US3887199A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pressure medium operated frictionless seal assembly
Assignee: SKF Industrial Trading and Development Co BV
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Filing: 1973-12-19
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Granted: 1975-06-03
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Expires: 1993-12-19
Abstract
Abstract A pressure-medium operated frictionless seal assembly for sealing a gap between two members, coaxially rotatable relative to one another, and including a first ring of rigid material and an additional ring, which rings are insertible into the gap and mountable each against one of two relatively rotatable members coaxially with the axis of rotation. Each ring has at least two annular surface portions coaxial with the axis of rotation, these portions abutting corresponding surface portions respectively on the additional ring and the first ring respectively at least when the sealing device is mounted in the gap but unaffected in other respects. The additional ring is elastically deformable at least at its annular surface portions, two of the annular surface portions one of said rings of at least being spaced apart by an intermediate annular groove. A plurality of channels 9 extend through the first ring and open into the groove for permitting feeding pressure medium to the groove and building up pressure in said groove such that each annular surface portion on the additional ring will be elastically deformed and lifted off from the corresponding annular surface portion on the first ring, thereby formed a narrow annular gap between the rings, through which gap the pressure medium can leak out to the ambient.
Inventors
- 👤 Yngve Bertil Sundqvist
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 13:59
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16J; F16J15/00; F16J15/16; F16J15/40; F16J15/32; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S277/00; Y10S277/907
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
216 words
A pressure-medium operated frictionless seal assembly for sealing a gap between two members, coaxially rotatable relative one another, comprising a first ring of rigid material and a second ring, said rings being insertible into said gap and mountable each against one of said relatively rotatable members coaxially with the axis of rotation, each one of said rings having at least two annular surface portions, coaxial with the axis of rotation, said portions abutting only respective corresponding surface portions on the other of said rings at least when the sealing device is mounted in the gap, said second ring being elastically deformable at least at the annular surface portion associated therewith, two of said annular surface portions of at least one of said rings being spaced apart by an intermediate annular groove, and a plurality of channels extending through said first ring and opening into said groove for permitting pressure medium to be fed into said groove and building up pressure in said groove such that each annular surface portion on said second ring will be elastically deformed and lifted from the corresponding annular surface portion of said rigid first ring, thereby forming a narrow annular gap between said first and second rings, through which narrow annular gap said pressure medium can leak out to the ambient.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
216 words
A pressure-medium operated frictionless seal assembly for sealing a gap between two members, coaxially rotatable relative one another, comprising a first ring of rigid material and a second ring, said rings being insertible into said gap and mountable each against one of said relatively rotatable members coaxially with the axis of rotation, each one of said rings having at least two annular surface portions, coaxial with the axis of rotation, said portions abutting only respective corresponding surface portions on the other of said rings at least when the sealing device is mounted in the gap, said second ring being elastically deformable at least at the annular surface portion associated therewith, two of said annular surface portions of at least one of said rings being spaced apart by an intermediate annular groove, and a plurality of channels extending through said first ring and opening into said groove for permitting pressure medium to be fed into said groove and building up pressure in said groove such that each annular surface portion on said second ring will be elastically deformed and lifted from the corresponding annular surface portion of said rigid first ring, thereby forming a narrow annular gap between said first and second rings, through which narrow annular gap said pressure medium can leak out to the ambient.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
216 words
A pressure-medium operated frictionless seal assembly for sealing a gap between two members, coaxially rotatable relative one another, comprising a first ring of rigid material and a second ring, said rings being insertible into said gap and mountable each against one of said relatively rotatable members coaxially with the axis of rotation, each one of said rings having at least two annular surface portions, coaxial with the axis of rotation, said portions abutting only respective corresponding surface portions on the other of said rings at least when the sealing device is mounted in the gap, said second ring being elastically deformable at least at the annular surface portion associated therewith, two of said annular surface portions of at least one of said rings being spaced apart by an intermediate annular groove, and a plurality of channels extending through said first ring and opening into said groove for permitting pressure medium to be fed into said groove and building up pressure in said groove such that each annular surface portion on said second ring will be elastically deformed and lifted from the corresponding annular surface portion of said rigid first ring, thereby forming a narrow annular gap between said first and second rings, through which narrow annular gap said pressure medium can leak out to the ambient.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
216 words
A pressure-medium operated frictionless seal assembly for sealing a gap between two members, coaxially rotatable relative one another, comprising a first ring of rigid material and a second ring, said rings being insertible into said gap and mountable each against one of said relatively rotatable members coaxially with the axis of rotation, each one of said rings having at least two annular surface portions, coaxial with the axis of rotation, said portions abutting only respective corresponding surface portions on the other of said rings at least when the sealing device is mounted in the gap, said second ring being elastically deformable at least at the annular surface portion associated therewith, two of said annular surface portions of at least one of said rings being spaced apart by an intermediate annular groove, and a plurality of channels extending through said first ring and opening into said groove for permitting pressure medium to be fed into said groove and building up pressure in said groove such that each annular surface portion on said second ring will be elastically deformed and lifted from the corresponding annular surface portion of said rigid first ring, thereby forming a narrow annular gap between said first and second rings, through which narrow annular gap said pressure medium can leak out to the ambient.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
A seal assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein each channel includes flow restricting means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A seal assembly as defined in claim 2, wherein said flow restrictor means is a portion of said channel with reduced cross-sectional area.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
A seal assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein an annular distribution channel, from which said plurality of channels extend, is provided in a surface on said first ring with an orientation opposed in relation to the annular surface portions of said first ring.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
A seal assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said intermediate annular groove is provided only in said first ring.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
92 words
A seal assembly as defined in claim 5, wherein a plurality of partition walls extend from the bottom of said groove up to the level of said annular surface portions of said first ring and transversely across said groove from one annular surface portion to the other, thereby dividing said annular intermediate groove into a corresponding number of groove sections, and wherein at least one channel of said plurality of channels opens into each such groove section, so that each groove section together with said second ring forms a separate pressure chamber.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
A seal assembly as defined in claim 6, wherein said partition walls are equidistantly spaced along the length of said groove.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
102 words
A seal assembly as defined in claim 7 wherein a single channel leads into each pressure chamber and opens centrally into the same, each channel including flow restricting means therein, said flow restricting means being a portion of said channel with reduced cross sectional area, and further including three, preferably four pressure chambers at small groove diameters, and more at larger groove diameters, said second ring being an elastically deformable material, and one of said first and second rings constituting an inner ring and the other an outer ring surrounding said inner ring radially so as to form a radial seal assembly.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
A seal assembly as defined in claim 6, wherein a single channel of said plurality of channels leads into each pressure chamber and opens centrally into the same.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
A seal assembly as defined in claim 6, wherein said pressure chambers at small groove diameters are at least three, preferably four, and at larger groove diameters more in number.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
A seal assembly as defined in claim 5, wherein said second ring has a substantially rectangular cross-section.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
55 words
A seal assembly as defined in claim 5, wherein said second ring has a substantially I-shaped cross-section with two wide flanges and a relatively low web connecting said flanges, the annular surface portions of said second ring being located on a surface of one of said two flanges which is opposed relative to said web.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
A seal assembly as defined in claim 12, wherein said web thickness corresponds substantially to the width of said annular groove.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
44 words
A seal assembly as defined in claim 12, wherein at least the outer flange surface portions on said second ring, where said annular surface portions are located, have a slight inclination inwards to said web when said second ring is not subjected to load.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
A seal assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said second ring is an elastically deformable material.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
A seal assembly as defined in claim 15, wherein said elastically deformable material is a rubber-elastic material.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
A seal assembly as defined in claim 15, wherein said second ring has a porous core covered with a non-porous skin.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
A seal assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said second ring is joined in at least one place along its circumference.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-06-02 | 1978-12-02 | 1979-06-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-02 | 1982-12-02 | 1983-06-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-02 | 1986-12-02 | 1987-06-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |