Rotary union with bellows seal
First Claim
1. A rotary union, comprising:
- a housing having a fluid inlet;
a rotating machine component rotatably supported in the housing;
a rotating seal member associated with the rotating machine component;
a non-rotating seal member slidably and sealably disposed within the housing adjacent the rotating seal member;
an expandable seal disposed between and sealably engaging each of the non-rotating seal member and the housing;
wherein the expandable seal includes two end portions, one of the two end portions engaged to the non-rotating seal member and the other of the two end portions engaged to the housing, and an expandable portion disposed axially between the two end portions, the expandable portion having an axial length that varies based on a pressure of a hydraulic fluid that is present at the fluid inlet;
wherein the expandable portion includes at least one bellows; and
wherein each of the two end portions has a hollow cylindrical shape that engages a corresponding bore in both the non-rotating seal member and the housing along its outer periphery.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A rotary union includes a housing having a fluid inlet, a rotating machine component rotatably supported in the housing, a rotating seal member associated with the rotating machine component, a non-rotating seal member slidably and sealably disposed within the housing adjacent the rotating seal member, and an expandable seal disposed between and sealably engaging each of the non-rotating seal member and the housing. The expandable seal includes two end portions, one of the two end portions engaged to the non-rotating seal member and the other of the two end portions engaged to the housing, and an expandable portion disposed axially between the two end portions, the expandable portion having an axial length that varies based on a pressure of a hydraulic fluid that is present at the fluid inlet.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A rotary union, comprising:
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a housing having a fluid inlet; a rotating machine component rotatably supported in the housing; a rotating seal member associated with the rotating machine component; a non-rotating seal member slidably and sealably disposed within the housing adjacent the rotating seal member; an expandable seal disposed between and sealably engaging each of the non-rotating seal member and the housing; wherein the expandable seal includes two end portions, one of the two end portions engaged to the non-rotating seal member and the other of the two end portions engaged to the housing, and an expandable portion disposed axially between the two end portions, the expandable portion having an axial length that varies based on a pressure of a hydraulic fluid that is present at the fluid inlet; wherein the expandable portion includes at least one bellows; and wherein each of the two end portions has a hollow cylindrical shape that engages a corresponding bore in both the non-rotating seal member and the housing along its outer periphery. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for operating a rotary union, comprising:
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providing a housing having a fluid inlet; rotatably supporting a rotating machine component in the housing, the rotating machine component having a rotating seal member associated therewith; providing a slidably and sealably mounted non-rotating seal member in the housing adjacent the rotating seal member; engaging the non-rotating seal member and the housing with an expandable seal, wherein the expandable seal includes two end portions, one of the two end portions engaged to the non-rotating seal member and the other of the two end portions engaged to the housing, and an expandable portion disposed axially between the two end portions; selectively providing a fluid medium in the housing at a pressure to expand or contract the expandable portion of the expandable seal based on the pressure and a medium type; wherein engaging the non-rotating seal member and the housing with the expandable seal includes engaging each of the two end portions in a corresponding bore formed in the non-rotating seal member and the housing. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A rotary union, comprising:
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a rotating seal member; a non-rotating seal member that is reciprocally disposed in a housing; a media channel extending through the housing, the non-rotating seal member and the rotating seal member; and an expandable seal that includes at least one convolution, wherein the convolution is configured to expand under fluid pressure and axially displace the non-rotating seal member towards the rotating seal member until the non-rotating seal member sealably engages the rotating seal member along a mechanical face seal interface defined between the rotating seal member and the non-rotating seal member; wherein the convolution is further configured to provide a biasing force tending to push the non-rotating seal member towards the rotating seal member and to create a compressive force along the mechanical face seal interface during operation based on a pressure and a type of fluid present in the media chamber; wherein the expandable seal includes two convolutions; and wherein the expandable seal includes two straight, end portions disposed on either axial side of the two convolutions, each of the two straight, end portions radially engaging a corresponding bore formed in each of the housing and the non-rotating seal member.
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Specification