# US 2023/0407971 A1 · Ring with recirculating grooves for dry gas seal

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- Number: US 2023/0407971 A1
- Document ID: US20230407971A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 18/210,290
- Filed: 2023-06-15
- Published: 2023-12-21
- Earliest claimed: 2022-06-15
- Assignees: John Crane Inc.
- Applicants: John Crane Inc.
- Inventors: Douglas J. Volden; Syed K. Niamathullah
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20230407971A1

## CPC

- F16J 15/3404: {and characterised by parts or details relating to lubrication, cooling or venting of the seal}
- F16J 15/3416: {with at least one continuous groove}
- F16J: PISTONS {(specially adapted for dampers F16F9/32)}; CYLINDERS; SEALINGS

## Abstract

A mating ring for use in a dry gas seal and a dry gas seal. The mating ring includes a face that defines an inner diameter and an outer diameter. The face includes: a channel formed therein disposed between the inner diameter and the outer diameter; one or more inlet channels formed in the face that extend from the inner diameter to the channel; and one or more spiral grooves in fluid communication with the channel that extend from the channel toward the inner diameter. Alternatively, the one or more inlet channels can extend from the outer diameter to the channel and one or more spiral grooves can extend from the channel toward the outer diameter

## Claims

### Claim 1

A mechanical seal assembly adapted for arrangement around a rotating shaft, the seal assembly comprising:
a primary ring and a mating ring, the primary ring being axially shiftable relative to the rotating shaft and the mating ring being axially fixable relative to the rotating shaft; and
a biasing mechanism that urges the primary ring toward the mating ring;
wherein the mating ring includes a face that defines an inner diameter and an outer diameter, wherein the face includes:
a channel formed therein disposed between the inner diameter and the outer diameter;
one or more inlet channels formed in the face that extend from the inner diameter to the channel; and
one or more spiral grooves in fluid communication with the channel that extend from the channel toward the inner diameter.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The assembly of claim 1, wherein the face is configured to rotate in a counterclockwise direction.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The assembly of claim 2, wherein the one or more inlet channels extend from the inner diameter in a clockwise direction.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The assembly of claim 3, wherein the one or more spiral grooves channels extend from the channel in the counterclockwise direction.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The assembly of claim 4, wherein the one or more spiral grooves each include an entry end that is fluidly connected to the channel and a tip.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The assembly of claim 5, wherein the tip is narrower than the entry end and is closer to the root dam than the entry end.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The assembly of claim 1, wherein the channel has first depth and the one or more spiral grooves has a depth that is smaller than the first depth.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The assembly of claim 7, wherein the first depth is at least two times greater than the depth of the spiral grooves.

### Claim 9

A mating ring for use in a dry gas seal, the mating ring comprising:
a face that defines an inner diameter and an outer diameter, wherein the face includes:
a channel formed therein disposed between the inner diameter and the outer diameter;
one or more inlet channels formed in the face that extend from the inner diameter to the channel; and
one or more spiral grooves in fluid communication with the channel that extend from the channel toward the inner diameter.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The mating ring of claim 9, wherein the face is configured to rotate in a counterclockwise direction.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The mating ring of claim 10, wherein the one or more inlet channels extend from the inner diameter in a clockwise direction.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The mating ring of claim 11, wherein the one or more spiral grooves channels extend from the channel in the counterclockwise direction.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The mating ring of claim 12, wherein the one or more spiral grooves each include an entry end that is fluidly connected to the channel and a tip.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The mating ring of claim 13, wherein the tip is narrower than the entry end and is closer to the root dam than the entry end.

### Claim 15 (depends on 9)

The mating ring of claim 9, wherein the channel has first depth and the one or more spiral grooves has a depth that is smaller than the first depth.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The mating ring of claim 15, wherein the first depth is at least two times greater than the depth of the spiral grooves.

### Claim 17

A mechanical seal assembly adapted for arrangement around a rotating shaft, the seal assembly comprising:
a primary ring and a mating ring, the primary ring being axially shiftable relative to the rotating shaft and the mating ring being axially fixable relative to the rotating shaft; and
a biasing mechanism that urges the primary ring toward the mating ring;
wherein the mating ring includes a face that defines an inner diameter and an outer diameter, wherein the face includes:
a channel formed therein disposed between the inner diameter and the outer diameter;
one or more inlet channels formed in the face that extend from the outer diameter to the channel; and
one or more spiral grooves in fluid communication with the channel that extend from the channel toward the outer diameter.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The assembly of claim 17, wherein the face is configured to rotate in a clockwise direction.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The assembly of claim 18, wherein the one or more inlet channels extend from the outer diameter in a counterclockwise direction.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The assembly of claim 19, wherein the one or more spiral grooves channels extend from the channel in the counterclockwise direction.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The assembly of claim 20, wherein the one or more spiral grooves each include an entry end that is fluidly connected to the channel and a tip.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The assembly of claim 21, wherein the tip is narrower than the entry end and is closer to the root dam than the entry end.

### Claim 23 (depends on 17)

The assembly of claim 17, wherein the channel has first depth and the one or more spiral grooves has a depth that is smaller than the first depth.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The assembly of claim 23, wherein the first depth is at least two times greater than the depth of the spiral grooves.

### Claim 25

A mating ring for use in a dry gas seal, the mating ring comprising:
a face that defines an inner diameter and an outer diameter, wherein the face includes:
a channel formed therein disposed between the inner diameter and the outer diameter;
one or more inlet channels formed in the face that extend from the outer diameter to the channel; and
one or more spiral grooves in fluid communication with the channel that extend from the channel toward the outer diameter.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

The mating ring of claim 25, wherein the face is configured to rotate in a clockwise direction.

### Claim 27 (depends on 26)

The mating ring of claim 26, wherein the one or more inlet channels extend from the outer diameter in a clockwise direction.

### Claim 28 (depends on 27)

The mating ring of claim 27, wherein the one or more spiral grooves channels extend from the channel in the counterclockwise direction.

### Claim 29 (depends on 25)

The mating ring of claim 25, wherein the one or more spiral grooves each include an entry end that is fluidly connected to the channel and tip.

### Claim 30 (depends on 29)

The mating ring of claim 29, wherein the tip is narrower than the entry end and is closer to the root dam than the entry end.

### Claim 31 (depends on 25)

The mating ring of claim 25, wherein the channel has first depth and the one or more spiral grooves has a depth that is smaller than the first depth.

### Claim 32 (depends on 31)

The mating ring of claim 31, wherein the first depth is at least two times greater than the depth of the spiral grooves.