US 4,361,333 AGranted

Retort seal mechanism with integral bearings

AssigneeTosco Corporation

InventorDonald Firth

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Abstract

An improved rotating retort seal having integral bearings for aligning the retort seals relative the sealing surface on the rotating vessel portion of the retort. The sealing function and bearing or seal alignment function are separated to extend seal life and improve sealing. Radial alignment bearings and axial alignment bearings are provided for continually positioning the seal assembly housing during sealing surface nutation. The sealing elements, which are fixed relative to the alignment bearings, is thereby continually aligned and realigned in response to sealing surface nutations during retort rotation. The alignment bearings are extended radially outward from the seals on the sealing surface to prevent damage of the bearings by materials processed in the retort. A lubrication passageway is placed between the alignment bearings and seals to provide for common lubrication of both alignment bearings and seals.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A retort seal mechanism adapted to seal the rotating vessel portion of a rotating retort to the stationary retort portions, wherein the rotating vessel includes radially extending disc sealing surfaces at each end, said retort seal mechanism comprising:

seal means for sealing the stationary retort portion to the sealing surface of said rotating vessel, said seal means including a seal housing flexibly attached sealingly to the stationary retort portion to allow aligning movement of said seal housing relative said sealing surface, said seal housing having one or more seal elements for sealing to said sealing surface;
and
seal alignment means for positioning the seal means in sealing position relative said sealing surface during rotation of the rotating vessel, said seal alignment means including an alignment housing fixed relative said seal means, said alignment housing having sealing surface follower means for continually aligning said alignment housing relative said sealing surface in response to nutations of said sealing surface during rotation of said rotating vessel, said sealing surface follower means including radial positioning means for radially aligning said alignment housing relative said disc and axial positioning means for axially aligning said alignment housing relative said disc, whereby said seal means, being fixed relative said alignment housing, is continually aligned with said sealing surface.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.