Rotary expansible chamber devices – With mechanical sealing – Seal on working member periphery separates inlet and outlet...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-13
2001-07-03
Vrablik, John J. (Department: 3748)
Rotary expansible chamber devices
With mechanical sealing
Seal on working member periphery separates inlet and outlet...
C418S119000, C418S206600, C277S357000, C277S402000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06254366
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a replaceable seal, and more particularly, to a replaceable seal for a rotary fluid machine such as a pump or turbine.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Rotary fluid machines, such as turbines or pumps, have been developed to measure the quantity of fluid that flows past a point, or inject predetermined quantities of liquid additives into liquid flow streams. Such devices can be used, for example, to add materials such as iodine or io: chlorine to drinking water or liquid fertilizer concentrate to irrigation water. They frequently employ one or two rotors or vanes that rotate in a housing or flow conduit. Turbines frequently employ rotors having close tolerances between the ends of the blades and the stator, while pumps frequently employ rotors with ends that engage the housing.
Most rotary fluid machines experience a degree of leakage during ordinary operation. This leakage increases as the rotors began to wear. Leakage generally occurs in both the radial and axial directions with respect to the rotors. Seals have been provided to minimize leakage, but are not completely effective.
It is important that the leakage in a pump or turbine be minimized. The head pressure that a pump or turbine can deliver is largely determined by the efficiency with which the leakage around the seals can be controlled. In addition, in certain applications, contamination of fluids being pumped or metered must be avoided.
When the leakage around the seals becomes significant, the seals must be replaced. This is a difficult task, particularly because it is generally not clear which seals are leaking, thus requiring some seals to be replaced that were not leaking.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accord with the present invention, a seal for a rotor in a rotary fluid machine comprises a longitudinal seal portion secured in a longitudinal groove in the rotor by a friction fit, and a radial seal portion secured in a radial groove in the rotor by a friction fit. The longitudinal seal portion and the radial seal portion integrally form a unitary seal body.
In accord with another aspect of the present invention, a replaceable sealing system for a rotor in a rotary fluid machine comprises a pair of seals, each secured in radial and longitudinal grooves in the rotor. The seals have a unitary integrally formed body with a longitudinal seal portion and a radial seal portion. The longitudinal seal portion is dimensioned to make a secure friction fit in the longitudinal groove in the rotor, and the radial seal portion is dimensioned to make a secure friction fit in the radial groove in the rotor.
In accord with yet another aspect of the present invention, the improvement in a rotary fluid machine comprises a unitary replaceable seal with an integrally formed longitudinal seal portion secured by a friction fit in a longitudinal groove in the rotor, and an integrally formed radial seal portion secured by a friction fit in a radial groove in the rotor.
In accord with still a further aspect of the present invention, a replaceable seal for a rotor in a flow meter comprises a longitudinal seal portion secured by a friction fit in a longitudinal groove in the rotor. The longitudinal seal portion includes an outwardly biased seal lip, and an elongated body portion dimensioned to fit within the groove in the rotor and removably secure the seal in the rotor. The elongated body portion has a pair of anchor elements connected by a flat arm element. A radial seal portion is secured by a friction fit in a radial groove in the rotor, and has an outwardly biased seal lip. A retainer post is connected to the seal lip and is dimensioned to fit within a cavity in the rotor and removably secure the seal in the rotor. The retainer post is generally L-shaped, with a radial portion connected to the seal lip and mating with the radial groove in the rotor, and a longitudinal portion mating with a longitudinal bore in the rotor. The longitudinal seal portion and the radial seal portion integrally form a unitary seal body.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The attached drawings illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention, in which:
FIG. 1
is a cutaway plan view of a rotary fluid machine such as a meter showing the rotors with the seals of the present invention;
FIG. 2
is a cutaway perspective view of the rotary fluid machine of
FIG. 1
illustrating the rotors and seals;
FIG. 3
is a fragmentary side view of the rotary fluid machine taken along the line
3
—
3
of
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 4
is a perspective view of a rotor with one of the seals removed;
FIG. 5
is a perspective top view of a seal; and
FIG. 6
is a perspective bottom view of the seal of FIG.
5
.
REFERENCES:
patent: 219984 (1879-09-01), Schneckenburger
patent: 1005586 (1911-10-01), Webb
patent: 3690791 (1972-09-01), Dieter
patent: 3799710 (1974-03-01), Jacobs
Grout Edward
Walton Frank A.
Williams James E.
Dosmatic USA, Inc.
Luck Gregory M.
Sankey & Luck L.L.P.
Vrablik John J.
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