Patent · US Expired

Face seal with double spiral grooves

US5201531A · kind A · utility

65Cited by
7References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateApr 2, 1992
Grant dateApr 13, 1993
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 2, 2012

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF16C17/045
  • WIPO fieldMechanical elements
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A mechanical face seal for a high speed, rotary fluid pressure device comprising rotating and stationary seal rings disposed in a housing and having confronting radial seal faces normally biased into engagement with one another. Oppositely inclined sets of spiral grooves are formed in the seal face of one ring, one set functioning to pump fluid from the reservoir downstream between the seal faces, and the other set functioning to pump fluid between the faces upstream back toward the reservoir. Each downstream pumping groove preferably intersects only one upstream pumping groove. Fluid pressure between the faces forms a gap therebetween, and the reversely inclined groove construction minimizes fluid loss or leakage.

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