Adjustable seal for propeller drive shaft
AssigneeDuramax, Inc.
InventorGeorge MacDonald
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An adjustable sealing device for sealing between rotatable drive shaft, such as a propeller drive shaft, and the aperture in a structure, such as the hull or bulkhead of a vessel, through which the shaft passes. The device is generally rigid and is comprised of an adapter ring, a slide ring, a diaphragm positioned between the adapter ring and the slide ring, a friction ring having one end positioned in the adapter ring and a seal surface engageable with the seal surface of a seal ring rotatable with the shaft, biasing means positioned between the slide ring and the friction ring for urging the seal surfaces together, and a spring cover acting as a seal redundant to the diaphragm.
Claims37
A shaft seal device for use with a drive shaft extending through an opening in the hull or bulkhead of a vessel to preclude the flow of fluid into the vessel and out of the confines of said device, the shaft being rotatable about a generally linear axis and having a seal ring mounted on the shaft for rotation with the shaft, said seal ring having a seal ring seal surface, said device having a passageway with a central, longitudinal axis for receiving the shaft for rotation and comprising:
- adapter means including a part of said passageway, said adapter means having an aft end portion fixable to a connector for attaching said shaft seal device to the hull or bulkhead of a vessel through which the shaft extends;
- slide ring means having part of said passageway and connected to said adapter means, said slide ring means being stationary in the axial direction with respect to said adapter means;
- diaphragm means having first and second portions, said first portion being disposed between and forming a watertight seal between said adapter means and said slide ring means;
- friction ring means having part of said passageway, said friction ring means having one portion operatively connected with said second portion of said diaphragm means in a watertight seal, and having a second portion having a friction ring seal surface around the longitudinal axis of said passageway and positioned and configured to engage the seal ring seal surface to create a generally watertight seal, and
- biasing means cooperating with said slide ring means for aligning said friction ring means with the drive shaft, and urging said friction ring means and said friction ring seal surface towards said seal ring means and said seal ring seal surface to maintain a generally watertight seal despite fore and aft movement of the shaft and despite the transverse movement of said shaft relative to the longitudinal axis of said passageway.
A fluid sealing device for sealing fluid from flowing from a propeller drive shaft extending inboard in a vessel, the shaft having a generally linear axis and having a seal ring with a seal ring seal surface, mounted thereto for rotation with the shaft, said device having a shaft-receiving passageway and comprising:
- adapter ring means having an aft end for connection to a connector for attaching said fluid sealing device to the hull or bulkhead of a vessel through which the shaft extends for rotation;
- friction ring means having a friction ring seal surface for engaging the seal ring seal surface to create a watertight seal;
- and
- adjustable attachment means for attaching said friction ring means to said adapter ring means, said adjustable attachment means movable relative said adapter ring means, said friction ring means being movable in response to the movement of said adjustable attachment means to maintain the alignment of said friction ring means and of the shaft.
A sealing device mountable to the inside of a hull or bulkhead of a vessel for use with an inboard propeller drive shaft having a generally linear axis and having a seal ring with a seal ring seal surface mounted thereto, said device comprising:
- adapter means spaced from the drive shaft for receiving components of said sealing device, said adapter means receiving for rotation a portion of the shaft;
- friction ring means operatively attached to said adapter means for receiving for rotation a portion of the shaft and having a friction ring seal surface for contacting the seal ring seal surface on said seal ring to form a watertight seal, said friction ring means being slidable with respect to said adapter means to accommodate axial movement of said drive shaft, and said friction ring means being spaced from the drive shaft and the drive shaft being transversely movable relative to said friction ring means;
- and
- independent and separate hull or bulkhead attachment means attachable to said adapter means for attaching said device to said hull or bulkhead, said attachment means having a base for receiving the drive shaft.
