# US 12,000,488 B2 · Mechanical seal with improved groove arrangement > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,000,488 B2 - Document ID: US12000488B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/911,754 - Filed: 2021-01-26 - Published: 2023-06-22 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2020-03-24 - Assignees: EagleBurgmann Germany GmbH & Co. KG - Applicants: EagleBurgmann Germany Gmbh & Co. KG - Inventors: Klaus Lang; Thomas Zauner - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12000488B2 ## CPC - F16J 15/3412: {with cavities (F16J15/3424 takes precedence)} - F16C 17/045: {with grooves in the bearing surface to generate hydrodynamic pressure, e.g. spiral groove thrust bearings} - F16C 33/106: {Details of distribution or circulation inside the bearings, e.g. details of the bearing surfaces to affect flow or pressure of the liquid} - F16C 33/1065: {Grooves on a bearing surface for distributing or collecting the liquid} - F16J: PISTONS {(specially adapted for dampers F16F9/32)}; CYLINDERS; SEALINGS - F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS ## Abstract The invention relates to a mechanical seal comprising a rotating slide ring and a stationary slide ring defining a sealing gap therebetween, one of the slide rings having at least a first row of a plurality of first grooves with a foot region on a first radius and a head region on a second radius wherein a second circumferential sliding region is provided between the head regions of the radially outermost row of grooves of the slide ring and an outer radial edge of the slide ring, the other of the slide rings having at least a second row of a plurality of second grooves with a foot region at a third radius and a head region at a fourth radius wherein a second circumferential sliding region is provided between the head regions of the radially outermost row of grooves of the slide ring and an external radial edge of the slide ring, wherein the first radius is smaller than the third radius, and wherein the second radius is smaller than the fourth radius. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A mechanical seal comprising: a rotating slide ring and a stationary slide ring defining a sealing gap therebetween, wherein one of the slide rings includes at least a first row of a plurality of first grooves each having a foot region on a first radius and a head region on a second radius, a first circumferential sliding region being provided between head regions of a radially outermost row of grooves of the slide ring and an external radial edge of the slide ring, the other of the slide rings having at least a second row of a plurality of second grooves each with a foot region on a third radius and a head region on a fourth radius, a second circumferential sliding region being present between head regions of a radially outermost row of grooves of the slide ring and an outer radial edge of the slide ring, wherein the first radius is smaller than the third radius, wherein the second radius is smaller than the fourth radius, and wherein the plurality of first grooves and the plurality of second grooves have a respective depth which changes from the foot regions thereof to the head regions thereof. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The mechanical seal according to claim 1, wherein the fourth radius is at most 20% larger than the second radius. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The mechanical seal according to claim 1, wherein the depth of the grooves decreases starting from the foot region towards the head region. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The mechanical seal according to claim 1, wherein the grooves are formed in a crescent shape having an arcuate course. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The mechanical seal according to claim 4, wherein the grooves are sickle-shaped V-grooves having a tip at the head region. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The mechanical seal according to claim 4, wherein the grooves of the rotating slide ring are arranged in the opposite direction to the grooves of the stationary slide ring. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The mechanical seal according to claim 1, wherein the grooves of the rotating slide ring and the stationary slide ring have an overlapping area of at least 10% of the groove regions. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The mechanical seal according to claim 1, wherein the grooves of the rotating slide ring and the stationary slide ring have no overlap region. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The mechanical seal according to claim 1, wherein one of the slide rings has a third row of a plurality of third grooves. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The mechanical seal according to claim 9, wherein the other one of the slide rings has a fourth row of a plurality of fourth grooves. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The mechanical seal according to claim 1, wherein a geometrical shape is the same for all grooves located on a slide ring. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The mechanical seal according to claim 1, wherein the mechanical seal is a gas seal for sealing gaseous media. ### Claim 13 A mechanical seal comprising: a rotating slide ring and a stationary slide ring defining a sealing gap therebetween, one of the slide rings having at least a first row of a plurality of first grooves each having a foot region on a first radius and a head region on a second radius, a first circumferential slide region being present between head regions of a radially innermost row of grooves of said slide ring and an internal radial edge of the slide ring, the other of the slide rings having at least a second row of a plurality of second grooves each with a foot region on a third radius and a head region on a fourth radius, a second circumferential slide region being present between head regions of a radially innermost row of grooves of the slide ring and an internal radial edge of the slide ring, wherein the first radius is larger than the third radius, wherein the second radius is larger than the fourth radius, and wherein the plurality of first grooves and the plurality of second grooves have a respective depth which changes from the foot regions thereof to the head regions thereof. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The mechanical seal according to claim 13, wherein the fourth radius is smaller than the second radius by a maximum of 20%. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The mechanical seal according to claim 13, wherein the depth of the grooves decreases starting from the foot region towards the head region. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The mechanical seal according to claim 13, wherein the grooves are formed in a crescent shape having an arcuate course. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The mechanical seal according to claim 16, wherein the grooves are sickle-shaped V-grooves having a tip at the head region. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The mechanical seal according to claim 16, wherein the grooves of the rotating slide ring are arranged in the opposite direction to the grooves of the stationary slide ring. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The mechanical seal according to claim 13, wherein the grooves of the rotating slide ring and the stationary slide ring have an overlapping area of at least 10% of the groove regions. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The mechanical seal according to claim 13, wherein the grooves of the rotating slide ring and the stationary slide ring have no overlap region. ### Claim 21 (depends on 13) The mechanical seal according to claim 13, wherein one of the slide rings has a third row of a plurality of third grooves. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The mechanical seal according to claim 21, wherein the other one of the slide rings has a fourth row of a plurality of fourth grooves. ### Claim 23 (depends on 13) The mechanical seal according to claim 13, wherein a geometrical shape is the same for all grooves located on a slide ring. ### Claim 24 (depends on 13) The mechanical seal according to claim 13, wherein the mechanical seal is a gas seal for sealing gaseous media.