Shock wave mechanical seal
US11473679B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 6, 2021 |
| Grant date | Oct 18, 2022 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 26, 2041 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF16J15/54
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An end face mechanical seal for a high pressure, compressible fluid includes metal or ceramic seal faces separated by a seal gap having at least one supersonic region that accelerates the fluid in the leakage direction, producing a shockwave that reduces fluid pressure to significantly reduce viscous heating and gap length. A choke width of the seal gap formed between the converging and diverging segments of the first supersonic region is between 50 and 200 micro-inches, and upper and lower boundaries thereof are flat, with combined slopes of less than 10 degrees. A total length of all of the supersonic regions is less than 0.1 inches. A non-supersonic region can further reduce fluid pressure by inducing viscous stresses. The seal can be configured axially or radially, and can be used as a pre-conditioner in combination with a conventional downstream mechanical fluid seal.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.