Rotary joints
AssigneeS.D. Warren Company
InventorsMark A. Reifschneider, Richard A. Lippert
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Rotary joints are provided, for use in allowing fluid flow from a stationary member to a rotating joined member.
Claims50
A rotary joint configured to couple a rotating member to a relatively stationary member, comprising
- a housing, configured to fit over the rotating member and receive a fluid to be delivered from the stationary member to the rotating member;
- a rotatable coupling disposed within the housing, configured to be fixedly attached to the rotating member;
- and
- a floating seal system configured to allow a controlled amount of fluid to leak from the rotary joint during delivery of a fluid from the stationary member to the rotating member.
A rotary joint configured to couple a rotating member to a relatively stationary member, comprising
- a housing, configured to fit over the rotating member;
- an end plate, extending from a distal end of the housing and configured to allow the stationary member to be fixedly attached to the housing;
- a rotatable coupling disposed within the housing, configured to be fixedly attached to the rotating member, and to receive a portion of the end plate in sealing engagement;
- a first seal, configured to provide sealing engagement between the rotatable coupling and the portion of the end plate, and
- a second seal, configured to provide sealing engagement between the rotatable coupling and an inner wall of the housing.
A method of delivering fluid from a stationary source to a rotating member, comprising
- delivering a fluid from the source to a rotary joint comprising a housing, configured to fit over the rotating member and having a portion configured to receive the fluid;
- passing fluid through a rotatable coupling, disposed within the housing and configured to be fixedly attached to the rotating member;
- and
- allowing a controlled amount of fluid to leak past a floating seal system disposed between the rotatable coupling and the housing.
A floating seal for sealing between an inner cylindrical surface and an outer cylindrical surface, the inner and outer surfaces defining a chamber, the seal comprising:
- a plurality of rings configured to fit in the chamber, positioned side-by-side along the length of the chamber, and to float within the chamber;
- and
- a biasing member configured to apply an axial end pressure to the rings in the direction of fluid entering the chamber during use of the seal, keeping the rings compressed together and against an end face of the chamber to minimize leakage around the outside diameter of the rings.
A floating seal for sealing between an inner cylindrical surface and an outer cylindrical surface, the inner and outer surfaces defining a chamber, the seal comprising a plurality of rings configured to define a tortuous path comprising alternating restricted areas and larger turbulence-creating void areas.
A rotary joint configured to couple a rotating member to a relatively stationary member, comprising
- a housing, configured to fit over the rotating member and receive a fluid to be delivered from the stationary member to the rotating member;
- a rotatable coupling disposed within the housing, configured to be fixedly attached to the rotating member;
- and
- a floating seal system comprising a floating labyrinth seal including a plurality of rings configured to define a tortuous path comprising alternating restricted areas and larger turbulence-creating void areas.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.