GB665696A - Seals for relatively rotating members - Google Patents

Abstract

665,696. Stuffing - box substitutes. TRIGGS, W. W. (Caterpillar Tractor Co.). June 30, 1949, No. 17367/49. Class 122(v) A seal for relatively rotating members comprises a pair of rotatable annular sealing members having flat annular abutting faces in sealing contact and annular areas adjacent said faces sloping away from the plane of their abutment gradually to provide a wedge shaped space between the members converging toward the area of sealing contact, the ratio of the widest part of the wedge shape of said space to its length being 1 to 1250 to 1 to 5000. The wedge shaped space may have dimensions of not more than one quarter of an inch long and not more than 200 millionths of an inch at its inner edge. Rings 31, 32 of hard material such as hardened steel are each provided with lapped sealing faces 44, a tapered surface 42 and a recess 40. On assembly the recesses 40 provide an annular chamber for lubricant and the tapers 42 form a narrow channel of capillary proportions which terminates at the surfaces 44 and supplies lubricant thereto. The ring 32 is mounted on a rotating housing 13 through which passes a fixed shaft 15. The ring 31 is mounted on the shaft 15 and is located thereon by a key 35. A pressure ring 33 of rubber is secured to the shaft 15 and is provided with a lip 33<SP>1</SP> which bears on the ring 31 to maintain the faces 44 in contact. In the event of excess pressure developing within the seal, the lip 33<SP>1</SP> is forced away from the ring 31 and lubricant escapes without separating the faces 44. In a modification the rings are pressed together by a plurality of springs which are surrounded by a flexible sealing sleeve.