US3578342A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Shaft seal
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1969-01-14
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Granted: 1971-05-11
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Expires: 1989-01-14
Abstract
Abstract There is a shaft seal characterized by an inflatable seal and compressible packing seal means arranged in tandem about a shaft and including between the two sealing means, fluid inlet means for admission of lubricating fluid for a stern tube bearing. The inflatable seal is constructed and arranged to insure it does not contact the shaft excepting when its operation as a seal is desired. These devices are particularly useful as journal seals in marine installations for shafts extending through a vessel or hull.
Inventors
- 👤 James Glenn Satterthwaite
- 👤 James B Macy Jr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 13:52
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63H; B63H23/00; B63H23/32; B63H23/321; F; F16; F16J; F16J15/00; F16J15/46; B63H2023/327
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
303 words
A shaft seal comprising: a. a housing; b. a pair of axially spaced inwardly directed peripheral shoulders each having a shaft-confronting surface and defining between them a first peripheral recess; c. first fluid inlet means extending through the housing and communicating with said first peripheral recess; d. a second peripheral recess adjacent the first peripheral recess and isolated therefrom by one of said peripheral shoulders; e. a packing gland dimensioned for telescoping coaction in said second peripheral recess; f. at least one fluid inlet opening in the shaft-confronting surface of said one of said peripheral shoulders; g. second fluid inlet means extending through the housing for fluid communication with said fluid inlet opening; h. selectively distensible sealing means in said first peripheral recess; i. means for supplying fluid to said distensible sealing means for selectively distending the seal j. said selectively distensible sealing means being a closed peripheral sealing member having: 1. a pair of spaced peripheral sidewall members each dimensioned for tight juxtaposition with the corresponding sidewall of said first peripHeral recess, and each having inner and outer marginal edges; 2. a spacing member having inner and outer surfaces and being integral and disposed between said sidewall members for maintaining them in spaced relation, and being joined to said sidewall members, respectively, in a region intermediate the inner and outer marginal edges thereof in generally H-shaped cross-sectional configuration; 3. an impervious distensible member joining the inner marginal edges of said sidewall members respectively and inwardly spaced from the inner surface of said spacing member to form a fluid receiving channel therebetween; and 4. fluid passage means communicating between the outer surface of said spacing member and said fluid receiving channel whereby when fluid under pressure from said first fluid inlet means (c) is introduced to said channel, said distensible member is distended.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
303 words
A shaft seal comprising: a. a housing; b. a pair of axially spaced inwardly directed peripheral shoulders each having a shaft-confronting surface and defining between them a first peripheral recess; c. first fluid inlet means extending through the housing and communicating with said first peripheral recess; d. a second peripheral recess adjacent the first peripheral recess and isolated therefrom by one of said peripheral shoulders; e. a packing gland dimensioned for telescoping coaction in said second peripheral recess; f. at least one fluid inlet opening in the shaft-confronting surface of said one of said peripheral shoulders; g. second fluid inlet means extending through the housing for fluid communication with said fluid inlet opening; h. selectively distensible sealing means in said first peripheral recess; i. means for supplying fluid to said distensible sealing means for selectively distending the seal j. said selectively distensible sealing means being a closed peripheral sealing member having: 1. a pair of spaced peripheral sidewall members each dimensioned for tight juxtaposition with the corresponding sidewall of said first peripHeral recess, and each having inner and outer marginal edges; 2. a spacing member having inner and outer surfaces and being integral and disposed between said sidewall members for maintaining them in spaced relation, and being joined to said sidewall members, respectively, in a region intermediate the inner and outer marginal edges thereof in generally H-shaped cross-sectional configuration; 3. an impervious distensible member joining the inner marginal edges of said sidewall members respectively and inwardly spaced from the inner surface of said spacing member to form a fluid receiving channel therebetween; and 4. fluid passage means communicating between the outer surface of said spacing member and said fluid receiving channel whereby when fluid under pressure from said first fluid inlet means (c) is introduced to said channel, said distensible member is distended.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
