GB2404229A

GB2404229A - A fluid-tight joint between two relatively rotating parts including a flange component with at least one aperture

Info

Publication number: GB2404229A
Application number: GB0317319A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Edgar Padbury Coleman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-07-24
Filing date: 2003-07-24
Publication date: 2005-01-26
Anticipated expiration: 2023-07-24
Also published as: GB0317319D0; GB2404229B

Abstract

A device for making a fluid-tight joint between a rotating shaft and a casing, the device comprising: a first fast member and a second free member, each having an accurately finished rubbing surface; means resiliently urging the surfaces together; connection means between the first member and one of the shaft and casing; means including a flexible joint making a fluid-tight connection between the second member and the other of the shaft and casing. The means resiliently urging the surfaces together (11 in Fig. 1) is seated against an annular flange 10a positioned around the shaft, the flange having at least one aperture 12 through its annular area. The flange may have a plurality of apertures 12, 14, 16, 18 which may be arctuate or square in shape. The apertures 12, 14, 16, 18 may be shaped to define internal or external scoops 20, 22 to enable the flange 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d to act as a paddle or propeller to aid the circulation of lubricant.

Description

FLUID-TIGHT JOINTS BETWEEN TWO RELATIVELY ROTATING PARTS

This invention relates to devices for making fluid- tight joints between two relatively rotating parts, namely a shaft and a casing or the like. Such devices comprise a first, fast member and a second, free member, with accurately finished surfaces, one on each of said members, making rubbing contact with one another in a circle around the axis of the shaft, means resiliently urging the surfaces together, means making a fluid-tight and fast connection between the first fast member and one of said parts, means including a flexible joint making a fluid- tight connection between said free member and the other of said parts, and means keying the free member to said other part.

Devices in accordance with this construction are disclosed in my prior British Patents GB714840 and GB1148554. The contents of those patents are incorporated herein by reference. These fluid coupling glands are used particularly in commercial motor vehicles. The highest temperature of a fluid coupling is always at the centre on the gland. Over many years, with increasing traffic densities and with vehicles spending more time idling in gear, deterioration of the gland caused by excessive heating has become more noticeable. This can vary from discolouration to a build- up of deposits on the rubbing surfaces, which ultimately adversely affects the surfaces and may then cause leakage. Fluid coupling glands of this nature have been used for fluid flywheels and fluid clutches. When leakage occurs it is necessary to recondition the gland in order to remove the deposit, for example black copper sulphide, from the bronze mating face, and also to re-face by grinding and lapping to remove corrosion or erosion that usually occurs to the bronze mating face.

It is an object of the present invention to reduce that deposition.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a device wherein the movement of oil into the gland and the movement of oil out of the gland are assisted.

It is a further object of the present invention to reduce restrictions on oil flow through the bearing, thus enabling oil at the mating faces to change more frequently.

In the fluid coupling glands described in the aforesaid specifications, a rotating shaft carries one of the two members which are to make rubbing contact, this being a free member in the form of a loose collar having an integral rib bearing the actual accurately finished rubbing surface of the joint. This collar is keyed and sealed to a sleeve which is itself mounted in a fluid-tight and driving engagement with the shaft, together with other parts comprising a flange and a helical spring. The other, fast member of the two members which are to make rubbing contact takes the form of an annular ring on the one end of which is formed the accurately finished rubbing surface co-acting with that of the rib. This annular ring is connected and sealed to a casing which is itself part of the fluid-tight external casing of the fluid coupling. The purpose of the spring is to maintain a bias on the collar to press it longitudinally relative to the sleeve, with the spring being seated between the flange and the collar.

The gland is adjacent to the bearing and any oil flow through the bearing is considerably restricted by the flange, shown as flange 5 in GB1148554. The flange 5 is of course necessary for the purpose of locating the spring which provides the bias, but it is the primary object of the present invention to reduce the restriction on oil flow which is introduced by the presence of the flange.

Broadly in accordance with the present invention this is achieved by providing a plurality of flow apertures in the flange, to reduce the restriction on oil flow.

In one embodiment of the device in accordance with the invention these apertures are shaped to define scoops which enable the flange to function as a paddle, propeller or fan.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood, a number of embodiments of fluid coupling glands in accordance with the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings; Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a conventional flange and spring, as can be used in a fluid joint of the type described in GB1148554i Fissure 2 is a schematic diagram showing a first embodiment of modified flange; Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing a second embodiment of modified flange; Figure 4 is a schematic diagram showing a third embodiment of modified flange; and, Figure 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating an apertured flange provided with internal and/or external scoops.

It is to be understood that the fluid coupling gland of the present invention is appropriate to be used in fluid-tight joints of the type described in GB1148554, and a description of the complete fluid coupling gland will therefore not be given here. Reference should be made to

the description given in GB1148554.

Referring first to Figure 1, this shows a conventional annular, cupshaped flange 10 which seats one end of a helical spring 11. The flange 10 has a central aperture to receive a sleeve, such as the sleeve 4 shown in GB1148554.

The flange lOa shown in Figure 2 is provided with a plurality of holes 12, equally spaced at intervals around its circumference. These provide flow passages for lubricating oil. When the fluid coupling is in operation, the centre is filled with a fine spray comprising air and oil.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 3, the flange lOb is provided with four arcuate holes 14, equally spaced around the flange, and again providing flow passages for oil through the flange.

The embodiment shown in Figure 4 has a flange lOc with four arcuate holes 16, all of slightly different shape as compared to those shown in Figure 3.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 5, a plurality of square cross-section holes 18 are equally spaced around the flange lOd. In this embodiment one of the holes 18 is shaped to define an external scoop 20, and another of the holes 18 is shaped to define an internal scoop 22. As shown in the drawing, the scoops 20 and 22 are formed by turning the appropriate edge or edges of the holes inwards or outwards. Various combinations of external and/or internal scoops can be used, either for all the holes or in combination with plain holes of whatever shape. If external and/or internal scoops are provided then the flange lOd will function as a paddle, propeller or fan.

This configuration will help to push oil into the gland and assist movement of oil out of the gland. The throughflow of oil will thus be improved. More frequent changes of oil at the bearing surfaces will reduce discolouration and deposits on those surfaces and thus prolong the life of the fluid coupling gland.

G:\3nr-:iu4\cr,A\3o23r3\:r\spEcr.wrr'\r<3\.,,,.i s

Claims

1. A device for making a fluid-tight joint between a relatively moving shaft and casing, comprising a first, fast member and a second, free member, with accurately finished surfaces, one on each of said members, making rubbing contact with one another in a circle around the axis of the shaft, means resiliently urging the surfaces together, means making a fluid-tight and fast connection between the first, fast member and one of the shaft and casing, means including a flexible joint making a fluidtight connection between said F'-ee member and the other of the shaft and casing, the means resiliently urgir-g the surfaces together being seated against an Annular flange positioned around the shaft, the flange having at least one aperture through its annular area.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the flange has a plurality of apertures through its annular area.

3. A device according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the flange has four apertures through its annular area.

4. A device according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the flange has eight apertures through its annular area.

5. A device according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the flange has twelve apertures through its annular area.

6. A device according to any of the preceding claims wherein the apertures are arcuate

7. A device according to any of claims 1 to 6 wherein the apertures are substantially square.

8. A device according to any of the preceding claims wherein at least one aperture is shaped to define a scoop.

9. A device according to claim 8 wherein the scoop is an internal scoop.

10. A device according to claim 8 wherein the scoop is an external scoop.

11. A flange as defined in any of the preceding claims.

12. A device for making a Lluid-tight joint substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

13. A flange substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.