Patent · US Expired

Bellows seal

US4556369A · kind A · utility

14Cited by
3References
18Claims
0Family size

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateAug 13, 1982
Grant dateDec 3, 1985
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 13, 2002

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S277/927
  • WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A bellows seal apparatus for use in compressors or the like which has pump means arranged and controlled to maintain a desired pressure differential between the inside and outside surfaces of the bellows. It also has a driving mechanism having a connection with a movable end of the bellows and an additional connection or connections with said bellows at unequally spaced points intermediate to the ends of the bellows to provide the least maximum stress levels in the bellows convolutions of each and thus the maximum life expectancy for the seal. The driving mechanism may take many forms but is so designed that it will elongate and contract each section of the bellows a distance depending upon the dynamically caused stresses in each section and the composition of and the number of bellows convolutions in each section.

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