a spacing member having inner and outer surfaces and being integral and disposed between said sidewall members for maintaining them in spaced relation, and being joined to said sidewall members, respectively, in a region intermediate the inner and outer marginal edges thereof in generally H-shaped cross-sectional configuration;
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
a spacing member having inner and outer surfaces and being integral and disposed between said sidewall members for maintaining them in spaced relation, and being joined to said sidewall members, respectively, in a region intermediate the inner and outer marginal edges thereof in generally H-shaped cross-sectional configuration;
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
a spacing member having inner and outer surfaces and being integral with and disposed between said sidewall members for maintaining them in spaced relation, and being joined to said sidewall members, respectively, in a region intermediate the inner and outer marginal edges thereof in generally H-shaped cross-sectional configuration;
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
a spacing member having inner and outer surfaces and being integral with and disposed between said sidewall members for maintaining them in spaced relation, and being joined to said sidewall members, respectively, in a region intermediate the inner and outer marginal edges thereof in generally H-shaped cross-sectional configuration;
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
210 words
A shaft seal comprising: a. a housing; b. a pair of axially spaced inwardly directed peripheral shoulders each having a shaft-confronting surface and defining between them a first peripheral recess; c. first fluid inlet means extending through the housing and communicating with said first peripheral recess; d. a second peripheral recess adjacent the first peripheral recess and isolated therefrom by one of said peripheral shoulders; e. a packing gland dimensioned for telescoping coaction in said second peripheral recess; f. at least one fluid inlet opening in the shaft-confronting surface of said one of said peripheral shoulders; g. second fluid inlet means extending through the housing for fluid communication with said fluid inlet opening; h. compressible packing means in said second peripheral recess including a plurality of individual closed peripheral packing members coextensive with said second peripheral recess; i. means for supplying lubricant for said compressible packing to the compressible packing means; j. an elastomeric closed peripheral lubricant distributing member disposed between two of said packing members and having an H-shaped cross section to provide inner and outer lubricant distributing channels on the inner, shaft-confronting surface and the other, housing-confronting surface, respectively, of said member; k. selectively distensible peripheral sealing means in said first peripheral recess coextensive with said recess having;
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
210 words
A shaft seal comprising: a. a housing; b. a pair of axially spaced inwardly directed peripheral shoulders each having a shaft-confronting surface and defining between them a first peripheral recess; c. first fluid inlet means extending through the housing and communicating with said first peripheral recess; d. a second peripheral recess adjacent the first peripheral recess and isolated therefrom by one of said peripheral shoulders; e. a packing gland dimensioned for telescoping coaction in said second peripheral recess; f. at least one fluid inlet opening in the shaft-confronting surface of said one of said peripheral shoulders; g. second fluid inlet means extending through the housing for fluid communication with said fluid inlet opening; h. compressible packing means in said second peripheral recess including a plurality of individual closed peripheral packing members coextensive with said second peripheral recess; i. means for supplying lubricant for said compressible packing to the compressible packing means; j. an elastomeric closed peripheral lubricant distributing member disposed between two of said packing members and having an H-shaped cross section to provide inner and outer lubricant distributing channels on the inner, shaft-confronting surface and the other, housing-confronting surface, respectively, of said member; k. selectively distensible peripheral sealing means in said first peripheral recess coextensive with said recess having;
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
an impervious distensible member joining the inner marginal edges of said sidewall members respectively and inwardly spaced from the inner surface of said spacing member to form a fluid receiving channel therebetween; and
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
an impervious distensible member joining the inner marginal edges of said sidewall members respectively and inwardly spaced from the inner surface of said spacing member to form a fluid receiving channel therebetween; and
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
211 words
