Shaft Seal Assembly
AssigneeInpro/Seal LLC
InventorsDavid C. Orlowski, Neil F. Hoehle, Robert A. Tejano, Morgan Pullias
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An illustrative embodiment of porous media shaft seal assembly may include a stator and a rotor. The rotor may be configured to rotate with a shaft, and the stator may be engaged with a housing. Porous media may be applied and/or engaged with a portion of the stator, and a seal fluid may be communicated to the porous media. A biasing member may be employed to urge a portion of the rotor toward a portion of the stator, and seal fluid exiting the porous media may counteract the force of the biasing member.
Claims9
A porous media shaft seal assembly comprising:
- a. a stator configured to engage a housing, wherein a porous media is engaged with a portion of said stator, wherein a port is formed in said stator, and wherein a passage fluidly connects said port to said porous media;
- b. a rotor configured to engage a shaft, wherein said shaft protrudes from said housing and is rotatable with respect to said housing, and wherein a portion of said rotor is positioned adjacent a portion of said porous media;
- c. a biasing member engaged with said portion of said rotor positioned adjacent said portion of said porous media, wherein said biasing member is configured to urge said portion of said rotor toward said portion of said porous media;
- and
- d. a seal fluid supplied to said port, wherein said seal fluid exits said porous media adjacent said portion of said rotor.
A porous media shaft seal assembly comprising:
- a. a stator configured for engagement with a housing, wherein said stator is formed with a concave, semi-spherical surface, wherein a port is formed in said stator, and wherein a passage is in fluid communication with said port;
- b. a rotor configured for engagement with a shaft protruding from said housing and rotatable with respect to said housing, wherein said rotor is formed with a convex, semi-spherical surface positioned adjacent said concave, semi-spherical surface of said stator;
- c. a semi-spherical interface between said stator concave semi-spherical surface and said rotor convex semi-spherical surface;
- d. a porous media positioned between said stator and said rotor, wherein said passage fluidly connects said port to said porous media;
- and,
- e. a seal fluid supplied to said port, wherein said seal fluid exits said porous media adjacent said portion of said rotor.
A porous media shaft seal assembly comprising:
- a. a stator configured to engage a housing, wherein a porous media is engaged with a portion of said stator, wherein a port is formed in said stator, and wherein a passage fluidly connects said port to said porous media;
- b. a cone sealing structure comprising:
- i. a first end configured to engage a shaft;
- ii. a second end configured to engage a portion of a rotor, wherein a portion of said rotor is positioned adjacent a portion of said porous media;
- c. a biasing member engaged with said portion of said rotor positioned adjacent said portion of said porous media, wherein said biasing member is configured to urge said portion of said rotor toward said portion of said porous media;
- and
- d. a seal fluid supplied to said port, wherein said seal fluid exits said porous media adjacent said portion of said rotor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.