Patent US4396212A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4396212A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Rotary fluid coupling
Assignee: Gebr Eickhoff Maschinenfabrik u Eisengiesserei GmbH
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Filing: 1980-03-31
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Granted: 1983-08-02
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Expires: 2000-03-31
Abstract
Abstract A rotary fluid coupling for conveying fluid from a stationary shaft to a hub rotatably mounted on the shaft, or vice versa. The coupling is characterized in having an annular piston which surrounds the shaft and which forms a wall of a chamber connecting a duct in the shaft to a duct in the wall of the hub. A seal is disposed around the shaft between the piston and a closed end of a bore in the hub. In the bore between the piston and the seal is a lubricating material such that pressure exerted on the piston by fluid in the aforesaid chamber will be transmitted by the lubricating material to the seal, preferably a labyrinth seal.
Inventors
- 👤 Heinrich Honke
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 13:47
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16L; F16L27/00; F16L27/08; F16L27/087; F16J; F16J15/00; F16J15/16; F16J15/40; F16J15/44; F16J15/447; F16J15/4472; F16L27/0804; F16L27/0808; F16L27/0824
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
235 words
A rotary fluid coupling for interconnecting a liquid-conveying duct in a shaft element to a duct in a hub element, at least one of said shaft and hub elements being rotatable relative to the other, said fluid coupling comprising a bore in said hub element which receives said shaft element, an annular piston completely surrounding said shaft element and reciprocable in said bore, sealing means between said piston and said shaft and between said piston and said bore, said piston forming a wall of a chamber which connects the duct in the shaft element to the duct in the hub element, closure means for at least one end of said bore, a seal disposed around said shaft element between said piston and said closure means at said one end of said bore, said seal sealingly engaging said shaft element and said bore, a lubricating material in the bore between said piston and said seal, said piston being located between said duct in the hub and said seal, and spring means urging said piston toward said seal to pressurizing said lubricating material in the bore in the absence of pressure in said ducts, and when pressure is present in said ducts said piston is urged against said lubricating material by the pressure of the liquid in said chamber and said spring means thereby subjecting said seal to substantially the pressure of the liquid in the chamber.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
235 words
A rotary fluid coupling for interconnecting a liquid-conveying duct in a shaft element to a duct in a hub element, at least one of said shaft and hub elements being rotatable relative to the other, said fluid coupling comprising a bore in said hub element which receives said shaft element, an annular piston completely surrounding said shaft element and reciprocable in said bore, sealing means between said piston and said shaft and between said piston and said bore, said piston forming a wall of a chamber which connects the duct in the shaft element to the duct in the hub element, closure means for at least one end of said bore, a seal disposed around said shaft element between said piston and said closure means at said one end of said bore, said seal sealingly engaging said shaft element and said bore, a lubricating material in the bore between said piston and said seal, said piston being located between said duct in the hub and said seal, and spring means urging said piston toward said seal to pressurizing said lubricating material in the bore in the absence of pressure in said ducts, and when pressure is present in said ducts said piston is urged against said lubricating material by the pressure of the liquid in said chamber and said spring means thereby subjecting said seal to substantially the pressure of the liquid in the chamber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The fluid coupling of claim 1 wherein said seal comprises a labyrinth seal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The fluid coupling of claim 2 wherein said labyrinth seal is formed from interleaved discs.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The fluid coupling of claim 1 wherein there are two annular pistons surrounding said shaft forming said chamber therebetween.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
The fluid coupling of claim 4 wherein there are two seals disposed around said shaft on the sides of said pistons opposite said chamber, said lubricating material being disposed in chambers in said bore formed between said pistons and said seals.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The fluid coupling of claim 5 including a bore interconnecting said chambers containing the lubricating material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The fluid coupling of claim 4 wherein said spring means is disposed between said pistons.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The fluid coupling of claim 7 including an annular spacer between said pistons which limits travel of the pistons toward each other.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The fluid coupling of claim 7 wherein said spring means comprises coil springs extending parallel to the axis of said bore.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
The fluid coupling of claim 1 wherein said duct in said shaft element includes a radially-extending portion and said duct in the hub element extends radially through the wall of the hub element.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
The fluid coupling of claim 1 wherein said duct in the shaft element and said duct in the hub element extend along the axis of said bore with the duct in the hub element extending through an end wall thereof.
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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) | 1986-08-01 | 1987-01-31 | 1987-08-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-08-01 | 1991-01-31 | 1991-08-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-08-01 | 1995-01-31 | 1995-08-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |