Patent · US Expired

Rotary shaft seal

US4484753A · kind A · utility

81Cited by
12References
25Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJan 31, 1983
Grant dateNov 27, 1984
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 31, 2003

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S277/927
  • WIPO fieldMechanical elements
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a rotary shaft seal assembly and, more particularly, to an assembly including a continuous, annular, but axially variable seal for providing hydrodynamic lubrication between the seal and rotating shaft. The seal assembly uses differential pressures to maintain the seal compressed as it wears. The present system is particularly useful in drilling motors utilizing the movement of drilling fluid under pressure to operate the motor parts and thereby to drive a drill bit. The abrasive drilling fluid environment in a borehole is detrimental to the moving parts in such a system, and especially destructive to the bearings and seals. The present system utilizes a sealing member arranged in a continuous, annular, but axially variable path between the rotating shaft and housing of such a motor. Annular seal mounting members are positioned above and below the seal and have surfaces to matingly engage the seal member. The mounting elements are arranged to move relative to one another. A pressure differential developed across the motor is communicated to the respective mounting elements to urge the elements toward one another and thereby compress the seal mem…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.