US3704019A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Spiral groove face seals
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1970-06-19
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Granted: 1972-11-28
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Expires: 1990-06-19
Abstract
Abstract A seal for a rotating shaft which extends between areas containing fluids at different pressures. A spring-biased sealing ring rotates with the shaft and is axially biased against a stationary runner having deep, helical grooves thereon. Fluid from the side of the runner with which the grooves communicate is forced beneath the ring and provides a countervailing pressure against the fluid on the other side of the runner.
Inventors
- 👤 James D Mchugh
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 08:41
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16J; F16J15/00; F16J15/16; F16J15/34; F16J15/3404; F16J15/3408; F16J15/3412
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
224 words
Rotating seal means for inhibiting leakage of a first fluid disposed on one side of said seal means into a second fluid disposed on the opposite side of said seal means without excessive outpumping of said second fluid, said seal means comprising: a first annular element having a first planar surface, said first planar surface being provided with a plurality of generally helically-disposed viscosity grooves, said viscosity grooves extending from a common periphery of said annular element and terminating at a generally circular locus upon said first planar surface; a second annular element having a second planar surface adapted to mate with said first planar surface, said second annular element being adapted to rotate with respect to said first annular element; means for biasing said first and said second planar surfaces together, said biasing means providing a force of a magnitude to produce a thin film of said second fluid between said annular elements during mutual rotation of said seal elements, said film having a thickness such that points on the surface of one annular element begin to touch points on the second annular element. said viscosity grooves in said first annular element being further characterized by a depth at least 100 fold the thickness of the film in the gap between said surfaces when said surfaces are mutually rotated in a viscous fluid.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
224 words
Rotating seal means for inhibiting leakage of a first fluid disposed on one side of said seal means into a second fluid disposed on the opposite side of said seal means without excessive outpumping of said second fluid, said seal means comprising: a first annular element having a first planar surface, said first planar surface being provided with a plurality of generally helically-disposed viscosity grooves, said viscosity grooves extending from a common periphery of said annular element and terminating at a generally circular locus upon said first planar surface; a second annular element having a second planar surface adapted to mate with said first planar surface, said second annular element being adapted to rotate with respect to said first annular element; means for biasing said first and said second planar surfaces together, said biasing means providing a force of a magnitude to produce a thin film of said second fluid between said annular elements during mutual rotation of said seal elements, said film having a thickness such that points on the surface of one annular element begin to touch points on the second annular element. said viscosity grooves in said first annular element being further characterized by a depth at least 100 fold the thickness of the film in the gap between said surfaces when said surfaces are mutually rotated in a viscous fluid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
156 words
A shaft seal for inhibiting inpumping of ambient fluid into a machine housing containing sealing fluid, said seal comprising: a ring member attached to a shaft and rotating therewith; an annular stationary member disposed adjacent said shaft in juxtaposition with said ring member; means for biasing said ring member and said stationary member toward mutual contact; at least one said member having a series of viscosity grooves therein, said grooves contacting said sealing fluid within said machine and terminating between the inner and outer radial peripheries of said member, said sealing fluid being pumped between said juxtaposed members during rotation of one said member to form a thin film of sealing fluid between said members, said grooves having a depth greater than that depth which is required to sustain said bias with a thin film gap between said ring and said stationary member, said grooves further being characterized by a depth between 0.004 and 0.020 inches.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
156 words
A shaft seal for inhibiting inpumping of ambient fluid into a machine housing containing sealing fluid, said seal comprising: a ring member attached to a shaft and rotating therewith; an annular stationary member disposed adjacent said shaft in juxtaposition with said ring member; means for biasing said ring member and said stationary member toward mutual contact; at least one said member having a series of viscosity grooves therein, said grooves contacting said sealing fluid within said machine and terminating between the inner and outer radial peripheries of said member, said sealing fluid being pumped between said juxtaposed members during rotation of one said member to form a thin film of sealing fluid between said members, said grooves having a depth greater than that depth which is required to sustain said bias with a thin film gap between said ring and said stationary member, said grooves further being characterized by a depth between 0.004 and 0.020 inches.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
