Patent · US Expired

Hydrodynamic face seal with grooved sealing dam for zero-leakage

US6446976B1 · kind B1 · utility

90Cited by
34References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 6, 2000
Grant dateSep 10, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 4, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF16J15/3428
  • WIPO fieldMechanical elements
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A mechanical face seal includes a pair of relatively rotatable seal rings having opposing seal faces which define a sealing region therebetween. The sealing region extends radially between the inside and outside diameters of the seal rings to seal a fluid in a sealing chamber near one diameter thereof. The seal faces are provided with hydrodynamic lift features near the sealing chamber to provide a lift load that permits a liquid between the seal faces to form a fluid film therebetween. The hydrodynamic lift features primarily function to hydrodynamically generate a hydrodynamic lift load while a plurality of concentric grooves are also provided on the seal face to serve as a leakage barrier during shaft rotation of the that prevents the liquid film from leaking across the seal faces.

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