Shaft seal system with leak management

A system for cleaning items with solvent comprising:

• a) a pressurized cleaning vessel containing the solvent;
• b) a rotatable basket disposed within the cleaning vessel for containing the items to be cleaned;
• c) a shaft connected between the rotatable basket and a drive system, said shaft rotatable relative to the cleaning vessel;
• d) a housing surrounding said shaft as it enters the cleaning vessel;
• e) a primary seal disposed between the shaft and the housing and a secondary seal disposed between the shaft and the housing and spaced from the primary seal so that a primary chamber is defined therebetween;
• f) a primary tank containing a supply of fluid with a head space thereabove, the head space of said primary tank and a wet side of said primary tank both in communication with the primary chamber;
• whereby solvent leaking into the primary chamber is routed to the head space of the primary tank to reduce a pressure differential across said primary seal and reduce the leakage of solvent into the primary chamber.

A seal and bearing cartridge for supporting and sealing a rotating shaft as it enters a pressurized vessel containing solvent and for communicating with a wet side and a head space of a tank containing a supply of lubricant comprising:

• a) a tubular cartridge housing;
• b) a primary seal and a secondary seal secured within said cartridge housing and adapted to receive the shaft;
• c) said primary seal spaced from said secondary seal so that when the cartridge is mounted on the shaft, a chamber is defined;
• d) a bearing secured within said cartridge housing between said primary and secondary seals and positioned within said chamber;
• e) said cartridge housing including inlet and outlet fittings in communication with the chamber;
• and
• f) said inlet and outlet fittings adapted to communicate with the wet side and the head space, respectively, of the tank;
• whereby said bearing is lubricated and solvent leaking into the chamber is directed to the head space of the tank so that a pressure differential across the primary seal is minimized.