In preferred embodiments the slidable sealing member sealingly additionally engages a second sealing member which is stationary with respect to the motor housing. In particularly preferred embodiments slidable sealing members are positioned near each end of the motor housing, with the sealing ring interposed between a rolling bearing and a slidable sealing member.

Abstract: A cooling system for turbomachinery includes a compressor bleed air passageway for supplying bleed cooling air to a plurality of circumferentially spaced, generally axially extending passages in communication with a cavity within the inner barrel in which the flanges of the turbine and compressor rotors are secured to one another. The exit ends of the passages have swirl devices for turning the flow from the general axial direction to a tangential direction corresponding to the direction of rotation of the combined rotors. A leakage seal is provided between the rotor and the stationary component to provide a pressure drop across a plenum and cavity to increase the velocity of air flowing into the cavity. Consequently, cooling air is supplied the cavity at a tangential velocity approaching the rotor velocity with reduced windage and lower temperature, thereby improving the performance of the turbomachinery.

Abstract: In a centrifugal pump, a barrier ring in the form of a dynamic seal member is interposed between relatively rotating, generally circular wall portions which undergo relative axial movement to vary the width of a gap between the wall portions, the seal member having an outer jacket of flexible material and an annular spring member of frustoconical configuration inserted into offset grooves in the jacket, and when the seal member is mounted under compression between the confronting surfaces will follow the relative axial movement between the wall portions to maintain liquid-tight sealing engagement with the wall portions. In a modified form of invention, the seal member includes a pair of helical spring members inserted into grooves in an outer flexible jacket and, when the seal is mounted under compression between confronting surfaces of the wall portions as described will maintain liquid-tight sealing engagement notwithstanding variations in the width of the gap between members.

Abstract: For an impeller pump, the seal/bearing unit has two rotor-stator pairs of tapered sleeves arranged back-to-back. The sleeves have a spiral groove, and convey barrier-liquid from an entry-mouth in an entry-chamber to an exit-mouth in an exit-chamber. Having two sleeves gives the units mechanical stability, thrust support capability, and resistence to vibrations and other abuses. The tapered sleeves may be arranged wide-narrow-wide, or narrow-wide-narrow. The sleeves may be mounted for sliding in the housing and on the shaft, or may be fixed to the housing or shaft.

Abstract: A low friction bearing comprises a first element having a first surface. A second element having a second surface is rotatable about a centerline relative to the first element. A flow passage extends radially outward between the first surface and the second surface. The first surface and the second surface are separated by a fluid flow. The two surfaces are complementary and positioned in close proximity. The bearing finds a preferred application in a fluid cooled turbine to create a high temperature, high efficiency turbine.

Abstract: A sealing device for a turbomachine bearing chamber in which a bearing is mounted between a sleeve secured to a rotary shaft and a casing defining said bearing chamber, said sealing device comprising a labyrinth seal disposed on the sleeve at the junction with an adjacent air chamber, a static carbon ring which is not in contact with the shaft and is retained axially in position in a fixed annular support, and a rotary ring which is driven by the sleeve and which is centred without clamping on the sleeve by means of a ring seal and is retained axially in position by a flat annular spring, the rotary ring having a radial surface which faces and co-operates with a radial surface of the carbon ring and which is formed with lift grooves such that, during operation, a substantially frictionless sealing is effected between the two radial surfaces.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a plurality of seal stages minimizing leakage of high pressure air from a high pressure cavity into a low pressure cavity. The plurality of seal stages includes an upstream seal stage, substantially adjacent to the high pressure cavity, and a downstream seal stage, substantially adjacent to the low pressure cavity. Each seal stage includes a seal plate and at least one seal. The downstream seal plate includes a plurality of bleeding holes for metering higher pressure air into the low pressure cavity, thereby balancing a pressure drop between the seal stages. Substantial equalization of the pressure drop among the seal stages reduces wear of the downstream seal and therefore, increases useful life an effectiveness thereof.

Abstract: A pump comprises a housing having a shaft bore and a pump chamber, a bearing provided for an inner periphery of the shaft bore, a shaft rotatively supported by the shaft bore through the bearing, and a transporting member connected to one end portion of the shaft for transporting fluid by imparting mechanical energy to the fluid sucked in said pump chamber.

Abstract: A turbomachine, especially a steam turbine, includes a casing, an inflow region formed at least in part by the casing for guiding working fluid, a feed for a cooling fluid, a rotating-blade carrier disposed in the casing and extending along a principal axis, and a shielding element disposed in the inflow region for shielding the rotating-blade carrier from the working fluid. The shielding element is attached to the casing by a mounting and the feed is guided through the mounting. A method is also provided for cooling one or more components of a turbomachine adjoining an inflow region for a hot working gas.

Abstract: A pump has an impeller, a casing defining a pump chamber around the impeller for receiving a fluid discharged from the impeller; and, a seal mechanism provided between the impeller and the casing to prevent a fluid from leaking from the pump chamber through an annular space formed between the casing and the impeller. The seal mechanism comprises an annular seal member for blocking the annular space leaving an annular gap between the impeller and the seal member. The annular seal member is movably supported so that the annular seal member is supported in a floating condition in the fluid therearound in operation.

Abstract: A unitized seal impeller thrust system includes an impeller unit which includes a tubular neck portion that has flat surfaces on opposite sides of one another. The impeller unit includes a plurality of radially extending blades and a circular trough surrounding the neck portion. The system further includes a seal head assembly which is secured within the trough, and a seal seat assembly which engages the seal head assembly. The system further includes a thrust washer which engages the seal seat assembly and the retainer ring which is secured to the tubular neck portion at an end of the neck portion. The retainer ring also engages the thrust washer in a ball and socket type arrangement. The system provides a unitized seal, impeller, thrust system that is capable of preload testing and/or leak testing before assembly of the pump unit.

Abstract: A thrust bearing for a rotating member that is subject to axial forces causing movement in an axial direction of a rotating member. A sealing surface is positioned on at least a portion of the rotating member. A bearing is positioned adjacent the rotating member. A sealing face is positioned on the bearing. The sealing face is disposed to be in opposed relationship with the sealing surface on the rotating member. A bearing space is located between the sealing face and the sealing surface. A fluid reservoir is positioned in the bearing and is in communication with the bearing space. A passageway extends through the bearing to a volute adjacent the rotating member to supply a fluid to the fluid reservoir. A plurality of pockets are positioned on the sealing face of the bearing. The pockets are positioned to be in communication with the fluid reservoir. A plurality of wedge shaped depressions are positioned on the sealing face of the bearing.

Abstract: A submerged motor pump (4) has an auxiliary bearing assembly (19, 20) for supporting a rotatable main shaft (9) when the submerged motor pump is not in an operating condition or operates in a transient condition. The submerged motor pump includes a pump casing (6), at least one impeller (12), a motor (10,11), and a thrust balancing mechanism (15) for balancing thrust forces. The submerged motor pump further includes hydrostatic bearings (16, 17, 18) for supporting the main shaft at axially spaced locations by a pressurized fluid pumped by the submerged motor pump. The auxiliary bearing assembly has tapered support surfaces (FL, FU) for supporting the main shaft at the axially spaced locations.

Abstract: In a seal or bearing that uses the tapered-sleeves-with-spiral-groove technology, the capacity is increased, without increasing the space envelope, by folding the tapered surfaces. Double and triple folding is illustrated. The seal/bearing may be used in e.g. a rotary impeller pump, or as a big-end bearing.

Abstract: For a pump that produces a negative pressure in a pump casing, a shaft seal system comprises a positive flow of air into the seal system to flow about shaft seals to counteract the negative pressure otherwise being communicated thereto from within the pump casing. The seals engage the rotating shaft and a lubrication passageway supplies lubricant to the shaft seals engaging the rotating shaft, which is driving the rotor. Preferably, no air flows through the seal system when the rotor shaft is stationary and a small air flow, e.g., 0.3 c.f.m. to 1 c.f.m., flows through the shaft seal when the shaft is rotating. This flow rate is preferably monitored.

Abstract: A pump incorporates a housing with a pump chamber and an internal bore communicating with the pump chamber, and a power driven impeller shaft supported in the housing by at least one bearing in the internal bore. The impeller shaft has an impeller in the pump chamber. A seal mechanism is in the internal bore between the bearing and the pump chamber providing a seal between the impeller shaft and the wall surface of the internal bore. The internal bore has a stepped configuration with small and large diameter portions and a vertical wall defined therebetween. The large diameter portion defines an intermediate chamber between the bearing and the pump chamber and that chamber connects with the pump chamber. The intermediate chamber contains liquid with air being trapped in the remaining portion of the intermediate chamber. The bearing and the seal mechanism are located in the small diameter portion.

Abstract: A liquid pump in which a perfect seal is achieved between a liquid and the atmosphere without the use of magnets includes a driving unit coupled to external power for being rotated thereby, a shaft installed obliquely with respect to the axial direction of the driving unit and having one end thereof rotatably supported on the driving unit, an impeller, rotatably supported on a housing so as to rotate in coaxial relation to the driving unit, for rotatably supporting the other end of the shaft and impelling a liquid by being rotated, and a bellows provided between the shaft and the housing for effecting sealing liquid-tightly between the shaft and the housing on the side of the impeller.

