US 6,412,784 B1Granted

Split face mechanical seal system

AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy

InventorEdward Isaac Cohen

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Abstract

According to a preferred embodiment, a mechanical face seal assembly comprises four generally ring-shaped members and plural spring devices. The first ring-shaped member is directly fastened (e.g., bolted) to the flanged structural section located at the end of the shaft sleeve. The first and second ring-shaped members are coaxially aligned and rotatively communicative at respective radial surfaces. The first ring-shaped member is made of a metal (or ceramic) matrix composite material. The second ring-shaped member is made of a polymer matrix composite material. The second and third ring-shaped members are mated via radial openings (in the second ring-shaped member) and corresponding radial projections (in the third ring-shaped member). The third ring-shaped member has axial projections and is thereby directly fastened (e.g., bolted) to the fourth ring-shaped member, which clampingly secures the third ring-shaped member with respect to the shaft. The third ring-shaped member contains the spring devices so that they push against the second ring-shaped member, which is consequently biased against the first ring-shaped member. Since each ring-shaped member is a “split” structure having two joinable semicircular halves, the entire sealing system can be installed without disassembling the shafting mechanism. The matrix composite compositions confer structural qualities on the first and second ring-shaped members, and further afford tribological “self-healing” properties of the wear junction therebetween. The resultant benefits include fewer parts, greater compactness, longer service life, and less frequent maintenance and repair.

Claims31

Dependent claims

A mechanical face seal combination suitable for use in connection with machinery of the type wherein an axially rotative shaft passes through an immobile housing, said combination comprising a first annulus, a second annulus and support apparatus;

said first annulus having a first annular face which is at least substantially planar;
said second annulus having a second annular face which is at least substantially planar;
said first annulus essentially constituting a unitary component of said combination, essentially consisting of a non-polymeric matrix-reinforcement composite material, and essentially having been formed as an integral whole so as to be characterized by structural integrity wherein said reinforcement contributes to said structural integrity of said first annulus;
said second annulus essentially constituting a unitary component, essentially consisting of a polymeric matrix-reinforcement composite material, and essentially having been formed as an integral whole so as to be characterized by structural integrity wherein said reinforcement contributes to said structural integrity of said second annulus;
said support apparatus including biasing means;
said first annulus, said second annulus and said support apparatus being adaptable to arrangement wherein said first annulus is attached to said housing, said support apparatus is attached to said shaft, said first annular face and said second annular face coaxially abut so as to essentially describe the slidable rotatable engagement of said non-polymeric matrix-reinforcement composite material and said polymeric matrix-reinforcement composite material, and said support apparatus holds said second annulus in position with respect to said shaft whereby said biasing means contactingly presses said second annulus so as to approximately axially bias said second annular face against said first annular face;
said first annulus being characterized by sufficient said structural integrity for withstanding said attachment to said housing;
said second annulus being characterized by sufficient said structural integrity for withstanding said holding by said support apparatus, said withstanding of said holding including withstanding of said contacting pressing by said biasing means.

5 more elements

A mechanical seal assembly for utilization in association with a stationary housing and a rotatable shaft for being disposed therethrough, said housing including a flange portion including an approximately flat flange surface, said rotatable shaft having an imaginary axis, said mechanical seal assembly comprising:

