Automatically disengaging spacing mechanism for a mechanical seal

A mechanical seal for providing a seal along a shaft, comprising:

• rotatable seal components adapted to be coupled to said shaft, wherein said rotatable seal components includes a rotatable seal ring;
• a gland;
• a stationary seal ring coupled to said gland and interfacing with said rotatable seal ring;
• and
• a spacing mechanism mounted to at least one of said gland and said stationary seal ring;
• wherein said spacing mechanism is adapted to extend toward and engage at least one of said rotatable seal components to locate said rotatable seal ring relative to said stationary seal ring before said shaft is rotating and retract from at least one of said rotatable seal components upon rotation of said shaft.

A spacing mechanism for a mechanical seal, comprising:

• a spacing pin mounted to at least one stationary component of said mechanical seal;
• and
• at least one spacing clip mounted to said spacing pin and movable relative to a rotatable seal component to engage and to disengage from said rotatable seal component;
• wherein said spacing clip engages said rotatable seal component when said rotatable seal component is at rest and disengages from said rotatable seal component upon rotation of said rotatable seal component.

A centering mechanism for a mechanical seal, comprising:

• a spacing pin mounted to at least one stationary component of said mechanical seal and defining a first axis along a longitudinal axis of said spacing pin;
• and
• a centering clip mounted to said spacing pin and movable about said first axis and having a constant radius from said first axis along one end of said centering clip adapted for engagement with a rotatable seal component when said rotatable seal component is at rest;
• wherein said centering clip disengages from said rotatable seal component by rotation of said rotatable seal component.

A mechanical seal for providing a seal along a shaft, comprising:

• a rotatable seal ring adapted to be coupled to said shaft;
• a gland;
• a stationary seal ring coupled to said gland and interfacing with said rotatable seal ring;
• a pin, mounted to at least one of the group of said gland and said stationary seal ring;
• a lock ring mounted to said shaft;
• and
• a spacing clip, mounted to said spacing pin and movable relative to said lock ring to engage and disengage from said lock ring to position said rotatable seal ring relative to said stationary seal ring whenever said spacing clip is engaged with said lock ring;
• wherein said spacing clip is adapted to engage said lock ring when said shaft is at rest and disengage from said lock ring upon rotation of said shaft.