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US4077634A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Pressure balanced metal to metal seal

Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
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Filing: 1976-09-13
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Granted: 1978-03-07
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Expires: 1996-09-13
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Abstract

Abstract A seal arrangement is provided having a pair of elastomeric seal rings with a seal band adjacent the innermost diameter of the rings. The seal rings are retained by means of a pair of elastomeric torics, one of which is relatively immovable and the other of which is relatively movable. The movable toric is positioned between supporting structure incorporating ramps of low angle, which improves the pressure, velocity relationships of the seal and permits operation at higher speeds. Retention of the other toric stabilizes the seal and prevents cocking or tilting of the rings so as to maintain the sealing plane perpendicular to the rotational axis. An arrangement is thus provided wherein the seals are of nearly equal surface area which produces pressure balanced seals and a more constant, level force along the axis.

Inventors

  • 👤 Donald F. Durham

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-24 06:14
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16J; F16J15/00; F16J15/16; F16J15/34; F16J15/3436; F16J15/344

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim 180 words
In combination with a pair of relatively rotatable members, a seal assembly comprising: a pair of seal rings having means defining axially disposed seal faces disposed on each of said rings, each of said seal faces having means defining a narrow seal band thereon, first mounting means securing one of said rings to one of said members, second mounting means securing the other of said rings to the other of said members, one of said mounting means including loading means for applying a face load to said seal rings, said loading means including a pair of opposed conical ramps and a first resilient toric compressed between the ramps, the other of said mounting means including a second resilient toric compressed between an annular groove in the other of said members, and a retainer opposite to said annular groove so as to prevent relative axial movement of said second resilient toric with respect to the other of said mounting means and wherein said ramps define angles with respect to the axis of said rings and wherein said angles are substantially 8°.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 180 words
In combination with a pair of relatively rotatable members, a seal assembly comprising: a pair of seal rings having means defining axially disposed seal faces disposed on each of said rings, each of said seal faces having means defining a narrow seal band thereon, first mounting means securing one of said rings to one of said members, second mounting means securing the other of said rings to the other of said members, one of said mounting means including loading means for applying a face load to said seal rings, said loading means including a pair of opposed conical ramps and a first resilient toric compressed between the ramps, the other of said mounting means including a second resilient toric compressed between an annular groove in the other of said members, and a retainer opposite to said annular groove so as to prevent relative axial movement of said second resilient toric with respect to the other of said mounting means and wherein said ramps define angles with respect to the axis of said rings and wherein said angles are substantially 8°.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 19 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein said retainer comprises an annular retainer ring and means mounting said retainer ring.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 15 words
The invention of claim 2 wherein said means mounting said retainer ring comprises bolt means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 31 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein one of said ramps is formed in one of said rings and the other of said ramps is formed on one of said rotatable members.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 23 words
The invention of claim 2 wherein said retainer is fixedly mounted to one of said relatively rotatable members by said retainer mounting means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 35 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein a first one of said ramps is formed in one of said rings and a second one of said ramps is formed on one of said relatively rotatable members.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 33 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein said seal faces are disposed at the innermost minimum diameter of each of said rings and wherein said seal band is located at the innermost diameter thereof.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2710206A Cited
US3392984A Cited
US3403916A Cited
US3452995A Cited
US3524654A Cited
US3499653A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1981-03-06 1981-09-05 1982-03-07 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1985-03-06 1985-09-05 1986-03-07 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1989-03-06 1989-09-05 1990-03-07 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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