Seal for a rotating shaft

Claim 1

A seal for a rotating shaft passing through a stationary partition wall to prevent the intermixing of different elements located on opposite sides of the partition wall comprising; a) a casing attached to the partition wall and extending around the shaft to define a generally annular recess; b) an axial collar extending from the casing and defining a de-oiling coil adjacent to the shaft; c) a plurality of sealing ring segments forming a sealing ring extending around the shaft, the sealing ring segments being located in the annular recess, each segment having a first surface in contact with the casing and a second surface in sliding contact with the shaft, the sealing ring segments defining a first circumferential notch and a generally radially extending notch; d) a retaining ring having generally axially extending projections located so as to enter the generally radially extending notches to prevent relative circumferential movement between the retaining ring and the sealing ring segments, the retaining ring defining a second circumferential notch; e) spring biasing means located in the axially extending projections and acting on the sealing ring segments to urge the first surface into contact with the casing; f) a retaining washer engaging the first and second circumferential notches to hold the retaining ring and sealing ring segments assembled as a unit and to prevent relative axial movement between the retaining ring and the sealing ring segments; and, g) locking means operatively associated with the retaining ring and the casing to prevent relative axial movement and relative rotation between the retaining ring and the casing.