Peek coated seal surfaces
AssigneeSchlumberger Technology Corporation
InventorChristopher R. McLeod
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sealing apparatus is combined in a housing, such as a motor protector housing, having a hole extending therethrough. A shaft is movably disposed through the hole. A lip is disposed about the shaft and a ring is movably disposed about the shaft between the section and the lip. Sealing surfaces exist on opposite sides of the ring and on corresponding portions of the lip and the section. A polymeric coating is applied to at least one of the sealing surfaces. The polymeric coating may include a PEEK composite applied by an HVOF thermal spray process. A compressed spring assembly may be utilized to ensure a continuous seal.
Claims22
A sealing apparatus for a shaft comprising:
- a body having a hole extending through a section of the body;
- a shaft movably disposed through the hole;
- a sleeve having a lip disposed about the shaft;
- a ring movably disposed about the shaft between the section and the lip, the ring being movable relative to the section and the lip;
- a spring disposed at least partially over the sleeve on an opposite side of the lip from the ring, the spring acting between the lip and a spring retainer coupled to the shaft;
- a plurality of sealing wear surfaces to provide sliding wear surfaces during rotation of the shaft, the plurality of sealing wear surfaces being on the ring and on at least one of the corresponding portions of the lip and the section;
- and
- a polymeric coating on at least one of the sealing wear surfaces.
A sealing apparatus for a submergible motor protector, comprising:
- a motor protector housing having a hole extending through a cross-member of the housing;
- a shaft movably disposed in the hole;
- a lip disposed about the shaft;
- a ring movably disposed about the shaft between the lip and the cross-member;
- a plurality of sealing wear surfaces to provide sliding wear surfaces during rotation of the shaft, the plurality of sealing wear surfaces being on the ring and corresponding contact portions of the lip and the cross-member;
- and
- a polymeric coating on at least one of the sealing wear surfaces.
A method of sealing a rotatable shaft comprising:
- providing a motor protector housing having a hole;
- deploying a shaft through the hole;
- forming a mechanical seal with a rotatable ring formed of a hard wear resistant material;
- locating the mechanical seal between the shaft and the housing;
- coating polymeric material on at least one of the mechanical seal and the housing to form a wear surface between the rotatable ring and the housing;
- and
- creating a seal at the coating of polymeric material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.