Automotive waterpump subassembly with improved sealing arrangement

Claim 2

In an automotive waterpump subassembly or the like, a sealing arrangement comprising: a housing having an end wall with a central opening, a shaft rotatably mounted in said housing by antifriction bearing means, said shaft having an end portion protruding through said central opening in said end wall with an annular space therebetween, face seal means carried by said shaft and said end wall for sealing the annular space between said central opening and said shaft, a baffle secured to said shaft and disposed in said housing, said baffle dividing the interior of said housing into a first chamber defined in part by portions of said face seal means, a second chamber and a chamber intermediate said first and second chambers, said baffle having a surface forming a first flow restriction means between said first chamber and said intermediate chamber in cooperation with an internal surface in said housing, overflow means for said first chamber comprising radial and axial bore means in said shaft, said overflow means having a lesser restriction to flow than said first flow restriction means, said baffle having another surface forming a second flow restriction means between said intermediate chamber and said second chamber in cooperation with another internal surface in said housing, drainage means for said intermediate chamber, said drainage means having a lesser restriction to flow than said second flow restriction means, and a sealed bearing chamber within said second chamber housing said antifriction bearing means.

Claim 3

In an automotive waterpump subassembly or the like, a sealing arrangement comprising, a housing having an intermediate wall with a central opening, an impeller drive shaft rotatably mounted in said housing by antifriction bearing means located in said housing to one side of said intermediate wall, said impeller drive shaft extending through said central opening and having an end portion protruding from an axial end of said housing on said one side of said intermediate wall, connecting means on said end portion, an annular wall secured to said housing surrounding said impeller drive shaft and spaced axially from said intermediate wall toward the opposite axial end of said housing, a chamber in said housing comprising a circumferential surface, said intermediate wall and said annular wall, said annular wall having a sleeve portion radially spaced from said impeller drive shaft for mounting a face seal element thereon, said impeller drive shaft having a radial bore aligned with said sleeve portion and an axial bore extending from said radial bore to an opening in said end portion to provide a low impedance flow path to the exterior of said housing, a baffle mounted on said impeller drive shaft and disposed in said chamber between said intermediate wall and said annular wall, said baffle having a first circumferential surface spaced closely adjacent said circumferential surface of said chamber to provide a high impedance to the passage of liquid and deleterious matter therebetween and partitioning said chamber into an inner compartment and a second compartment, said baffle having a second circumferential surface spaced closely adjacent a circumferential surface of said sleeve portion providing a high impedance to the passage of liquid and deleterious matter therebetween and partitioning said second compartment into an outer compartment and an intermediate compartment between said inner compartment and outer compartment, and a drainage hole through the bottom of said housing communicating directly with said intermediate compartment, and said outer compartment communicating directly with said radial bore in said impeller drive shaft.

Claim 4

In an automotive waterpump subassembly or the like, a sealing arrangement comprising, a housing having an intermediate wall with a central opening, an impeller drive shaft rotatably mounted in said housing by antifriction bearing means located in said housing to one side of said intermediate wall, said impeller drive shaft extending through said central opening and having an end portion protruding from an axial end of said housing on said one side of said intermediate wall, connecting means on said end portion, an annular wall secured to said housing surrounding said impeller drive shaft and spaced axially from said intermediate wall toward the opposite axial end of said housing, a chamber in said housing comprising a circumferential surface, said intermediate wall and said annular wall, said annular wall having a sleeve portion radially spaced from said impeller drive shaft for mounting a face seal element thereon, said impeller drive shaft having a radial bore aligned with said sleeve portion and an axial bore extending from said radial bore to an opening in said end portion to provide a low impedance flow path to the exterior of said housing, a baffle mounted on said impeller drive shaft and disposed in said chamber between said intermediate wall and said annular wall, said baffle having a first circumferential surface spaced closely adjacent said circumferential surface of said chamber to provide a high impedance to the passage of liquid and deleterious matter therebetween and partitioning said chamber into an inner compartment and a second compartment, said baffle having a second circumferential surface spaced closely adjacent a circumferential surface of said sleeve portion providing a high impedance to the passage of liquid and deleterious matter therebetween and partitioning said second compartment into an outer compartment and an intermediate compartment between said inner compartment and outer compartment, and a drainage hole through the bottom of said housing communicating directly with said intermediate compartment, and said outer compartment communicating directly with said radial bore in said impeller drive shaft.