Abstract: A fluid pump having a pump body defining a pump cavity and a pump shaft rotatable on a bearing in the cavity, wherein the pump cavity contains a seal in a closed chamber between the pump body and the shaft, and the cavity is characterized by a first zone for high pressure pump discharge fluid, a second zone for low pressure pump inlet fluid, and an interconnecting passage which supplies fluid from the high pressure zone to a third zone, which exists at an intermediate pressure surrounding the pump seal and discharges its fluid into the low pressure zone, the intermediate pressure being sufficient to prevent fluid boiling and cavitation by insuring that the pumped fluid does not exceed its vapor pressure point.

Abstract: An electromagnetic actuating mechanism is provided for a centrifugal pump in which a solenoid ring includes a radially inwardly projecting annular seal movable between open and closed positions with respect to a rotary seal which is mounted for rotation with the drive shaft between the expeller and reservoir region of the pump housing. Spring members are engageable with the ring to normally retain the annular seal in the closed position when the pump is not in operation, and a magnetic drive member is selectively energized to initiate movement of the ring in a direction overcoming the biasing elements to shift the ring to an open position when pump operation is initiated. An energizing control circuit is associated with the pump motor to regulate energizing and deenergizing of the drive member.

Abstract: A liquid pump in which a perfect seal is achieved between a liquid and the atmosphere without the use of magnets includes a pump shaft rotatably supported inside housings and having an impeller secured thereto for impelling a liquid through the pump, a driven unit provided inside the housing for rotating the pump shaft, a driving unit coupled to external power, and a resilient member provided between the driven unit and the driving unit for effecting sealing liquid-tightly between the driven unit and the driving unit on the side of the impeller and transmitting force from the driving unit to the driven unit.

Abstract: A centrifugal pump having a sealing flushing system. An annular flush ring insert having a plurality of radially spaced flush holes is provided adjacent the seal to be flushed so as to permit the seal to be flushed at a number of different places around the pump shaft and from a plurality of different radially spaced directions. The flushing fluid flows through a gland, into and through the flush ring insert, flushes (i.e. cleans and/or cools) the seal, and then flows on into the fluid being pumped.

Abstract: A hydrostatic seal is provided having control of sealing surface taper and cavitation reduction structure between the sealing surfaces. Control of sealing surfaces taper is provided through one or more relief recesses in the seal wall to which flexing forces are applied by fluid pressure and temperature to reduce the effects of seal rigidity on the parallel relationship between the sealing surfaces. The cavitation reduction structure includes inclination of the channels leading to the sealing surface recesses in the direction of relative movement of the fluid between the sealing surfaces. Enlarged vortex chambers are disposed at the outlet of those channels within the recesses to isolate fluid vapor bubbles from the recess walls.

Abstract: A contact seal for turboengines is disclosed which is suitable for high circumferential speeds and high temperatures. The contact seal is of at least a two-part design and includes a thin carrier ring and a sealing ring. The sealing ring is constructed from a wear, oil, and heat resistant material, while the carrier ring includes an elastic material which is completely reversible even under high loads, and preferably is constructed of spring steel. The carrier ring has an inner fastening pan and an outer carrying part. The carrying part is positively connected to the sealing ring. The carrying part is designed to be inclined in the direction of the sealing face.

Abstract: A gas turbine rotor steam gland includes a steam inlet supply scroll for supplying steam through radial slots to an axially extending passage in the rotor for steam cooling of hot gas path component parts. The scroll decreases in diameter in the circumferential direction of cooling medium flow to match its velocity with the surface speed of the rotor. An aft labyrinth seal is provided about the rotor. Forwardly of the scroll, a plurality of labyrinth-type seals are interspersed with extraction ports. The extraction ports, except for the final forwardmost extraction port, are maintained at a pressure below the pressure of the inlet supply steam whereby steam leakage past the seals flows into the extraction ports for removal. The final forward extraction port is maintained at sub-ambient pressure such that final steam leakage past the forward seals and ambient air leakage past the forwardmost seal combine and are extracted from the steam gland.

Abstract: An arrangement for a dry-gas sliding ring seal in a turbomachine which establishes ambient conditions in the region of the dry-gas sliding ring seals under which no fluid precipitates regardless of whether the machine is operating or not. By supplying heat to the leakage flow during standstill of the turbomachine in a manner similar to that during its operation, an undercooling in the region of the dry-gas sliding ring seal with all its negative effects can be suppressed; and the start-up of the turbomachine takes place starting from a substantially safer operating state.

Abstract: A self flushing centrifugal pump has a fluid flushing passageway disposed in a housing of the pump which directs flushing fluid flow from a volute passageway in the housing of the pump near an outlet port of the pump to a chamber in the pump near a pump shaft seal and from the chamber to an inlet port of the pump via apertures in the impeller of the pump in response to rotation of the impeller.

