Spiral groove seal system for sealing a high pressure gas
US5217233A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 30, 1989 |
| Grant date | Jun 8, 1993 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 30, 2009 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S277/928
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A seal system for sealing a housing and rotatable shaft against leakage of a gas under high pressure; hydrogen is an example. The system, using multiple seals in tandem, provides a stepped reduction of high pressure gas at full height pressure to a low pressure across the individual seal modules. The seal system has plural, axially spaced spiral-grooved end face seal modules mounted between the shaft and housing, the axial spaces between the seals defining a chamber. Each seal module has a primary seal ring affixed to the housing and a mating ring affixed for rotation with the shaft, the two rings having opposed, radially extending faces; each mating ring has a plurality of radial spiral grooves extending radially inward from the outer diameter or circumference.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.