Technical Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a mechanical seal, which improves the effectiveness of clamping when fitted to a hardened shaft.
Description of the Prior Art
Mechanical seals are common place in a multitude of industries for providing a seal between rotating and stationary components. The seal is created by one sealing face rotating against a stationary sealing face.
Commonly, when used with hardened shafts clamping with the conventional grub screw arrangement, the result can lead to slipping both axially down the shaft and rotationally around the shaft. Slipping of the cartridge can cause a loss of rotational drive within the rotary section of the mechanical seal. If the clamping force isn't sufficiently substantial, axial slipping can also occur which can change the face pressure of the seal. Both issues can result in seal failure.
As a result, a Graphoil wedge is integrated within the present invention in order to suit high temperature applications and overcome the known drawbacks inherent in the prior art. An axial and radial force is then applied to the wedge in order hold it in place.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a mechanical seal which improves the effectiveness of clamping when fitted to a hardened shaft, which avoids slippage, both axially down the shaft as well as rotationally around the shaft.
The foregoing and related objects are accomplished by the mechanical seal of the present invention, which includes, in a preferred embodiment, a sleeve that is in a sealing engagement with a rotating shaft and one or more primary or secondary sealing faces urged toward one another via a plurality of spring members. A clamping ring which has a plurality of radial orifices in which are located a plurality of set screws extending from the inner diameter to the outer diameter of the clamping ring. One or more gland members are detachably attached to the clamping ring for restricting axial movement and rendering the internal dimensions independent of tolerances and assembly accuracy of the piece of equipment having the hardened shaft, along with a two-part clamping ring which is comprised of a plurality of protrusions axially extending the length of the clamping ring and which can be forced on via grub screws for inhibiting axial and rotary movement of the gland members, and with an axial cavity being located in the sleeve for minimizing surface contact on the shaft.
It is preferable that the gland members extend the entire length of the mechanical seal, thereby encasing the seal.
It is also preferable that the one or more gland members have orifices through which a fluid connection is achieved between an external port and the internal cavities of the mechanical seal.
Preferably, a rotary labyrinthine profiled component is detachably attached to the sleeve.
The clamp ring assembly may comprise a first member creating a platform onto which grub screws are tightened, a second member containing one or more threaded orifices wherein set screws reside and a third member which is located in an annular cavity between the sleeve and the shaft.
Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent when considered in combination with the accompanying drawing figures, which illustrate certain preferred embodiments of the present invention. It should, however, be noted that the accompanying drawing figures are intended to illustrate only select preferred embodiments of the claimed invention and are not intended as a means for defining the limits and scope of the invention.
In the drawing, wherein similar reference numerals and symbols denote similar features throughout the several views:
The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings:
As shown in
As shown in
In sharp contrast to the prior art, a preferred embodiment of the present invention, as shown in
As shown in
The Graphoil wedge 6 is held as a result in place by the clamping ring 9 and the sleeve 4.
While only several embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many modifications may be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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1520392.0 | Nov 2015 | GB | national |