Seal for a joint or juncture – Seal between relatively movable parts – Relatively rotatable radially extending sealing face member
Patent
1979-12-17
1982-11-23
Ward, Jr., Robert S.
Seal for a joint or juncture
Seal between relatively movable parts
Relatively rotatable radially extending sealing face member
277 49, 277166, 277154, 277186, 277199, F16J 1532
Patent
active
043602088
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to annular seals against the flow of fluid along a shaft, for example for a marine propeller shaft where it is necessary to provide seals against the entry of sea water, and against the escape of lubricating oil from a bearing housing in either direction along the shaft.
2. Description of the Prior Art
British Pat. No. 1478273 (Howaldtwerke) teaches an annular seal in the form of an elastomeric member but such a seal has been capable of sufficient deformation due to pressure differences across it to displace it from its correct sealing position, and to cause it to rub on the shaft causing losses.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, an annular seal against the flow of fluid along a shaft which is rotatable in a surrounding mounting includes a relatively rigid ring and relatively flexible flanges or sleeves which are respectively radially inwards and outwards of the ring, one of which flanges is connected to the shaft or mounting, while the other carries a sealing contact lip against the mounting or the shaft; the flanges having radial clearance with the shaft and mounting to be capable of deformation to permit variation of the radial clearance between the shaft and the mounting during rotation of the shaft without losing the seal.
In accordance with the present invention, the relatively rigid ring will be substantially undeformed in use, and that ring can conveniently be located in one axial direction against a support on the mounting, so that the inner and outer flanges tend not to distort sufficiently to impair the efficiency of the seal. One problem with such a shaft seal is to accommodate what is effectively non-concentricity of the shaft about its axis of rotation, possibly due to whirling load or to static loads, but with the present invention the flexible flanges can accommodate such non-concentricity and maintain the seal.
Conveniently, one or each of the radially inner and outer flanges extends from the relatively rigid ring in a direction having a substantial component parallel with the axis of the shaft, so that radial flexing is possible against little resistance even though axial location is provided between the relatively rigid ring and the support on the mounting.
According to another aspect of the present invention, an annular seal has a flexible flange with a reinforced bead at its radially inner or outer edge, which bead is engaged in an annular groove in a mounting, the groove having a neck for the flange which neck is about the same width as the reinforcement within the bead to prevent removal of the bead from the groove.
The bead is conveniently moulded around the reinforcement which may be a circumferentially extending metal or plastics wire, or a circumferentially extending metal or plastics helical coil.
The groove may be defined between two mounting components one of which is assembled with the other, after the reinforced bead has been located, and then conveniently the groove has three surfaces pressing on the bead which surfaces are distributed around the reinforcement.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood from the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accopanying drawings in which like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:
FIG. 1 is a sketch of a horizontal section through a part of a previously proposed annular shaft seal:
FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 are sketches corresponding to FIG. 1 of annular seals embodying the invention;
FIGS. 5a, 5b and 5c are sketches showing one way of engaging a reinforced bead on the annular seal in a mounting groove; and
FIGS. 6a and 6b are sketches showing a different form of reinforced bead on the annular seal.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
In the type of annular lip seal shown in FIG. 1, a
REFERENCES:
patent: 2466533 (1949-04-01), Chambers
patent: 2482029 (1949-09-01), Reynolds
patent: 2698194 (1954-12-01), Becker
patent: 2957717 (1960-10-01), Bram
patent: 3120960 (1964-02-01), Pippert et al.
patent: 3554567 (1971-01-01), Carroll et al.
patent: 3637222 (1972-01-01), Wilkinson
Baker Robert G.
Hill Alfred
The Glacier Metal Company Limited
Ward, Jr. Robert S.
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