A sealing device for sealing against water leakage from a propeller shaft and a vessel into which the shaft passes, said device extending through the wall of the vessel and comprising:
- adapter means connectable to the wall and having a bore for receiving the shaft for rotation, said adapter means having connection means for attaching a connector for connecting the adapter means to the wall;
- slide ring means having a bore for receiving the shaft for rotation, said slide ring means attached to said adapter means;
- friction ring means having a bore for receiving the shaft for rotation, and a friction ring seal surface for engagement with a sealing surface rotatable with the shaft for establishing a watertight seal, said friction ring means being attached to said slide ring means in a movable relationship;
- and
- biasing means cooperating with said slide ring means for aligning said friction ring means with the propeller shaft, and for urging said friction ring seal surface into engagement with the sealing surface rotatable with the shaft.
A sealing device mountable to the hull or bulkhead of a vessel for preventing the flow of fluid from a propeller drive shaft extending into the vessel, and having a generally linear axis and a seal ring with a seal ring seal surface, said device comprising:
- receiving means spaced from the drive shaft for receiving components of said sealing device, said receiving means being proximate the hull or bulkhead for receiving for rotation a portion of the shaft;
- friction ring means operatively attached to said receiving means proximate the hull or bulkhead for receiving for rotation a portion of the shaft and having a friction ring seal surface for contacting the seal ring seal surface on said seal ring to form a watertight seal, said friction ring means being slidable with respect to said receiving means to accommodate axial movement of said drive shaft, and said friction ring means being spaced from the drive shaft and the drive shaft being transversely movable relative to said friction ring means;
- and
- independent and separate hull or bulkhead attachment means attachable to said receiving means for attaching said sealing device to said hull or bulkhead, said hull or bulkhead attachment means having a bore for receiving the shaft.
A shaft seal device for use with a drive shaft extending through an opening in the hull or bulkhead of a vessel to preclude the flow of fluid into the vessel and out of the confines of said device, the shaft being rotatable about a generally longitudinal axis and having a seal ring mounted on the shaft for rotation with the shaft, said seal ring having a seal ring seal surface, said device having a passageway with a central, longitudinal axis for receiving the shaft for rotation and comprising:
- rigid adapter means including a part of said passageway, said adapter means having an aft end portion fixable to an article through which the shaft extends;
- adjustable attachment means movable for changing the direction of the longitudinal axis;
- rigid slide ring means having part of said passageway and connected to said adapter means, said slide ring means being attached to said adapter means by said adjustable attachment means;
- diaphragm means having first and second portions, said first portion being disposed between and forming a watertight seal between said adapter means and said slide ring means;
- rigid friction ring means having part of said passageway, said friction ring means having one portion operatively connected with said second portion of said diaphragm means in a watertight seal, and having a second portion having a friction ring seal surface around the longitudinal axis of said passageway and positioned and configured to engage the seal ring seal surface to create a generally watertight seal, said slide ring means and said friction ring means being movable in response to the movement of said adjustable attachment means and alignable with the axis of the shaft in response to the selective movement of said adjustable attachment means;
- and
- biasing means urging said friction ring means and said friction ring seal surface towards said seal ring means and said seal ring seal surface to maintain a generally watertight seal despite fore and aft movement of the shaft and despite the transverse movement of said shaft relative to the longitudinal axis of said passageway.
A sealing device mountable to the hull or bulkhead of a vessel for use with a propeller drive shaft having a generally linear axis and having a seal ring with a seal ring seal surface mounted thereto, said device comprising:
- adapter means for receiving for rotation a portion of the shaft;
- friction ring means operatively attached to said adapter means for receiving for rotation a portion of the shaft and having a friction ring seal surface for contacting the seal ring seal surface on said seal ring to form a watertight seal;
- slide ring means attached to said adapter means and to said friction ring means in watertight relationships, said slide ring means receiving for rotation a portion of said shaft, and said friction ring means being movable relative to said slide ring means on the linear axis;
- and
- independent and separate hull or bulkhead attachment means attachable to said adapter means for attaching said device to said hull or bulkhead.
