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US 11,278,996 B2Granted
Rotary seal
AssigneeDeublin Company
InventorsLisa Freed, Lauren Dahlke
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A rotary union for use along an incompressible fluid path between a rotating machine component and a non-rotating machine component includes a non-rotating seal carrier including a non-rotating seal element, which together with the non-rotating seal carrier define a net hydraulic surface on an internal side and a net pneumatic surface on an external side. Contact of an incompressible fluid under pressure with the net hydraulic surface creates a closing force, and contact of a compressible fluid under pressure with the net pneumatic surface creates an opening force.
Claims20
A rotary union disposed along an incompressible fluid path between a rotating machine component and a non-rotating machine component, comprising:
- a mounting sleeve disposed in a bore formed in the non-rotating machine component, the mounting sleeve forming a sliding bore;
- a non-rotating seal carrier slidably and sealably disposed in the sliding bore, the non-rotating seal carrier including a non-rotating seal element, wherein the non-rotating seal element and the non-rotating seal carrier define a net hydraulic surface on an internal side and a net pneumatic surface on an external side;
- a rotating seal element disposed on the rotating machine component;
- wherein the non-rotating seal carrier is movable in an axial direction between an extended position, in which the rotating and non-rotating seal elements are in contact to form a mechanical face seal, and a retracted position, in which a gap is formed in the axial direction by separation of the rotating and non-rotating seal elements;
- and
- wherein, during operation, contact of an incompressible fluid under pressure with the net hydraulic surface creates a closing force in a closing direction tending to push the non-rotating seal carrier from the retracted position towards the extended position;
- and
- wherein, during operation, a compressible fluid is adapted to be provided and present externally with respect to the non-rotating seal carrier and surrounding the mechanical face seal, so that contact of the compressible fluid under pressure with the net pneumatic surface creates an opening force in an opening direction tending to push the non-rotating seal carrier from the extended position towards the retracted position.
5 more elements
A method for operating a rotary union, comprising:
- providing a non-rotating seal carrier slidably and sealably disposed within a sliding bore, the non-rotating seal carrier including a non-rotating seal element;
- defining net hydraulic surface on an internal side of the non-rotating seal element and the non-rotating seal carrier;
- defining a net pneumatic surface on an external side of the non-rotating seal element and the non-rotating seal carrier;
- providing a rotating seal element disposed on the rotating machine component;
- and
- moving the non-rotating seal carrier in an axial direction between an extended position, in which the rotating and non-rotating seal elements are in contact to form a mechanical face seal, and a retracted position, in which a gap is formed in the axial direction by separation of the rotating and non-rotating seal elements;
- wherein moving from the retracted to the extended positions is accomplished by providing a incompressible fluid in contact with the net hydraulic surface to create a closing force in a closing direction;
- and
- wherein moving from the extended to the retracted positions is accomplished by providing a compressible fluid externally with respect to and surrounding the mechanical face seal in contact with the net pneumatic surface to create an opening force in an opening direction.
6 more elements
A rotary union disposed along an incompressible fluid path between a rotating machine component and a non-rotating machine component, comprising:
- a mounting sleeve disposed in a bore formed in the non-rotating machine component, the mounting sleeve forming a sliding bore;
- a non-rotating seal carrier slidably and sealably disposed in the sliding bore, the non-rotating seal carrier including a non-rotating seal element, wherein the non-rotating seal element and the non-rotating seal carrier define a net hydraulic surface on an internal side and a net pneumatic surface on an external side;
- a rotating seal element disposed on the rotating machine component;
- and
- a spring disposed between the mounting sleeve and the non-rotating seal carrier, the spring providing a spring force onto the non-rotating seal carrier;
- wherein the non-rotating seal carrier is movable in an axial direction between an extended position, in which the rotating and non-rotating seal elements are in contact to form a mechanical face seal, and a retracted position, in which a gap is formed in the axial direction by separation of the rotating and non-rotating seal elements;
- and
- wherein, during operation, contact of an incompressible fluid under pressure with the net hydraulic surface, and the spring, create closing hydraulic and spring forces in a closing direction tending to push the non-rotating seal carrier from the retracted position towards the extended position;
- and
- wherein, during operation, a compressible fluid is adapted to be provided and present externally with respect to the non-rotating seal carrier and surrounding the mechanical face seal, so that contact of the compressible fluid under pressure with the net pneumatic surface creates an opening force in an opening direction tending to urge the non-rotating seal carrier from the extended position towards the retracted position.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.