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US 2020/0070293 A1Published application
Rotary seal
AssigneeDeublin Company
InventorsLisa Freed, Lauren Dahlke
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A rotary union for use along an incompressible fluid path between a rotating machine component and a non-rotating machine component includes a non-rotating seal carrier including a non-rotating seal element, which together with the non-rotating seal carrier define a net hydraulic surface on an internal side and a net pneumatic surface on an external side. Contact of an incompressible fluid under pressure with the net hydraulic surface creates a closing force, and contact of a compressible fluid under pressure with the net pneumatic surface creates an opening force.
Claims20
A rotary union disposed along an incompressible fluid path between a rotating machine component and a non-rotating machine component, comprising:
- a mounting sleeve disposed in a bore formed in the non-rotating machine component, the mounting sleeve forming a sliding bore;
- a non-rotating seal carrier slidably and sealably disposed in the sliding bore, the non-rotating seal carrier including a non-rotating seal element, wherein the non-rotating seal element and the non-rotating seal carrier define a net hydraulic surface on an internal side and a net pneumatic surface on an external side;
- a rotating seal element disposed on the rotating machine component;
- wherein the non-rotating seal carrier is movable in an axial direction between an extended position, in which the rotating and non-rotating seal elements are in contact to form a mechanical face seal, and a retracted position, in which a gap is formed in the axial direction by separation of the rotating and non-rotating seal elements;
- and
- wherein, during operation, contact of an incompressible fluid under pressure with the net hydraulic surface creates a closing force in a closing direction tending to push the non-rotating seal carrier from the retracted position towards the extended position;
- and
- wherein, during operation, contact of a compressible fluid under pressure with the net pneumatic surface creates an opening force in an opening direction tending to push the non-rotating seal carrier from the extended position towards the retracted position.
5 more elements
A method for operating a rotary union, comprising:
- providing a non-rotating seal carrier slidably and sealably disposed within a sliding bore, the non-rotating seal carrier including a non-rotating seal element;
- defining net hydraulic surface on an internal side of the non-rotating seal element and the non-rotating seal carrier;
- defining a net pneumatic surface on an external side of the non-rotating seal element and the non-rotating seal carrier;
- providing a rotating seal element disposed on the rotating machine component;
- and
- moving the non-rotating seal carrier in an axial direction between an extended position, in which the rotating and non-rotating seal elements are in contact to form a mechanical face seal, and a retracted position, in which a gap is formed in the axial direction by separation of the rotating and non-rotating seal elements;
- wherein moving from the retracted to the extended positions is accomplished by providing a incompressible fluid in contact with the net hydraulic surface to create a closing force in a closing direction;
- and
- wherein moving from the extended to the retracted positions is accomplished by providing a compressible fluid in contact with the net pneumatic surface to create an opening force in an opening direction.
6 more elements
A rotary union disposed along an incompressible fluid path between a rotating machine component and a non-rotating machine component, comprising:
- a mounting sleeve disposed in a bore formed in the non-rotating machine component, the mounting sleeve forming a sliding bore;
- a non-rotating seal carrier slidably and sealably disposed in the sliding bore, the non-rotating seal carrier including a non-rotating seal element, wherein the non-rotating seal element and the non-rotating seal carrier define a net hydraulic surface on an internal side and a net pneumatic surface on an external side;
- a rotating seal element disposed on the rotating machine component;
- and
- a spring disposed between the mounting sleeve and the non-rotating seal carrier, the spring providing a spring force onto the non-rotating seal carrier;
- wherein the non-rotating seal carrier is movable in an axial direction between an extended position, in which the rotating and non-rotating seal elements are in contact to form a mechanical face seal, and a retracted position, in which a gap is formed in the axial direction by separation of the rotating and non-rotating seal elements;
- and
- wherein, during operation, contact of an incompressible fluid under pressure with the net hydraulic surface, and the spring, create closing hydraulic and spring forces in a closing direction tending to push the non-rotating seal carrier from the retracted position towards the extended position;
- and
- wherein, during operation, contact of a compressible fluid under pressure with the net pneumatic surface creates an opening force in an opening direction tending to urge the non-rotating seal carrier from the extended position towards the retracted position.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.