Seal for a joint or juncture – Seal between relatively movable parts – Circumferential contact seal for other than piston
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-28
2002-10-22
Knight, Anthony (Department: 3676)
Seal for a joint or juncture
Seal between relatively movable parts
Circumferential contact seal for other than piston
Reexamination Certificate
active
06467774
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(1) Field Of The Invention
The present invention relates to sealing assemblies used on rotating shafts and more particularly, relates to an axially pressure balanced floating seal system used on a drive shaft.
(2) Description Of The Prior Art
O-ring seals are commonly used to seal rotating shafts used in vehicles or machinery. For example, in an existing torpedo tail cone assembly
10
,
FIG. 1
, the drive shaft
12
of the torpedo is typically sealed with an O-ring seal system having a seal housing
14
and an O-ring seal
15
within a groove in an internal annular surface of the housing
14
. The seal housing
14
is located within the tail cone housing
16
near the bearing
18
. When the torpedoes have stable and concentric shaft bearing mounts relative to the seal, non-floating seal housings can be used, and these housings will still maintain reasonable clearance to prevent rubbing between the shaft
12
and the seal housing
14
. Larger shafts that are mounted soft enough to move or float relative to the seal housing require floating seal housings. The floating seal housing moves with the drive shaft
12
generally in a radial direction as indicated by arrow
2
maintaining clearance of the shaft
12
and preventing the shaft
12
from rubbing against the seal housing
14
.
In order to allow greater torpedo reliability and operations at depth, replacement of the prior art seal described above was proposed. If a larger envelope is available for a seal, an axially pressure balanced floating seal system could be implemented to allow radial movement of the drive shaft. The seal should also be operative at greater pressures while the drive shaft is rotating at operational speeds.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One object of the present invention is a high pressure, dynamic seal system that moves radially with the drive shaft at all operating pressures.
Another object of the present invention is a high pressure seal system fitting that can be used in current systems with only minor modifications.
A further object of the present invention is a reliable high pressure seal system in which the sealing members are effectively lubricated.
Accordingly, the present invention provides an axially pressure balanced floating seal system positioned within a structure about a rotating shaft. The floating seal system has a cylindrical outer seal housing with a cylindrical internal recessed region formed therein. A retaining flange extends radially from the housing into the internal recessed region. A cylindrical inner seal housing is positioned within the internal recessed region. The inner seal housing has an annular internal surface for accommodating the rotating shaft. Two sealing member retaining grooves are provided in the annular internal surface and a lubricant recess or oil gallery is formed between the two grooves. An intermediate seal is retained on the inner seal housing forward face between the inner seal housing and the outer seal housing at the retaining flange. Sealing members are positioned in the sealing member retaining grooves at substantially the same radius as the intermediate seal.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2186537 (1940-01-01), Salisbury
patent: 4174672 (1979-11-01), Cox
patent: 4408766 (1983-10-01), Paech
patent: 4448425 (1984-05-01), von Bergen
patent: 5039115 (1991-08-01), Hebert et al.
patent: 6261069 (2001-07-01), Djordjevic
patent: 000086002 (1983-08-01), None
Amaral Antonio M.
Olson Stanley J.
Kasischke James M.
Knight Anthony
McGowan Michael J.
Oglo Michael R.
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of
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