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US3791657A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Dynamic lip seal

Assignee: General Electric Co
•
Filing: 1972-04-27
•
Granted: 1974-02-12
•
Expires: 1992-04-27
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Abstract

Abstract An annular L-shaped seal member spacially surrounding a rotatable shaft collar, the seal having an axial portion contiguous with the shaft collar periphery to form an axial labyrinth for fluid flow from a higher pressure side to a lower pressure side of the collar, and an integral radial portion axially displaced on the low pressure side of the collar to form a radially inward extension of the fluid flow channel to impede the fluid flow therethrough by the centrifuge of fluid undergoing viscous shear during rotation of the collar.

Inventors

  • 👤 R Bilski

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-05 20:57
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16J; F16J15/00; F16J15/44; F16J15/16; F16J15/40

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim 164 words
An annular seal of the type interposed between a housing and a rotatable shaft collar, the collar having a negative pressure gradient between its inner and outer sides and having on the inner side thereof a viscous fluid tending to flow axially over the periphery of the collar toward the collar outer side, wherein the seal comprises: an annular L-shaped stationary member having an axial leg surrounding the periphery of the collar, in close proximity therewith so as to form an axial fluid-flow impeding channel between the collar periphery and the axial leg; and an integral radial leg axially displaced from the shafT collar outer side and extending radially inwardly toward the shaft to form an open-ended extension of said fluid-flow impeding channel, wherein rotation of the shaft causes the fluid to undergo viscous shear and centrifuge the fluid radially outward to oppose the fluid flow in said channel and thereby overcome the adverse pressure gradient across the shaft collar to prevent fluid leakage.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 164 words
An annular seal of the type interposed between a housing and a rotatable shaft collar, the collar having a negative pressure gradient between its inner and outer sides and having on the inner side thereof a viscous fluid tending to flow axially over the periphery of the collar toward the collar outer side, wherein the seal comprises: an annular L-shaped stationary member having an axial leg surrounding the periphery of the collar, in close proximity therewith so as to form an axial fluid-flow impeding channel between the collar periphery and the axial leg; and an integral radial leg axially displaced from the shafT collar outer side and extending radially inwardly toward the shaft to form an open-ended extension of said fluid-flow impeding channel, wherein rotation of the shaft causes the fluid to undergo viscous shear and centrifuge the fluid radially outward to oppose the fluid flow in said channel and thereby overcome the adverse pressure gradient across the shaft collar to prevent fluid leakage.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 36 words
An annular seal as set forth in claim 1 wherein said axial leg has on its inner periphery a plurality of labyrinth teeth to further impede the axial flow of fluid in said fluid flow channel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 100 words
An annular seal as set forth in claim 1 wherein the pressure difference between a point at the inner radius and that at the outer radius of the fluid in said open-ended extension is expressed by the equation: Po - Pi CW2/2gc(1-Z/h(2-Z/h) (Ro2- Ri2) wherein Po pressure at outer radius Pi pressure at inner radius C fluid density W rotational speed of shaft collar gc dimensional constant Z axial distance from surface of shaft collar towards stationary seal h axial clearance between shaft collar and seal radial leg Ro outside radius of liquid seal Ri inside radius of liquid seal
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 34 words
An annular seal as set forth in claim 1 wherein said radial leg is of minimum axial thickness so as not to substantially extend axially along the shaft outwardly from said collar outer side.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

GB452314A Cited
US2266407A Cited
US2573425A Cited
US3097854A Cited
US3292847A Cited
US3468548A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1977-02-11 1977-08-13 1978-02-12 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1981-02-11 1981-08-13 1982-02-12 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1985-02-11 1985-08-13 1986-02-12 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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