Seal assembly
AssigneeBattelle Memorial Institute
InventorsManfred Luttinger, Gary H. Brawley, Steven J. Shaffer, Bruce Prushing, James D. Browning, Melissa Roshon
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Abstract
Seal assemblies are provided. In one embodiment, an example shaft seal assembly comprises an immiscible fluid and a reservoir structure. The immiscible fluid is immiscible with respect to a contained internal fluid in an enclosure with a penetrating shaft. The reservoir structure is disposed in close proximity to the shaft, and the reservoir structure contains the immiscible fluid. The immiscible fluid of the seal assembly provides a fluid barrier to the internal fluid to limit loss of the internal fluid over time.
Claims24
A shaft seal assembly, comprising:
- an immiscible fluid, the immiscible fluid being immiscible with respect to an internal fluid;
- and
- a reservoir structure disposed in close proximity to a shaft, the reservoir structure defining the placement of the immiscible fluid with respect to the internal fluid;
- thereby providing a fluid barrier between the internal fluid and the immiscible fluid to limit a loss of the internal fluid over time.
A shaft seal assembly, comprising:
- an immiscible fluid, the immiscible fluid being immiscible with respect to a lubricating oil;
- and
- a reservoir structure disposed in close proximity to a shaft, the reservoir structure defining the placement of the immiscible fluid with respect to the lubricating oil;
- thereby providing a fluid barrier between the lubricating oil and the immiscible fluid to limit a loss of the lubricating oil over time.
A seal assembly, comprising:
- a seal structure in close proximity to a shaft, the seal structure comprising a primary seal material and an immiscible fluid, wherein the immiscible fluid is released from the seal structure as the seal structure wears;
- and wherein the immiscible fluid creates a fluid barrier with respect to an internal fluid to limit a loss of the internal fluid.
A seal assembly, comprising:
- an oil barrier comprising a rubber material and a fluid reservoir, wherein the rubber material and the fluid reservoir are operably connected such that the rubber material is supplied with a fluid;
- and wherein the fluid comprises an immiscible fluid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.