Fluid-activated shaft seal

A system for isolating a fluid in a first compartment from a second compartment in which a shaft passes from the first compartment to the second compartment, the system comprising:

• a seal disposed relative to the shaft, the seal including a lip portion and a fluid-responsive gel material that expands when exposed to the fluid to urge the lip portion towards or into contact with the shaft and that contracts in the absence of the fluid to form or increase the size of a gap between the shaft and the lip portion.

A support component for a system that isolates a fluid in a first compartment separated from a second compartment by a bulkhead, in which a shaft passes from the first compartment to the second compartment, with a seal that includes a lip portion and a fluid-responsive gel material that expands when exposed to the fluid to urge the lip portion towards or into contact with the shaft and that contracts in the absence of the fluid to form or increase the size of a gap between the shaft and the lip portion, the support component comprising:

• an annular structure defining an interface surface to couple to the bulkhead when the support component is mounted to the bulkhead and an exterior surface disposed relative to the interface surface, the exterior surface for slideable engagement with a corresponding interior surface of a carrier component that positions the seal relative to the support component.

A carrier component to position a seal including a lip portion and a fluid-responsive gel material that expands when exposed to a fluid to urge the lip portion towards or into contact with a shaft that passes through a bulkhead and that contracts in the absence of the fluid to form or increase the size of a gap between the shaft and the lip portion, the carrier component comprising:

• an annular body defining a channel along an outer circumference of the body to slideably engage a corresponding exterior surface of a support component mounted to the bulkhead in response to movement of the shaft and defining an extensive portion along an inner surface of the body to couple to and position the seal.

A system comprising:

• an interface for coupling a support means to a corresponding interface of a bulkhead structure, the support means defining an exterior surface;
• a sealing means including a fluid-responsive gel material that reversibly changes volume in response to exposure to or absence of a fluid for regulating the size of a flow path between a portion of the sealing means and a shaft passing through the bulkhead structure;
• a carrier means for positioning the sealing means relative to the support means, the carrier means defining an interior surface for slideably engaging the exterior surface of the support means.

A system to isolate a fluid in a first compartment from a second compartment, in which a shaft passes from the first compartment to the second compartment, with a seal that includes a lip portion and a fluid-responsive gel material that expands when exposed to the fluid to urge the lip portion towards or into contact with the shaft and that contracts in the absence of the fluid to form or increase the size of a gap between the shaft and the lip portion, the system comprising:

• a bulkhead structure defining a first surface in the first compartment, a second surface in the second compartment, and an opening passing from the first compartment to the second compartment, the first surface defining a first annular region and the second surface defining a second annular region, the first and second annular regions adjacent the opening for slideable engagement with a corresponding interior surface of a carrier component positioning the seal relative to the bulkhead structure.

A system comprising:

• a flexible body defining an interface surface along an outer diameter;
• and
• a sealing structure disposed along an inner diameter of the body, the sealing structure including a lip portion and a gel material that expands when exposed to a fluid to urge the lip portion towards or into contact with a shaft and that contracts in the absence of the fluid to form or increase the size of a gap between the shaft and the lip portion.