A shaft seal as defined in claim 2 wherein said the ratio between the depth of said groove and the gap between said ring and said stationary members is at least 100:1.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
A shaft seal as defined in claim 1 wherein the ratio between the depth of said grooves and the gap between said ring and said stationary members is substantially 500:1.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
122 words
A shaft seal for inhibiting inpumping of ambient fluid into a machine containing sealing fluid, said seal comprising: a rotatable ring member attached to a shaft and rotating therewith; an annular stationary member disposed about said shaft for mating with said ring member; means biasing said ring member and stationary member toward mutual contact; the mating face of one said member having a series of viscosity grooves therein, said grooves extending to one periphery of said member and terminating in the face of said member, said grooves having a depth greater than the minimum depth necessary to provide a thin sealing fluid film between said ring and said runner members; said grooves being further characterized by a depth greater than .004 inches.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
122 words
A shaft seal for inhibiting inpumping of ambient fluid into a machine containing sealing fluid, said seal comprising: a rotatable ring member attached to a shaft and rotating therewith; an annular stationary member disposed about said shaft for mating with said ring member; means biasing said ring member and stationary member toward mutual contact; the mating face of one said member having a series of viscosity grooves therein, said grooves extending to one periphery of said member and terminating in the face of said member, said grooves having a depth greater than the minimum depth necessary to provide a thin sealing fluid film between said ring and said runner members; said grooves being further characterized by a depth greater than .004 inches.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
A shaft seal as defined in claim 5 wherein the ratio between groove depth and the gap between said ring and said stationary members is at least 100:1.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
A shaft seal as defined in claim 5 wherein the ratio between groove depth and the gap between said ring and said stationary members is substantially 500:1.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
208 words
In a submersible motor, a shaft seal for preventing an inflow of pumped fluid and an outflow of dielectric fluid, said seal comprising: sealing ring means slidably attached to a shaft and rotatable therewith, and having a face for mating with a stationary runner means; stationary runner means disposed about said shaft and having a mating face adapted to bear against the mating face of said sealing ring means; means biasing said ring and said runner means toward mutual contact, said biasing means providing a force of a magnitude to produce a thin film of dielectric fluid between said mating faces to form a finite gap between 40 and 50 millionths of an inch thick between the mating faces; one of said mating faces having therein a series of viscosity grooves extending from one periphery thereof in communication with said dielectric fluid and terminating in said mating face, said grooves having a depth of at least 0.004 inches, said groove depth being manifold greater than the minimum depth required to sustain said biasing force at said finite gap, the pressure produced by said deep viscosity grooves being substantially less than the pressure generated by said minimum depth grooves thereby reducing the outpumping rate of dielectric from said seal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
208 words
In a submersible motor, a shaft seal for preventing an inflow of pumped fluid and an outflow of dielectric fluid, said seal comprising: sealing ring means slidably attached to a shaft and rotatable therewith, and having a face for mating with a stationary runner means; stationary runner means disposed about said shaft and having a mating face adapted to bear against the mating face of said sealing ring means; means biasing said ring and said runner means toward mutual contact, said biasing means providing a force of a magnitude to produce a thin film of dielectric fluid between said mating faces to form a finite gap between 40 and 50 millionths of an inch thick between the mating faces; one of said mating faces having therein a series of viscosity grooves extending from one periphery thereof in communication with said dielectric fluid and terminating in said mating face, said grooves having a depth of at least 0.004 inches, said groove depth being manifold greater than the minimum depth required to sustain said biasing force at said finite gap, the pressure produced by said deep viscosity grooves being substantially less than the pressure generated by said minimum depth grooves thereby reducing the outpumping rate of dielectric from said seal.
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) | 1975-11-28 | 1976-05-29 | 1976-11-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-11-28 | 1980-05-29 | 1980-11-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-11-28 | 1984-05-29 | 1984-11-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |