초록 ▼

A pump having a shaft and a housing containing pressurized fluid variable in pressure between pump startup and operation, employs a hydrostatic sealing assembly for sealably and rotatably mounting the shaft within the housing. The sealing assembly includes a runner mounted around the shaft for rotat

A pump having a shaft and a housing containing pressurized fluid variable in pressure between pump startup and operation, employs a hydrostatic sealing assembly for sealably and rotatably mounting the shaft within the housing. The sealing assembly includes a runner mounted around the shaft for rotation therewith and a seal ring mounted to the stationary housing. The runner and seal ring have facing surfaces between which the pressurized fluid creates a flowing low pressure fluid film which prevents contact between the facing surfaces so long as a predetermined minimum leakrate is maintained therebetween. The seal ring has first and second surfaces facing in a direction opposite to that of its facing surface and in sealingly isolated relationship from one another. The first surface communicates with the pressurized fluid at supply pressure. A flow control device provided in the seal ring is automatically operable in response to the supply pressure level to open communication of the pressurized fluid supply pressure with the seal ring second surface at pump operation and to open communication of the fluid film low pressure with the seal ring second surface at pump startup. A lifting force thus imposed on the seal ring facing surface by the pressurized fluid is effectively balanced by a seating force imposed on the seal ring first and second surfaces at both pump startup and operation so that leakrates are produced between the facing surfaces during both pump startup and operation which are above the predetermined minimum.

대표청구항 ▼

In a pump having a shaft and a housing, said housing containing pressurized fluid variable in supply pressure between pump startup and pump operation, a hydrostatic sealing assembly for sealably and rotatably mounting said shaft within said housing, said sealing assembly comprising: (a) an annular r

In a pump having a shaft and a housing, said housing containing pressurized fluid variable in supply pressure between pump startup and pump operation, a hydrostatic sealing assembly for sealably and rotatably mounting said shaft within said housing, said sealing assembly comprising: (a) an annular runner circumscribing and mounted around said shaft for rotation therewith; (b) an annular seal ring circumscribing and mounted within said housing in non-rotational relationship thereto but for translatory movement along said shaft; (c) said runner and seal ring having surfaces facing one another and between which the pressurized fluid within said housing creates a flowing film of low pressure fluid which prevents said facing surfaces of said respective runner and seal ring from coming into contact with one another so long as a predetermined minimum leakrate is maintained therebetween; (d) means defining first and second surfaces on said seal ring facing in a direction opposite to that of its facing surface and in sealingly isolated relationship from one another, said first surface being in communication with the pressurized fluid at said supply pressure thereof; and (e) control means disposed in said seal ring and being operable for opening communication of the pressurized fluid at said supply pressure thereof with said seal ring second surface at pump operation and for opening communication of the fluid film at said low pressure thereof with said seal ring second surface at pump startup such that a lifting force imposed on said seal ring facing surface by the pressurized fluid within said housing is effectively balanced by a seating force imposed on said seal ring first and second surfaces at both pump startup and operation so as to produce leakrates between said facing surfaces of said runner and seal ring during both pump startup and operation which are above said predetermined minimum thereof.