Rotary shaft seal
Abstract
The invention is a novel rotary shaft seal assembly which provides positive-contact sealing when the shaft is not rotated and which operates with its sealing surfaces separated by a film of compressed ambient gas whose width is independent of the speed of shaft rotation. In a preferred embodiment, the assembly includes a disc affixed to the shaft for rotation therewith. Axially movable, non-rotatable plates respectively supported by sealing bellows are positioned on either side of the disc to be in sealing engagement therewith. Each plate carries piezoelectric transducer elements which are electrically energized at startup to produce films of compressed ambient gas between the confronting surfaces of the plates and the disc. Following shutdown of the shaft, the transducer elements are de-energized. A control circuit responds to incipient rubbing between the plate and either disc by altering the electrical input to the transducer elements to eliminate rubbing.
- Inventors:
-
- Waverly, OH
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- MARTIN MARIETTA ENRGY SYST INC
- OSTI Identifier:
- 864832
- Patent Number(s):
- 4424975
- Assignee:
- United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F16 - ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS F16C - SHAFTS
F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F16 - ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS F16J - PISTONS {
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-76OR00001
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- rotary; shaft; seal; novel; assembly; provides; positive-contact; sealing; rotated; operates; surfaces; separated; film; compressed; ambient; gas; width; independent; speed; rotation; preferred; embodiment; disc; affixed; therewith; axially; movable; non-rotatable; plates; respectively; supported; bellows; positioned; engagement; plate; carries; piezoelectric; transducer; elements; electrically; energized; startup; produce; films; confronting; following; shutdown; de-energized; control; circuit; responds; incipient; rubbing; altering; electrical; input; eliminate; rotary shaft; axially movable; shaft seal; electrical input; electrically energized; seal assembly; control circuit; preferred embodiment; piezoelectric transducer; sealing surface; sealing surfaces; sealing engagement; surfaces separated; rotatable plate; shaft rotation; sealing engage; ambient gas; confronting surfaces; /277/
Citation Formats
Langebrake, Clair O. Rotary shaft seal. United States: N. p., 1984.
Web.
Langebrake, Clair O. Rotary shaft seal. United States.
Langebrake, Clair O. Sun .
"Rotary shaft seal". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/864832.
@article{osti_864832,
title = {Rotary shaft seal},
author = {Langebrake, Clair O},
abstractNote = {The invention is a novel rotary shaft seal assembly which provides positive-contact sealing when the shaft is not rotated and which operates with its sealing surfaces separated by a film of compressed ambient gas whose width is independent of the speed of shaft rotation. In a preferred embodiment, the assembly includes a disc affixed to the shaft for rotation therewith. Axially movable, non-rotatable plates respectively supported by sealing bellows are positioned on either side of the disc to be in sealing engagement therewith. Each plate carries piezoelectric transducer elements which are electrically energized at startup to produce films of compressed ambient gas between the confronting surfaces of the plates and the disc. Following shutdown of the shaft, the transducer elements are de-energized. A control circuit responds to incipient rubbing between the plate and either disc by altering the electrical input to the transducer elements to eliminate rubbing.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1984},
month = {Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1984}
}