초록 ▼

A seal arrangement for a fluid swivel joint such as is commonly used on offshore loading terminals for tankers. The sealed fluid joint includes first and second adjacent joint rings which are rotatable relative to each other about a common central longitudinal axis. The joint rings have a small annu

A seal arrangement for a fluid swivel joint such as is commonly used on offshore loading terminals for tankers. The sealed fluid joint includes first and second adjacent joint rings which are rotatable relative to each other about a common central longitudinal axis. The joint rings have a small annular, ring-shaped clearance gap therebetween to allow relative rotational movement, and one of the rings includes an annular seal housing groove facing the clearance gap. An annular seal is positioned in the seal housing groove, and its componets include a pliant annular, sealing member and an adjacent free-floating anti-extrusion ring to prevent the pliant sealing member from being deformed into the clearance gap by a relatively high fluid pressure differential existing across the seal. An oil injection system circulates a flow of oil between a sealing face on one of the joint rings and the contacting surfaces of the sealing member and anti-extrusion so as to remove generated heat and any seal wear debris from the seal arrangement.

대표청구항 ▼

A sealed fluid swivel joint, comprising: a. a first and second adjacent joint rings, means for supporting said joint rings for rotation relative to each other about a common central longitudinal axis and defining a small annular, ring-shaped clearance gap therebetween to allow said relative rotation

A sealed fluid swivel joint, comprising: a. a first and second adjacent joint rings, means for supporting said joint rings for rotation relative to each other about a common central longitudinal axis and defining a small annular, ring-shaped clearance gap therebetween to allow said relative rotational movement between the first and second joint rings, and an annular seal housing groove being formed in said first joint ring facing said clearance gap; b. an annular seal positioned in said annular seal housing groove providing a seal between said first joint ring and said second joint ring, said annular seal including an annular, pliant sealing member, and a rigid annular anti-extrusion ring to prevent the pliant sealing member from being deformed into said clearance gap by a fluid pressure differential existing across said annular seal, and retainer means fastened to said first joint ring for maintaining said anti-extrusion ring in said annular seal housing groove, said fluid pressure differential biasing said annular sealing member against an adjacent sealing face on said second joint ring to provide an effective fluid seal therebetween; c. and oil injection means providing a circulating flow of oil intermediate said annular sealing member and the adjacent sealing face on said second joint ring so as to remove generated heat and seal wear debris from the interface between said sealing member and the second joint ring.