A sealing device mountable to the hull or bulkhead of a vessel for use with a propeller drive shaft having a generally linear axis and having a seal ring with a seal ring seal surface mounted thereto, said device comprising:
- adapter means for receiving for rotation a portion of the shaft;
- friction ring means operatively attached to said adapter means for receiving for rotation a portion of the shaft and having a friction ring seal surface for contacting the seal ring seal surface on said seal ring to form a watertight seal;
- slide ring means attached to said adapter means and to said friction ring means in watertight relationships, said slide ring means receiving for rotation a portion of said shaft and having a bore for receiving an annular portion of said friction ring means with a clearance to enable the transverse motion of said friction ring means relative to said slide ring means, and said friction ring means being movable relative to said slide ring means on the linear axis;
- diaphragm means interconnecting said adapter means and said slide ring means in a fluid-tight relationship, and wherein said adapter means comprises an adapter ring with a shaft receiving bore and an annular, peripheral wall having a short linear length relative to the radius of said adapter ring, said slide ring comprises a base having an aft end engageable with said diaphragm means and a cylindrical wall with an interior cylindrical wall surface extending forwardly over at least part of said friction ring means, said friction ring means has guide ring means with an annular wall for engaging the interior wall surface of said slide ring means to guide said friction ring means in said slide ring means and maintain a seal between said friction ring seal surface and the seal ring seal surface;
- and
- independent and separate hull or bulkhead attachment means attachable to said adapter means for attaching said device to said hull or bulkhead.
A shaft seal device for use with a drive shaft extending through an opening in the hull or bulkhead of a vessel to preclude the flow of fluid into the vessel and out of the confines of said device, the shaft being rotatable about a generally linear axis and having a seal ring mounted on the shaft for rotation with the shaft, said seal ring having a seal ring seal surface, said device having a passageway with a central, longitudinal axis for receiving the shaft for rotation and comprising:
- adapter means including a part of said passageway, said adapter means having an aft end portion configured to receive the fore end of a thru-hull adapter and having threads to mate with the threads of the thru-hull adapter;
- slide ring means having part of said passageway and connected to said adapter means;
- diaphragm means having first and second portions, said first portion being disposed between and forming a watertight seal between said adapter means and said slide ring means;
- friction ring means having part of said passageway, said friction ring means having one portion operatively connected with said second portion of said diaphragm means in a watertight seal, and having a second portion having a friction ring seal surface around the longitudinal axis of said passageway and positioned and configured to engage the seal ring seal surface to create a generally watertight seal, and
- biasing means urging said friction ring means and said friction ring seal surface towards said seal ring means and said seal ring seal surface to maintain a generally watertight seal despite fore and aft movement of the shaft and despite the transverse movement of said shaft relative to the longitudinal axis of said passageway.
A sealing device for sealing against water leakage from a propeller shaft and a vessel into which the shaft passes, said device comprising:
- generally rigid adapter means connectable to the wall and having a bore for receiving the shaft for rotation, said adapter means having connection means for attaching a connector for connecting the adapter means to the wall;
- generally rigid slide ring means having a bore for receiving the shaft for rotation, said slide ring means attached to said adapter means;
- generally rigid friction ring means including:
- a bore for receiving the shaft for rotation;
- and
- a friction ring seal surface for engagement with a sealing surface rotatable with the shaft for establishing a watertight seal, said friction ring means being attached to said slide ring means in a movable relationship and having an annular section with a predetermined diameter;
- wherein said slide ring means is a base means having a recess with a base portion and with a diameter large enough to receive said annular section of said friction ring;
- and
- biasing means extending between said base portion and said friction ring, for urging said friction ring seal surface into engagement with the sealing surface rotatable with the shaft.
A sealing device for sealing against water leakage from a propeller shaft and a vessel having a vessel wall into which the shaft passes, said device comprising:
- friction ring means operatively attachable to the vessel wall and having a bore for receiving the propeller shaft for rotation in said bore, and further having a friction ring seal surface;
- seal ring means attachable to and rotatable with the propeller shaft, and having a seal ring sealing surface parallel to and opposite said friction ring seal surface;
- biasing means urging said seal ring means towards said friction ring means to place said seal ring sealing surface in watertight contact with said friction ring seal surface;
- and
- cover means extending over said biasing means for preventing the leakage of water from the shaft into the vessel, said cover means being mounted to rotate with the shaft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.