Claim 5

In an automotive waterpump subassembly or the like, a seaLing arrangement comprising, a housing having an intermediate wall with a central opening, an impeller drive shaft rotatably mounted in said housing by antifriction bearing means located in said housing to one side of said intermediate wall, said impeller drive shaft extending through said central opening and having an end portion protruding from an axial end of said housing on one side of said intermediate wall, connecting means on said end portion, an annular end plate secured to said housing surrounding said impeller drive shaft, said annular end plate having a radial wall spaced axially from said intermediate wall toward the opposite axial end of said housing, a chamber in said housing comprising a circumferential surface, said intermediate wall and said radial wall, said annular end plate having a sleeve portion at its inner margin extending toward said intermediate wall, said sleeve portion having an inner circumferential surface and an outer circumferential surface, said inner circumferential surface being radially spaced from said impeller drive shaft and having a face seal element mounted thereon, said impeller drive shaft having a cooperating face seal element mounted thereon engaging said face seal element mounted on said sleeve portion at an interface, said impeller drive shaft having a radial bore aligned with said interface and an axial bore extending from said radial bore to an opening in said end portion to provide a low impedance flow path to the exterior of said housing for liquid leaking past said face seal element, a baffle mounted on said impeller drive shaft and disposed in said chamber between said intermediate wall and said radial wall, said baffle having a generally axial central portion and a generally axial outer portion interconnected by a generally radial portion sloping toward said intermediate wall in the radially outward direction, said generally axial outer portion of said baffle having an outer circumferential surface spaced closely adjacent said circumferential surface of said chamber to provide a high impedance to the passage of liquid and deleterious matter therebetween and partitioning said chamber into an inner compartment and a second compartment spaced from said intermediate wall by said inner compartment, said axial central portion having an inner circumferential surface spaced closely adjacent said outer circumferential surface of said sleeve portion providing a high impedance to the passage of liquid and deleterious matter therebetween and partitioning said second compartment into an outer compartment communicating directly with said radial bore in said impeller drive shaft and an intermediate compartment between said inner compartment and said outer compartment, said outer circumferential surface on said sleeve portion further having a trough portion adjacent said radial wall for collecting liquid passing between said outer circumferential surface and said inner circumferential surface on said central axial portion of said baffle, and a drainage hole through the bottom of said housing communicating directly with said intermediate compartment, said drainage hole being aligned with said baffle at the juncture of said generally radial portion with said generally axial outer portion.

Claim 6

In an automotive waterpump subassembly or the like, a seaLing arrangement comprising, a housing having an intermediate wall with a central opening, an impeller drive shaft rotatably mounted in said housing by antifriction bearing means located in said housing to one side of said intermediate wall, said impeller drive shaft extending through said central opening and having an end portion protruding from an axial end of said housing on one side of said intermediate wall, connecting means on said end portion, an annular end plate secured to said housing surrounding said impeller drive shaft, said annular end plate having a radial wall spaced axially from said intermediate wall toward the opposite axial end of said housing, a chamber in said housing comprising a circumferential surface, said intermediate wall and said radial wall, said annular end plate having a sleeve portion at its inner margin extending toward said intermediate wall, said sleeve portion having an inner circumferential surface and an outer circumferential surface, said inner circumferential surface being radially spaced from said impeller drive shaft and having a face seal element mounted thereon, said impeller drive shaft having a cooperating face seal element mounted thereon engaging said face seal element mounted on said sleeve portion at an interface, said impeller drive shaft having a radial bore aligned with said interface and an axial bore extending from said radial bore to an opening in said end portion to provide a low impedance flow path to the exterior of said housing for liquid leaking past said face seal element, a baffle mounted on said impeller drive shaft and disposed in said chamber between said intermediate wall and said radial wall, said baffle having a generally axial central portion and a generally axial outer portion interconnected by a generally radial portion sloping toward said intermediate wall in the radially outward direction, said generally axial outer portion of said baffle having an outer circumferential surface spaced closely adjacent said circumferential surface of said chamber to provide a high impedance to the passage of liquid and deleterious matter therebetween and partitioning said chamber into an inner compartment and a second compartment spaced from said intermediate wall by said inner compartment, said axial central portion having an inner circumferential surface spaced closely adjacent said outer circumferential surface of said sleeve portion providing a high impedance to the passage of liquid and deleterious matter therebetween and partitioning said second compartment into an outer compartment communicating directly with said radial bore in said impeller drive shaft and an intermediate compartment between said inner compartment and said outer compartment, said outer circumferential surface on said sleeve portion further having a trough portion adjacent said radial wall for collecting liquid passing between said outer circumferential surface and said inner circumferential surface on said central axial portion of said baffle, and a drainage hole through the bottom of said housing communicating directly with said intermediate compartment, said drainage hole being aligned with said baffle at the juncture of said generally radial portion with said generally axial outer portion.

Claim 7

In an automotive waterpump subassembly or the like, a sealing arrangement comprising, a housing having an intermediate wall with a central opening, an impeller drive shaft rotatably mounted in said housing by antifriction bearing means located in said housing to one side of said intermediate wall, said impeller drive shaft extending through said central opening and having an end portion protruding from an axial end of said housing on said one side of said intermediate wall, connecting means on said end portion, an annular wall secured to said housing surrounding said impeller drive shaft and spaced axially from said intermediate wall toward the opposite axial end of said housing, a chamber in said housing comprising a circumferential surface, said intermediate wall and said annular wall, said annular wall having a sleeve portion radially spaced from said impeller drive shaft for mounting a face seal element thereon, said impeller drive shaft having a radial bore aligned with said sleeve portion and an axial bore extending from said radial bore to an opening in said end portion to provide a low impedance flow path to the exterior of said housing, a baffle mounted on said impeller drive shaft and disposed in said chamber between said intermediate wall and said annular wall, said baffle having a first circumferential surface spaced closely adjacent said circumferential surface of said chamber to provide a high impedance to the passage of liquid and deleterious matter therebetween and partitioning said chamber into an inner compartment and a second compartment spaced from said intermediate wall by said inner compartment, and a drainage hole through the bottom of said housing communicating directly with said second compartment.

Claim 8

In an automotive waterpump subassembly or the like, a sealing arrangement comprising, a housing having an intermediate wall with a central opening, an impeller drive shaft rotatably mounted in said housing by antifriction bearing means located in said housing to one side of said intermediate wall, said impeller drive shaft extending through said central opening and having an end portion protruding from an axial end of said housing on said one side of said intermediate wall, connecting means on said end portion, an annular wall secured to said housing surrounding said impeller drive shaft and spaced axially from said intermediate wall toward the opposite axial end of said housing, a chamber in said housing comprising a circumferential surface, said intermediate wall and said annular wall, said annular wall having a sleeve portion radially spaced from said impeller drive shaft for mounting a face seal element thereon, said impeller drive shaft having a radial bore aligned with said sleeve portion and an axial bore extending from said radial bore to an opening in said end portion to provide a low impedance flow path to the exterior of said housing, a baffle mounted on said impeller drive shaft and disposed in said chamber between said intermediate wall and said annular wall, said baffle having a first circumferential surface spaced closely adjacent said circumferential surface of said chamber to provide a high impedance to the passage of liquid and deleterious matter therebetween and partitioning said chamber into an inner compartment and a second compartment spaced from said intermediate wall by said inner compartment, and a drainage hole through the bottom of said housing communicating directly with said second compartment.