Patent · US Expired

Rotary unions, fluid delivery systems, and related methods

US7422031B2 · kind B2 · utility

8Cited by
42References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 12, 2004
Grant dateSep 9, 2008
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 21, 2025

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T137/86268
  • WIPO fieldMechanical elements
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A rotary union having a housing, a rotor, and a post such that a fluid can be conveyed through the rotary union. The rotor is rotatably coupled to the housing, preferably by at least one bearing interposed between a portion of the rotor exterior and a portion of the housing interior. The post is positioned in the rotary union in a manner effective to help fluidly couple the rotor to the housing and such that an annular gap surrounds at least a portion of the post such that the annular gap constitutes at least a portion of a drain fluid pathway. The present invention also includes fluid delivery systems including such rotary unions and methods of making and/or using such rotary unions.

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