Abstract: Centrifugal pumps for handling acids or slurries incorporate a ball bearing assembly as the force-responsive governor to control opening and closing of a fluid path leading from the expeller region into a seal, the seals being composed of hard, low-friction sealing materials for handling acids and of resilient materials for handling slurries owing to the solids content in the slurries.

Abstract: A runner seal positioning system comprises an annular runner seal piston and an annular runner seal seated against the piston and mounted for rotation with respect to the piston. The runner seal and the piston allow a fluid leakage therebetween. A pressure supply extends to the piston for supplying a back pressure to force the piston against the runner seal to limit the fluid leakage. A weir box is provided, and a drain extends from the runner seal and the piston to the weir box for draining the fluid leakage into the weir box, so that the fluid level in the weir box is directly related to a rate of the fluid leakage. Pressure control componentry is operatively connected to the pressure supply and is responsive to the fluid level for automatically increasing the back pressure as the fluid level rises and automatically decreasing the back pressure as the fluid level falls.

Abstract: An electromagnetic seal for a centrifugal pump controls movement of a valve member away from a normally closed position against a sealing surface at the entrance to a reservoir behind the expeller region of the pump, the valve member being controlled by a magnetizable clapper movable within a sealed enclosure toward and away from an electromagnetic coil which may be energized either by the drive motor of the pump or a self-contained generator in the pump driver assembly. Circulation of fluids between the impeller and expeller regions of the pump is enhanced by placement of vents in the impeller and a circumferential groove in the path of flow of fluid through the expeller to create increased turbulence and assist in flushing out foreign particles along with fluid in the expeller region when the pump is in operation. The effectiveness of this combination permits the employment of dry running secondary containment seals which do not require elaborate seal support systems.

Abstract: A condensing turbine includes a live-steam inlet, an exhaust-steam outlet and at least two seals for sealing off a turbine casing in the region of a turbine shaft carrying a turbine rotor. At least one of the seals is disposed on the live-steam side and one of the seals is disposed on the exhaust-steam side. The overall construction is substantially simplified by constructing at least one respective seal as a gas-lubricated mechanical surface seal on both the live-steam side and the exhaust-steam side. The outermost mechanical surface seals in each case on the live-steam side and the exhaust-steam side seal off separate seal spaces which are acted upon through a balancing line by an identical vacuum lying below the outer atmospheric pressure. These mechanical surface seals are constructed and fitted in such a way that a flow which is necessary for gas lubrication can occur through the mechanical surface seals from the outer atmosphere into the interior of the casing.

Abstract: The seal assembly comprises a housing, a shaft, seals, and a reservoir. The housing has a hollow section bounded by a cylindrical surface and a first curved protrusion. The housing has a first channel and a second channel extending from the hollow section. The shaft extends through the hollow section. Seals seal the hollow section with respect to the shaft to form a chamber. The combination of the first curved protrusion and the sleeve cooperatively form a hydraulic pump for conveying a lubricating fluid from the chamber via the first channel to reservoir. The lubricating fluid is circulated from the reservoir to the chamber via a second channel. The seal assembly has a fluid level gauge or an optoelectronic leak detector for detecting leaks in the seals of the seal assembly or leaks in a fluid pump (i.e. a magnetic-drive centrifugal pump) coupled to the seal assembly.

Abstract: A unitized roller-seal for sealing centrifugal pump shafts which may be readily repaired and maintained in the field or plant. The unitized roller-seal includes a housing having a bore therethrough with an inner radial flange, a sealed roller bearing seated within the bore on one side of the radial flange within the housing, a lip seal member seated within the bore on the other side of the inner radial flange within the housing. The unitized roller-seal is secured and sealed to the pump casing. The pump shaft is rotatably supported in a sealed bearing housing, and extends through the roller bearing and lip seal member of the roller-seal such that the roller-seal stabilizes the shaft juxtaposed to the sealing surface where the lip seal member engages the shaft. The shaft may have an integral sleeve extending within the unitized roller-seal with a hard coated surface for engagement by the lip seal member.

Abstract: A motor driven environmentally safe pump includes a sealed motor housing (22) sealingly affixed to a sealed pump housing. The pump housing defines a fluid pumping chamber (43) in which is a fluid pumping impeller (46). A triplex rotating seal (31) is disposed rearward of impeller (46) within an annular fluid chamber (87) so as to prevent the fluid being pumped via the impeller (46) from leaking along the shaft (23) toward the motor (21). A piston seal (32) is provided adjacent a second fluid chamber (204), the piston seal also for preventing fluid from leaking into the motor housing and damaging the motor.