a stationary structure including, on opposite sides of said stationary structure and facing in approximately opposite directions, an approximately flat annular stationary wear surface and an approximately flat, said stationary structure being at least substantially composed of a reinforced non-polymeric matrix composite material, said stationary structure having an integral construction and including plural reinforcement constituents which lend structural strength to said stationary structure, said stationary structure thereby being capable of functioning as a stand-alone element of said mechanical seal assembly;
a rotatable structure including, on opposite sides of said rotatable structure and facing in approximately opposite directions, an approximately flat annular rotatable wear surface and an approximately flat annular rotatable non-wear surface, said rotatable structure being at least substantially composed of a reinforced polymeric matrix composite material, said rotatable structure having an integral construction and including a plurality of reinforcement constituents which lend structural strength to said rotatable structure, said rotatable structure thereby being capable of functioning as a stand-alone element of said mechanical seal assembly;
spring-loading means;
and
a rotatable coupler unit;
wherein, according to said utilization:
said flange surface, said annular stationary wear surface, said annular stationary non-wear surface, said annular rotatable wear surface and said annular rotatable non-wear surface are approximately coaxial with said axis, approximately parallel to each other and approximately perpendicular to said axis;
said annular stationary wear surface and said annular rotatable wear surface are in slidable communication wherein said slidable communication is at least substantially limited to slidable communication between said reinforced non-polymeric matrix composite material and said reinforced polymeric matrix composite material;
said stationary structure and said flange portion are fastened to each other so that said annular stationary non-wear surface and said flange surface are fixedly and adjacently joined, said stationary structure thereby being secured with respect to said housing;
said rotatable coupler unit is secured with respect to said rotatable shaft;
said rotatable coupler unit couples said rotatable structure with said rotatable shaft;
said spring-loading means connects said rotatable structure and said rotatable coupler unit so that said spring-loaded means contacts said annular rotatable non-wear surface and applies an approximately axial force directly against said rotatable structure and toward said stationary structure;
said capability of said stationary structure of functioning as a stand-alone element includes the capability of said stationary structure of permitting said fastening of said stationary structure and said flange portion in the absence of any other means of effecting said securement of said stationary structure with respect to said housing;
and
said capability of said rotatable structure of functioning as a stand-alone element includes the capability of said rotatable structure of permitting said application of an approximately axial force directly against said rotatable structure in the absence of any object intermediate said annular rotatable non-wear surface and said spring-loading means.

12 more elements

A mechanical seal assembly for utilization in association with a stationary housing and a rotatable shaft disposed therethrough, said rotatable shaft having an imaginary axis, said mechanical seal assembly comprising:

a stationary structure having an annular stationary wear surface which is approximately flat;
a rotatable structure having, on opposite sides of said rotatable structure, an annular rotatable wear surface and an annular rotatable non-wear surface, said annular rotatable wear surface being approximately flat;
spring-loading means;
and
a rotatable coupler unit;
wherein:
said rotatable coupler unit includes a rotatable coupler member having an annular rotatable coupler surface;
said annular rotatable coupler surface is approximately coaxial with and approximately perpendicular to said axis;
said annular rotatable non-wear surface and said annular rotatable coupler surface approximately face each other;
said spring-loading means contacts said annular rotatable coupler surface;
said rotatable structure describes an approximate ring shape and an approximate sideways U-shaped radial cross-section;
said rotatable coupler member describes an approximate ring shape and an approximate inverted L-shaped radial cross-section;
said rotatable structure includes said annular rotatable non-wear surface on an inside of said sideways U-shape;
said rotatable coupler member includes said annular rotatable coupler surface on an inside of said inverted L-shape;
said stationary structure has an annular stationary non-wear surface, said annular stationary non-wear surface and said annular stationary wear surface being on opposite sides of said stationary structure and facing approximately opposite directions;
said housing includes a flange portion having a flange surface;
said rotatable coupler unit includes clamp means for securing said rotatable coupler member with respect to said rotatable shaft;
and
said rotatable coupler member includes a pair of axial projections for being clamped by said clamp means;
and wherein, according to said utilization:
said annular stationary wear surface and said annular rotatable wear surface are approximately coaxial with said axis and approximately perpendicular to said axis;
said annular stationary wear surface and said annular rotatable wear surface are in communication;
said stationary structure is secured with respect to said housing;
said rotatable coupler unit is secured with respect to said rotatable shaft;
said rotatable coupler unit couples said rotatable structure with said rotatable shaft;
said spring-loading means connects said rotatable structure and said rotatable coupler unit so as to contact said annular rotatable non-wear surface and apply an approximately axial force directly against said rotatable structure and toward said stationary structure;
said annular stationary non-wear surface and said flange surface are each approximately coaxial with and approximately perpendicular to said axis;
and
said stationary structure and said flange portion are fastened to each other so-that said annular stationary non-wear surface and said flange surface are fixedly and adjacently connected.

26 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.