US3788652A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sealing devices for rotating shafts
Assignee: Rateau SA
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Filing: 1971-11-22
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Granted: 1974-01-29
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Expires: 1991-11-22
Abstract
Abstract A device for sealing an opening in a wall for the passage of a rotating shaft, comprising means for interposing a barrier of pressurized liquid between the two spaces separated by the wall. These means include an annular block sealingly mounted in the opening, astride a flange fast with the shaft, and provided, opposite each side of said flange, with a series of hydrodynamic lift generating shoes, and a frontal surface which determines a barrier-liquid leakage limiting clearance, whereby the shoes automatically balance the clearances on either side of the flange.
Inventors
- 👤 A Hirtz
- 👤 C Mech
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 03:32
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16J; F16J15/00; F16J15/16; F16J15/34; F16J15/3404; F16J15/3408; F16J15/3412; F16J15/3416; F01; F01D; F01D11/00; F16J15/3432
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
253 words
A sealing device for sealing an opening for passage of a rotatable shaft through a wall separating two spaces, comprising a flange integral with the shaft and having first and second faces respectively facing the two spaces, a U-shaped annular sealing block sealingly mounted in said opening astride the flange, said block being held against rotation but movable axially relative to the shaft, said block having thereon first and second annular sealing surfaces respectively facing said first and second faces of the flange to define therewith first and second throttling clearances respectively, an annular plenum chamber in the block bounded by said clearances, means for feeding the plenum chamber with a barrier liquid at a pressure higher than the pressures in said spaces, first and second series of hydrodynamic lift generating shoes supported by the sealing block in cooperating relation with said first and second faces of the flange respectively, to generate oppositely directed lifting forces for controlling said clearances; a housing adapted to be sealingly secured in said wall opening, said housing enclosing an annular cavity adapted to contain the sealing block, and having two end-faces each terminating at its radially inward edge in an inwardly extending annular rim surrounding the shaft, said sealing block having cylindrical surfaces on either side of the shaft flange that are slidably mounted on corresponding rims with O-rings interposed therebetween; means for preventing rotation of the sealing block in the cavity; and means for supplying the cavity with barrier liquid on either side of the flange.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
253 words
A sealing device for sealing an opening for passage of a rotatable shaft through a wall separating two spaces, comprising a flange integral with the shaft and having first and second faces respectively facing the two spaces, a U-shaped annular sealing block sealingly mounted in said opening astride the flange, said block being held against rotation but movable axially relative to the shaft, said block having thereon first and second annular sealing surfaces respectively facing said first and second faces of the flange to define therewith first and second throttling clearances respectively, an annular plenum chamber in the block bounded by said clearances, means for feeding the plenum chamber with a barrier liquid at a pressure higher than the pressures in said spaces, first and second series of hydrodynamic lift generating shoes supported by the sealing block in cooperating relation with said first and second faces of the flange respectively, to generate oppositely directed lifting forces for controlling said clearances; a housing adapted to be sealingly secured in said wall opening, said housing enclosing an annular cavity adapted to contain the sealing block, and having two end-faces each terminating at its radially inward edge in an inwardly extending annular rim surrounding the shaft, said sealing block having cylindrical surfaces on either side of the shaft flange that are slidably mounted on corresponding rims with O-rings interposed therebetween; means for preventing rotation of the sealing block in the cavity; and means for supplying the cavity with barrier liquid on either side of the flange.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
A sealing device according to claim 1, in which the sealing block includes two coaxial annular members on either side of the flange, and an annular spacer member surrounding the flange whereby to maintain said two coaxial members in mutually spaced relationship.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
A sealing device according to claim 2, wherein said plenum chamber comprises an annular chamber astride the flange, limited by the two throttling clearances and containing the shoes, and means for supplying the annular chamber with barrier liquid to bathe said shoes in barrier liquid.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
A sealing device according to claim 3, wherein the shoes are rocking shoes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
61 words
A sealing device according to claim 4, wherein the shoes have dovetail-like sloping sides and are loosely engaged into correspondingly dovetail-shaped annular keyways, each annular keyway having a bottom which beneath each shoe forms a radially extending associated edge to permit rocking motion of the associated shoe, including abutment means to prevent said shoes from sliding circumferentially along the annular keyways.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A sealing device according to claim 5, wherein the abutment means are studs screwed into the bottom of the annular keyways.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
96 words
A sealing device according to claim 5, wherein the bottom of each keyway comprises, beneath each shoe and between said associated edge and the leading edge of the shoe, a part which is deeper than between said associated edge and the trailing edge of the shoe whereby to permit the several shoes to tilt during operation, and wherein the shoes are so dimensioned that when they are in their non-tilted position their surface which faces the corresponding flange face lies in the same plane as the sealing surface situated on the same side of the flange.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
A sealing device according to claim 3, wherein the sealing block includes a barrier liquid inlet and outlet which open into the annular chamber between the shoes and the frontal surface, respectively on either side of the flange.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
A sealing device according to claim 8, wherein the barrier liquid inlet and outlet open respectively into two annular grooves formed on the sealing block.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
A sealing device according to claim 3, wherein those surfaces of the sealing block which are exposed to the barrier liquid pressure on either side of the flange have substantially equal areas.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
76 words
A sealing device according to claim 3, wherein the two spaces comprise a space at relaTively high pressure and a space at relatively low pressure and those surfaces of the sealing block which are exposed to the pressure of the barrier liquid on either side of the flange have unequal areas, whereby the pressure of the barrier liquid urges the sealing block in the same direction as the pressure in the space at relatively high pressure.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-01-28 | 1977-07-30 | 1978-01-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-01-28 | 1981-07-30 | 1982-01-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-01-28 | 1985-07-30 | 1986-01-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |