PATENTS

14Sealing Technology June 2013

The mandrel includes an annular channel or seal gland (110). This is formed in the outer face of the mandrel. The S-seal is disposed in this seal gland and compressed between the mandrel (102) and the tubing (104) in order to seal the annulus (112). In the fluid system, the S-seal may be subject to a working pres-sure up to 20 000 psi or more. Furthermore, the operating environment of such systems may involve a temperature ranging from about -45.6°C to over 204°C. Patent number: WO/2013/025709Inventor: E. CarringerPublication date: 21 February 2013

Method for adjusting impeller-sealing ring clearance in a pump

Applicant: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises Llc, USAA pump arrangement is provided that has a seal ring configured with at least three left-

and at least three adjusting screws. Each

-

tion – between the first-end portion and the

configured to enable each adjusting screw to be rotated clockwise or counter-clockwise. Each first-end portion is configured to pass through a respective aperture of the suction liner and configured with corresponding left-handed threads that couple to a respec-tive left-handed aperture of the seal ring. Each second portion is configured to pass through a respective aperture of the suction half-casing to enable the fourth portion to be accessed to allow each adjusting screw to be turned. Each adjusting screw is configured to be rotated clockwise and moved axially until the third, intermediate, raised portion pushes against the suction half-casing, causing the adjusting screw to stop moving axially and the seal ring to move away from the suction liner and towards the impeller (as the adjust-ing screw continues to be rotated clockwise). Alternatively, each adjusting screw is con-figured to be turned counter-clockwise and moved axially until the third, intermediate, raised portion of the adjusting screw pushes against the suction liner, causing the adjust-ing screw to stop moving axially and the seal ring to move towards the suction liner and away from the impeller (as the adjust-ing screw continues to be rotated counter-clockwise).Patent number: WO/2013/025291 Inventors: D. Paddock and M.A. PlayfordPublication date: 21 February 2013

Rotor seal wire groove repair

Applicant: General Electric Co, USAMany gas-turbine engine assemblies include a seal between adjacent surfaces of moving and non-moving parts, such as a rotating disk and a stationary structure, or between parts that have clearances between their mating surfaces. One common construc-tion for such seals uses a seal wire (formed from one or more segments) that is inserted into a groove in one part and biased against the opposing part, creating a seal. During operation, the constant contact between the seal wire and the mating surface results in wear of the former and/or movement within its groove. Since seal wires are typically fashioned from one or more seg-ments – with abutting ends located at one or more locations around their circumfer-ence – their movement within the groove may result in fretting and/or other wear of the groove (caused by the motion of the seal wire ends). Over time, this fretting or wear enlarges the groove and reduces the effectiveness of the seal wire arrangement.

This patent relates generally to techniques that can be used to restore grooves used in conjunction with seal wire, but in particular to methods of restoring the profile of such grooves, and to thermal spraying used in such restoration work.Patent number: WO/2013/025384 Inventors: D.D. Noe, A.M. Pierson and D.J. JonesPublication date: 21 February 2013

Lubricated seal with axial lip

Applicant: Aktiebolaget SKF, SwedenThis invention relates to a rotary seal which has at least one axial sealing lip that bears against an axially oriented counterface. More specifically, it relates to a grease-lubricated seal of this kind, whereby the seal is adapted for improved lubrication of a contact interface between the axial sealing lip and the counterface. The patent details a rotary seal (200), comprising a first part (210) that has an axial sealing lip (215) and a second part (220) which has an axial counterface (227) – against which the axial sealing lip bears. According to this patent, a rotational component of the first part and the second part is provided with a reservoir (230) for retaining a volume of grease (260) at a point located radially inwards of the axial sealing lip. This reservoir is designed in a such way that the movement of grease under the action of centrifugal force is prevented, while the base oil, which bleeds from the volume of grease retained in the reservoir, is allowed to move. As a result, the supply of base oil to the sealing contact is

A cross-sectional view of the fluid system (100) that includes an S-seal (106), in accordance with various embodiments of patent WO/2013/025709.

A part cross-sectional view of an example of a seal mechanism detailed by an embodi-ment of patent WO/2013/026711, in which a reservoir feature is provided in a rotational slinger component. The seal (200) is suitable for use in a wheel bearing unit adapted for inner ring rotation. It comprises a first part (210) that has an elastomeric element (212) with an axial sealing lip (215).

PATENTS

June 2013 Sealing Technology15

retained for a longer period, which extends the service life of the seal.Patent number: WO/2013/026711Inventor: P. BaartPublication date: 28 February 2013

Lip ring sealApplicant: Endress+Hauser Flowtec Ag, SwitzerlandThis patent provides details of a lip ring seal. Referring to the accompany figure, it has two legs (2 & 3) connected to one another in an L-shape through the body of the ring. The first leg (2) is delimited from the exterior by an extent (4). This first extent (4) is part of a generated surface about an axis of rota-tion (6) of the lip ring seal. The first leg lies between the first extent (4) and the axis of rotation (6). The second leg (3) is delimited from the exterior by a second extent (5), and the first and second extents (4 & 5) are connected to one another via a contour. An intersection point (7) of extensions of the first and second extents (4 & 5), forms a vertex of a triangle, wherein the respective end-points (8 & 9) of these extents form additional vertices of this triangle. This lip ring seal is designed in such a manner that the surface area of a cross-section of its body is at least 60% of the surface area of the tri-angle. The surface of the lip ring seal in the triangle is non-concave.

Patent number: WO/2013/026898 Inventors: G. Bähr and F. VoigtPublication date: 28 February 2013

Radial shaft seal

Applicant: Federal-Mogul Corp, USAThe radial shaft seal (10) detailed by this patent is configured to be fitted in a hous-ing and about a shaft in order to isolate the air-side (A) of the shaft seal from the oil-side (O). The seal includes an annular mounting portion (14) to which is attached a lip (18). The seal lip has an annular inner sealing surface (20) that extends axially between the oil-side end and free air-side end. The inner sealing surface has a first groove region (26), which extends along the shaft and engages it, and a second groove region (28) which also extends along the shaft and engages it, creating a seal. The first and second groove regions are spaced axially from one another by an intermediate

non-grooved region (30). The first groove region is configured to direct contamination towards the air-side of the seal whilst the second groove region is configured to direct lubrication towards the oil-side of the seal.Patent number: WO/2013/028240 Inventors: A. Payne, B.R. Sedlar, D.M. Toth and F.R. HatchPublication date: 28 February 2013

Sealing device for well components

Applicant: International Research Institute of Stavanger As, NorwayThis invention relates to a sealing device for well components. Designed to seal open-ings in well components, it includes an elastic element that is arranged between two flanges. Before being used, the elastic ele-ment has a larger external dimension than the opening to be sealed. As a design char-acteristic, a gap forms between at least one of the flanges and the elastic element. This allows liquid to enter between the flange and the elastic element. And by entering the gap a hydraulic axial force is imparted to the elastic element. This further increases the surface pressure from the elastic element against the sealing surface of the opening. In this way the elastic material penetrates deeper into a groove in the sealing surface. This means that leakage through the groove is reduced, and the differential pressure across the elastic element increases further, which causes it to fill the groove, and ena-bles the establishment of full differential pressure across the seal. The gap may be arranged in an intermediate piece located between the flange and the element. This may be achieved by a ring, in which a sur-rounding divided ridge is arranged to rest against the flange. The ridge prevents the ring from closing a gap between the ring and the flange. However, liquid may pen-etrate past the ridge to a part of the gap that is located behind it.Patent number: WO/2013/028079Inventors: S.A. IdlandPublication date: 28 February 2013

Patent WO/2013/026898 provides details of a lip ring seal.

The radial shaft seal constructed in accord-ance with one aspect of the invention detailed by patent WO/2013/028240. It is suitable for use in a crankcase application for sealing about a rotatable shaft. An elas-tomeric material (16) forms a seal body (17) and extends radially inwards to provide a seal lip (18).