US3985365A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Remotely actuated emergency shaft seal
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1975-11-06
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Granted: 1976-10-12
•
Expires: 1995-11-06
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is an emergency shaft seal for remote actuation in the event the primary shaft seal fails. The emergency shaft seal includes a seal housing rotatably mounted on an element rotatable with the shaft. At least one end face seal is carried by and rotates with the element. The end face seal engages a sealing surface on a gland plate carried by the seal housing whereby the housing is frictionally engaged and normally rotates with the element and shaft. An inflatable bladder is carried by a housing fixed to structure supporting the shaft and element for rotation and encircles the seal housing. The seal housing, rotatable element, and bladder housing define an area on the side of the primary seal remote from the shaft bearing lubricants and which area normally lies in open communication with the surrounding environment through the annular space between the bladder and seal housing. When the primary seal fails and shaft bearing lubricants leak into this area, the bladder is inflated and expands radially inwardly to engage the seal housing and prevent its rotation relative to the end face seal. The bladder and seal housing form a static seal while the rotating end face seal and stationary gland plate surface form a dynamic seal whereby the area, into which the shaft bearing lubricants leak upon failure of the primary seal, is sealed from the surrounding environment.
Inventors
- 👤 Bartholomew Thomas Catanzaro
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 11:37
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16J; F16J15/00; F16J15/002; F16J15/008; B; B63; B63H; B63H23/00; B63H23/32; B63H23/321; F16J15/16; F16J15/34; F16J15/3436; F16J15/3456; F16J15/46; B63H2023/327; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S277/00; Y10S277/914; Y10S277/929
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
174 words
Apparatus for forming a seal between a fixed structure and an element supported for rotation by the fixed structure comprising; a seal housing disposed about and carried by the rotatable element, means mounting said seal housing for rotation relative to the rotatable element, said seal housing carrying an end face sealing surface, an end face seal carried by the rotatable element for rotation therewith, said end face seal lying in engagement with said end face sealing surface whereby said housing and said end face seal normally rotate with the rotatable element, an inflatable bladder carried by the fixed structure about the rotatable element and spaced from said seal housing, and means for inflating said bladder to engage said bladder against said seal housing and prevent rotation thereof with said end face seal and the rotatable element, whereby said bladder and said housing form a static seal between the rotatable element and fixed structure and said end face seal and said sealing surface form a dynamic seal between the fixed structure and the rotatable element.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
174 words
Apparatus for forming a seal between a fixed structure and an element supported for rotation by the fixed structure comprising; a seal housing disposed about and carried by the rotatable element, means mounting said seal housing for rotation relative to the rotatable element, said seal housing carrying an end face sealing surface, an end face seal carried by the rotatable element for rotation therewith, said end face seal lying in engagement with said end face sealing surface whereby said housing and said end face seal normally rotate with the rotatable element, an inflatable bladder carried by the fixed structure about the rotatable element and spaced from said seal housing, and means for inflating said bladder to engage said bladder against said seal housing and prevent rotation thereof with said end face seal and the rotatable element, whereby said bladder and said housing form a static seal between the rotatable element and fixed structure and said end face seal and said sealing surface form a dynamic seal between the fixed structure and the rotatable element.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said bladder is annular in shape and spaced radially outwardly of said housing, said bladder being expandable in a radially inward direction to engage said housing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said mounting means includes a bearing between said housing and the rotatable element.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said end face seal is formed of a resilient material, a spring engagable about said end face seal for clamping said end face seal in frictional sealing engagement about the rotatable element.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said seal housing is annular and generally channel shaped in cross section, said end face sealing surface comprising an inside face of one of the flanges of said annular channel shaped housing, said end face seal lying within said channel shaped housing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
95 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said seal housing has a second end face sealing surface in axially spaced opposition to the first mentioned end face sealing surface, a second end face seal carried by the rotatable element for rotation therewith, said second end face seal lying in engagement with said second end face sealing surface, said second end face seal and said second end face sealing surface providing a second dynamic seal between the fixed structure and the rotatable element when said bladder is inflated to engage said housing and prevent it from rotating.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said seal housing is annular and generally channel shaped in cross section, said end face sealing surfaces being formed along opposed inside faces of the spaced flanges of said annular channel shaped housing, said end face seals lying within said channel shaped housing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
88 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said bladder is annular in shape and spaced radially outwardly of said housing, said bladder being expandable in a radially inward direction to engage said housing, said mounting means including a bearing between said housing and the rotatable element, said seal housing being annular and generally channel shaped in cross section, said end face sealing surfaces being formed along opposed inside faces of the spaced flanges of said annular channel shaped housing, said end face seals lying within said channel shaped housing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
117 words
Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said seal housing has a second end face sealing surface comprising the inside face of the other flange of said annular channel shaped housing and in axially spaced opposition to the first mentioned end face sealing surface, a second end face seal carried by the rotatable element for rotation therewith and lying within said channel shaped housing, said second end face seal lying in engagement with said second end face sealing surface, said second end face seal and said second end face sealing surface providing a second dynamic seal between the fixed structure and the rotatable element when said bladder is inflated to engage said housing and prevent it from rotating.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
209 words
Apparatus for forming an emergency shaft seal comprising a fixed structure, an element supported for rotation by said fixed structure, a primary shaft seal between said fixed structure and said rotatable element, a seal sleeve carried by said rotatable element for rotation therewith, a seal housing disposed about and carried by said seal sleeve, means mounting said seal housing for rotation relative to said seal sleeve, said seal housing carrying an end face sealing surface, an end face seal carried by said seal sleeve for rotation therewith, said end face seal lying in engagement with said end face sealing surface whereby said housing and said end face seal normally rotate with said seal sleeve and said rotatable element, a housing fixed to said structure, an inflatable bladder carried by said fixed housing about said rotatable element and spaced from said seal housing, and means for inflating said bladder to engage said bladder against said seal housing and prevent rotation thereof with said end face seal and said seal sleeve, whereby said bladder and said seal housing form a static seal between said seal sleeve and said fixed housing and said end face seal and said sealing surface form a dynamic seal between said fixed housing and said seal sleeve.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
209 words
Apparatus for forming an emergency shaft seal comprising a fixed structure, an element supported for rotation by said fixed structure, a primary shaft seal between said fixed structure and said rotatable element, a seal sleeve carried by said rotatable element for rotation therewith, a seal housing disposed about and carried by said seal sleeve, means mounting said seal housing for rotation relative to said seal sleeve, said seal housing carrying an end face sealing surface, an end face seal carried by said seal sleeve for rotation therewith, said end face seal lying in engagement with said end face sealing surface whereby said housing and said end face seal normally rotate with said seal sleeve and said rotatable element, a housing fixed to said structure, an inflatable bladder carried by said fixed housing about said rotatable element and spaced from said seal housing, and means for inflating said bladder to engage said bladder against said seal housing and prevent rotation thereof with said end face seal and said seal sleeve, whereby said bladder and said seal housing form a static seal between said seal sleeve and said fixed housing and said end face seal and said sealing surface form a dynamic seal between said fixed housing and said seal sleeve.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said bladder is annular in shape and spaced radially outwardly of said seal housing, said bladder being expandable in a radially inward direction to engage said seal housing.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said mounting means includes a bearing between said seal housing and said seal sleeve.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said end face seal is formed of a resilient material, a spring engagable about said end face seal for clamping said end face seal in frictional sealing engagement about said seal sleeve.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said seal housing is annular and generally channel shaped in cross section, said end face sealing surface comprising an inside face of one of the flanges of said annular channel shaped housing, said end face seal lying within said channel shaped housing.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
95 words
Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said seal housing has a second end face sealing surface in axially spaced opposition to the first mentioned end face sealing surface, a second end face seal carried by said seal sleeve for rotation therewith, said second end face seal lying in engagement with said second end face sealing surface, said second end face seal and said second end face sealing surface providing a second dynamic seal between said fixed housing and said seal sleeve when said bladder is inflated to engage said housing and prevent it from rotating.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said seal housing is annular and generally channel shaped in cross section, said end face sealing surfaces being formed along opposed inside faces of the spaced flanges of said annular channel shaped housing, said end face seals lying within said channel shaped housing.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
90 words
Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said bladder is annular in shape and spaced radially outwardly of said seal housing, said bladder being expandable in a radially inward direction to engage said seal housing, said mounting means including a bearing between said seal housing and said seal sleeve, said seal housing being annular and generally channel shaped in cross section, said end face sealing surface comprising an inside face of one of the flanges of said annular channel shaped housing, said end face seal lying within said channel shaped housing.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
118 words
Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said seal housing has a second end face sealing surface comprising the inside face of the other flange of said annular channel shaped housing and in axially spaced opposition to the first mentioned end face sealing surface, a second end face seal carried by the rotatable element for rotation therewith and lying within said channel shaped housing, said second end face seal lying in engagement with said second end face sealing surface, said second end face seal and said second end face sealing surface providing a second dynamic seal between said fixed housing and said seal sleeve when said bladder is inflated to engage said seal housing and prevent it from rotating.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said seal housing and said fixed housing are formed of components split along a diameter whereby said components are readily assembled and disassembled about said rotatable element.
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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) | 1979-10-12 | 1980-04-12 | 1980-10-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-10-12 | 1984-04-12 | 1984-10-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-10-12 | 1988-04-12 | 1988-10-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |