A mechanical face seal and a method of using the mechanical face seal are described. The mechanical face seal includes a plurality of groove sets that are etched into a stationary seal and/or a rotating seal ring. Each of the plurality of groove sets includes feed grooves, collection grooves, distri
A mechanical face seal and a method of using the mechanical face seal are described. The mechanical face seal includes a plurality of groove sets that are etched into a stationary seal and/or a rotating seal ring. Each of the plurality of groove sets includes feed grooves, collection grooves, distribution grooves, a collector, retention cavities and discharge grooves. The mechanical face seal can be used to reduce the friction that is generated from the stationary seal and the rotating seal ring during operation. Additionally, the groove sets work cooperatively to introduce, circulate and expel lubricant between the seal interface, thereby promoting cooling of the seal.
대표청구항▼
1. A mechanical seal for providing a seal between two components that are rotatable relative to one another, comprising: a plurality of groove sets that is configured to receive a lubricant from a first side of the seal, direct the lubricant through the groove sets so as to counteract a pressure loa
1. A mechanical seal for providing a seal between two components that are rotatable relative to one another, comprising: a plurality of groove sets that is configured to receive a lubricant from a first side of the seal, direct the lubricant through the groove sets so as to counteract a pressure loading on the seal, and/or discharge the lubricant back to the first of the seal,wherein the plurality of groove sets include: a plurality of feed grooves extending in a direction from a second side of the seal towards the first side of the seal, each of the feed grooves having a first end at the second side of the seal and a second end towards the first side of the seal,a plurality of distribution grooves separated from the feed grooves and a plurality of branched flow passages extending from each of the distribution grooves towards the first side of the seal,a collector configured to capture the lubricant flowing past the second end of the feed grooves and redirect the lubricant toward a retention cavity,the retention cavity in flow communication with the collector, the retention cavity including a pocket configured to direct the lubricant back toward the second end of the feed grooves. 2. The mechanical seal of claim 1, wherein the first side of the seal is a side at which a lubricant source is provided. 3. A mechanical seal for providing a seal between two components that are rotatable relative to one another, comprising: a plurality of groove sets that is configured to receive a lubricant from an inside of the seal, direct the lubricant through the groove sets so as to counteract a pressure loading on the seal, and/or discharge the lubricant back to the inside of the seal,wherein the plurality of groove sets is etched into the seal, wherein the groove sets include feed grooves, collection grooves, distribution grooves, a collector, retention cavities and discharge grooves,wherein the feed grooves include a plurality of flow passages that extend from a first end to a second end, the feed grooves being configured so that fresh lubricant can be introduced from the inside of the seal through the first end of the feed grooves and directed toward the second end of the feed grooves,wherein the collection grooves include a plurality of flow passages that extend from a third end to a fourth end, the collection grooves being configured so that the lubricant from the second end of the feed grooves can be collected at the third end of the collection grooves and directed toward the fourth end of the collection grooves,wherein the distribution grooves include a plurality of flow passages that extend from a fifth end to a sixth end, the distribution grooves being configured so that the lubricant from the fourth end of the collection grooves can be collected at the fifth end of the distribution grooves and directed toward the sixth end of the distribution grooves, wherein each of the flow passages of the distribution grooves includes a plurality of branched flow passages that branches from the one of the flow passages and terminates at an outer end, each of the branched passages when viewed in side view has a depth which progressively decreases as the branched flow passage projects toward the outer end until the branched flow passage is terminated,wherein the collector extends from a seventh end to an eight end and is configured to capture the fresh lubricant from the second end of the feed grooves and direct the fresh lubricant toward the third end of the collection grooves,wherein the retention cavities include pockets that are configured to direct the fresh lubricant that has been warmed by friction between the two components resulting from the rotation of the components toward the second end of the feed grooves, andwherein the discharge grooves include a plurality of flow passages that extend from a ninth end to a tenth end, the discharge grooves being configured to collect the warmed lubricant and discharge the warm lubricant out through the ninth end toward the inside of the seal ring. 4. The mechanical seal of claim 3, wherein the lubricant is fed into the seal in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to a direction of the flow of the lubricant through the feed grooves. 5. The mechanical seal of claim 3, wherein the groove sets are configured so that lubricant is deposited on a surface of the seal using the feed grooves and/or the discharge grooves, and wherein the collection grooves are configured to capture the lubricant and direct the flow of the lubricant toward the distribution grooves. 6. The mechanical face seal of claim 3, wherein each of the flow passages of the collection grooves includes one or more of a branched flow passage that branches from the one of the flow passages and terminates at an outer end, each of the branched passages when viewed in side view has a depth that progressively decreases as the branched flow passage projects toward the outer end until the branched flow passage is terminated. 7. The mechanical face seal of claim 3, wherein the feed grooves and the discharge grooves are adjacent to one another. 8. The mechanical face seal of claim 3, wherein the feed grooves and the discharge grooves are separate from one another. 9. The mechanical face seal of claim 3, wherein a groove pattern of the feed grooves is a mirror image of a groove pattern of the discharge grooves along a central axis. 10. The mechanical face seal of claim 3, wherein a groove pattern of the feed grooves is different from a groove pattern of the discharge grooves. 11. The mechanical seal of claim 3, wherein the feed grooves and/or the discharge grooves has curved and/or chamfered edges on a leading or trailing edge of the groove. 12. The mechanical face seal of claim 3, wherein the collection grooves and the distribution grooves are connected so that the collection grooves and the distribution grooves form a continuous flow passage. 13. The mechanical face seal of claim 3, wherein a groove pattern of the collection grooves is a mirror image of a groove pattern of the distribution grooves along a central axis. 14. The mechanical face seal of claim 3, wherein the collection grooves and the distribution grooves form an are as viewed in top plan view so that an inner side of the arc faces the outer side of the mechanical face seal. 15. The mechanical face seal of claim 3, wherein the branched flow passages are configured so that when lubricant is collected at the outer ends of the branched flow passages and held near a seal interface between the two components during operation, a local pressure gradient is developed at each of the outer ends, and a plurality of the developed local pressure gradients counteracts a static pressure load on at least one of the components. 16. The mechanical seal of claim 1, wherein an upper edge of a flow passage of the groove sets is shaped so as to promote a hydrodynamic force at a surface of the seal. 17. The mechanical seal of claim 1, wherein an edge of a flow passage of the groove sets is configured to facilitate removal or scraping of an oil film from an opposing surface of the seal. 18. The mechanical face seal of claim 1, wherein one of the two components is a stationary seal and the other of the two components is a rotating seal ring. 19. The mechanical face seal of claim 1, wherein the first side of the seal is a higher pressure side of the seal as compared to that of the second side of the seal. 20. The mechanical face seal of claim 3, wherein the retention grooves direct the lubricant toward the third end of the collection grooves. 21. A method of reducing friction between a rotating seal ring and a stationary seal, comprising: providing a mechanical seal including a plurality of groove sets that is configured to receive a lubricant from an inside of the seal, direct the lubricant through the groove sets so as to counteract a pressure loading on the seal, and/or discharge the lubricant back to the inside of the seal;introducing fresh lubricant to a first end of feed grooves of the plurality of groove sets;capturing the fresh lubricant from the feed grooves using a collector of the plurality of groove sets;directing the fresh lubricant to collection grooves and distribution grooves of the plurality of groove sets;providing the fresh lubricant to a seal interface between the rotating seal ring and the stationary seal, thereby producing a hydrodynamic force at a surface of the seal, wherein the fresh lubricant is provided to the seal interface by the feed grooves, the distribution grooves, branched flow passages of the mechanical seal, and/or a retention cavity of the mechanical seal;collecting the fresh lubricant at the seal interface using the collecting grooves and the discharge grooves; anddischarging the fresh lubricant that has been warmed by friction between the rotating seal ring and the stationary seal resulting from the rotation of the rotating seal ring out through an end toward the inside of the seal ring. 22. A system, comprising an engineered surface features that are provided on one or both of a stationary seal and a rotating seal, wherein the surface features are configured to accommodate and/or retain debris without subjecting force on the debris to mar a seal surface.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (20)
Wang, Yuming, Bi-direction rotatable face seal with spiral grooves.
Dickey Alan M. ; Johnson Kristy J. ; Perry David K., Controlled leakage rotating seal ring with elements for receiving and holding a lubricant on a face thereof.
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