Spiral groove seal system for high vapor-pressure liquids
US4889348A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 10, 1987 |
| Grant date | Dec 26, 1989 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 10, 2007 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF16J15/3424
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A seal system is disclosed for sealing a housing and rotatable shaft against leakage of high vapor-pressure liquids. The method of sealing contemplates phase change of the liquefied hydrocarbon fluid across a first module. The gas so formed is contained by a second seal module which operates as a dry running gas seal. The seal system has plural, axially spaced spiral-groove seal modules mounted between the shaft and housing. Each seal module has a primary ring affixed to the housing and a mating ring affixed for rotation with the shaft and the modules define an intermediate cavity. The rings have opposed, radially extending faces, one of which has a plurality of downstream pumping spiral grooves extending from one circumference. The grooves of the grooved ring of the upstream module are of a depth not to exceed about 100 micro-inches. In a preferred form, the depth of the grooves of the upstream module do not exceed 50 micro-inches. The groove depth of the grooves of the downstream module is greater than the depth of the grooves of the upstream module and may be as much as 200 micro-inches.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.