Patent · US Expired

Device incorporating micro-porous membrane for venting gases from seal assembly of a reactor coolant pump

US4990054A · kind A · utility

54Cited by
16References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateDec 13, 1989
Grant dateFeb 5, 1991
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 13, 2009

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S277/93
  • WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A pump has a stationary seal housing with pressurized liquid and gas therein, a rotatable shaft disposed through the housing and operable for centrifugally producing rotation of the liquid within the housing, and a seal assembly disposed between the housing and rotatable shaft. The pump employs a device for venting from the housing to the exterior thereof the gas released from the liquid in the housing, such as by a drop in the pressure thereof, while blocking escape of the liquid therefrom. The venting device includes a body in the form of an externally threaded plug threadably mounted into an internally threaded bore in the seal housing, a flow facilitating passageway defined through the plug, extending between, and having respective entry and exit openings at, the respective inner and outer sides of the plug for providing communication between the interior and exterior of the seal housing, and a micro-porous membrane mounted to the plug across the entry opening of the passage for permitting gas flow while blocking liquid flow therethrough.

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