Seal section assembly mechanical face seal integrity verification tool
AssigneeBaker Hughes Incorporated
InventorsJohn L. Bearden, Steven K. Tetzlaff
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A test device for testing the integrity of a seal has a clear t-shaped liquid reservoir with three ends. A guide adapter is connected to the first end of the liquid reservoir and extends axially therefrom along an axis of the reservoir. A shaft adapter is connected to the second end of the body, opposite the first end. A test shaft with first and second ends extends axially through the first and second ends of the body and test and shaft adapters along the axis. The first end of the shaft is adapted to be connected to the rotating shaft of pump assembly.
Claims19
An apparatus for testing the integrity of a mechanical face seal that seals around a rotatable shaft of a submersible seal assembly, the apparatus comprising:
- a liquid reservoir having a body;
- a guide adapter connected to the body and having an opening extending therethrough, the guide adapter adapted to connect to a portion of the submersible seal assembly containing the shaft seal;
- a shaft adapter connected to the body, the shaft adapter having an opening extending therethrough coaxial with the opening in the guide adapter;
- a test shaft extending coaxially through the openings for engagement with the shaft of the seal assembly;
- the opening in the guide adapter being larger in diameter than the test shaft and being in communication with the reservoir to communicate liquid from the reservoir to a first side of the seal;
- and
- the body having a transparent portion to observe any gas bubbles that might migrate from the first side to the second side of the seal in response to gas pressure being applied to the second side of the seal.
A method for testing the integrity of a mechanical face seal surrounding a shaft of a portion of a submersible seal assembly, the method comprising:
- (a) providing a test apparatus with a liquid reservoir;
- (b) connecting a test shaft of the test apparatus to the end of a shaft of the seal assembly;
- (c) connecting the test apparatus to a seal head of the seal assembly on a frontside of the seal;
- (d) filling the liquid reservoir with a liquid and communicating the liquid to the frontside of the seal;
- (e) applying a gas pressure to the backside of the seal;
- and
- (f) observing the liquid in the liquid reservoir for the existence of bubbles that may migrate past the shaft seal.
A method for testing the integrity of a mechanical face seal surrounding a shaft of a portion of a submersible seal assembly, the method comprising:
- (a) providing a test apparatus with a liquid reservoir;
- (b) connecting a test shaft of the test apparatus to the end of a shaft of the seal assembly;
- (c) connecting the test apparatus to a seal head of the assembly on a frontside of the seal;
- (d) filling the liquid reservoir with a liquid and communicating the liquid to the frontside of the seal;
- (e) applying a gas pressure to the backside of the shaft seal;
- (f) observing the liquid in the liquid reservoir for the existence of bubbles that may migrate past the seal;
- (g) while performing step(e), rotating the test shaft to cause the shaft of the seal assembly to rotate;
- and
- (h) while performing step(e), pulling axially on the test shaft to apply tension to the shaft of the seal assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.