A marine shaft seal comprising a seal housing assembly, a shaft extending through said housing assembly, said housing assembly providing a pair of axially spaced inwardly extending shoulders at least one of which is integrally formed in said housing, each shoulder having a shaft-confronting surface adjacent to said shaft and defining between them a first annular recess around said shaft, an inflaTable seal in said first recess operable when inflated to provide a fluid seal between said shaft and housing assembly and when deflated permitting fluid flow along said shaft therepast, a second annular recess in said housing defined in part by the side of said integral shoulder opposite said first annular recess, a packing means in said second recess engaging said side of said integral shoulder and operating to limit the flow of fluid along said shaft when said inflatable seal is deflated, and lubricant passage means in said integral shoulder opened to said shaft-confronting surface, lubricant under pressure flowing inwardly through said passage means and along said shaft past said inflatable seal when said inflatable seal is deflated, said inflatable seal tending to evenly distribute said lubricant around said shaft, said lubricant assisting in providing separation between said inflatable seal and said shaft when said inflatable seal is deflated.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
211 words
A marine shaft seal comprising a seal housing assembly, a shaft extending through said housing assembly, said housing assembly providing a pair of axially spaced inwardly extending shoulders at least one of which is integrally formed in said housing, each shoulder having a shaft-confronting surface adjacent to said shaft and defining between them a first annular recess around said shaft, an inflaTable seal in said first recess operable when inflated to provide a fluid seal between said shaft and housing assembly and when deflated permitting fluid flow along said shaft therepast, a second annular recess in said housing defined in part by the side of said integral shoulder opposite said first annular recess, a packing means in said second recess engaging said side of said integral shoulder and operating to limit the flow of fluid along said shaft when said inflatable seal is deflated, and lubricant passage means in said integral shoulder opened to said shaft-confronting surface, lubricant under pressure flowing inwardly through said passage means and along said shaft past said inflatable seal when said inflatable seal is deflated, said inflatable seal tending to evenly distribute said lubricant around said shaft, said lubricant assisting in providing separation between said inflatable seal and said shaft when said inflatable seal is deflated.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
an impervious distensible member joining the inner marginal edges of said sidewall members respectively and inwardly spaced from the inner surface of said spacing member to form a fluid receiving channel therebetween; and
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
an impervious distensible member joining the inner marginal edges of said sidewall members respectively and inwardly spaced from the inner surface of said spacing member to form a fluid receiving channel therebetween; and
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
54 words
fluid passage means communicating between the outer surface of said spacing member and said fluid receiving channel whereby when fluid under pressure from said first fluid inlet means (c) is introduced to said channel, said distensible member is distended; l. means for supplying fluid to said distensible sealing means for selectively distending the seal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
54 words
fluid passage means communicating between the outer surface of said spacing member and said fluid receiving channel whereby when fluid under pressure from said first fluid inlet means (c) is introduced to said channel, said distensible member is distended; l. means for supplying fluid to said distensible sealing means for selectively distending the seal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
A marine shaft seal as set forth in claim 6 wherein said inflatable seal and said last named means are both formed of rubberlike material, and said lubricant is water.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
39 words
fluid passage means communicating between the outer surface of said spacing member and said fluid receiving channel whereby when fluid under pressure from said first fluid inlet means (c) is introduced to said channel, said distensible member is distended.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
39 words
fluid passage means communicating between the outer surface of said spacing member and said fluid receiving channel whereby when fluid under pressure from said first fluid inlet means (c) is introduced to said channel, said distensible member is distended.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
37 words
A marine shaft seal as defined in claim 3 wherein said packing means includes compressible packing material in said second annular recess, and separate lubricant supply means are provided in said housing assembly for said packing means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
43 words
A marine shaft seal as set forth in claim 3 wherein means requiring lubrication are provided on the side of said inflatable seal opposite said packing gland, and said lubricant flows past said inflatable seal to said last named means providing lubrication thereof.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-05-10 | 1974-11-09 | 1975-05-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-05-10 | 1978-11-09 | 1979-05-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-05-10 | 1982-11-09 | 1983-05-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |