Defined Lead Path For High Pressure Seal

• US 20080110515A1
• Filed: 08/17/2005
• Published: 05/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Waters Technologies Corporation (Waters Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Waters Investments Limited (Waters Corporation)
• Inventors: Luongo, Joseph A., Angelosanto, John, Rubino, Frank A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,665,480 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/800
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 53/04 Draining
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 53/164 Stoffing boxes
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/004 forming of recuperation chamber for the leaking fluid
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0452 Detecting or repairing leak
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/5762 With leakage or drip collecting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/9247 With closure

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to methods and devices for conveying or containing fluids under pressure in which seals are provided with a defined path to vent fluid in the event of a seal failure.

Claims

1. A device for producing or conveying fluids under pressure comprising:

a.) a housing having a housing exterior, cap abutment surface, a chamber and a bore opening, said cap abutment surface comprising an area of the housing separate from said exterior surrounding said bore opening for receiving a cap, said chamber for containing fluid under pressure and said bore opening extending from said cap abutment surface to said chamber and having a sealing surface and at least one housing seal compression surface;

b. a seal held in said bore opening, said seal having a seal opening and a housing engagement surface, said seal opening for receiving a shaft extending axially there-through, said seal sealing engaging said housing engagement surface against said sealing surface upon axial compression of the seal against said seal compression surface;

c.) a shaft having a shaft axis and mounted in the seal opening of said seal for rotation about said shaft axis or movement along a shaft axis;

d.) a cap having a cap exterior, housing abutment surface, a cap opening and a cap seal compression surface, said cap affixed to said housing with said housing abutment surface engaging said cap abutment surface and said shaft extending through said cap opening and said cap seal compression surface pressed against said seal compelling said seal against said seal compression surface to sealing engage said housing engagement surface against said sealing surface; and

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e.) passage means for receiving and conveying fluid from said housing engagement surface to at least one of said cap exterior or said housing exterior and away from said cap abutment surface and said housing abutment surface.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said passage means is a channel in at least one of said housing or cap.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said seal has a body section and a cap pad, said body section for engaging said housing engagement surface and a cap pad having less flexibility than said bold section to compress said body section against said housing seal compression surface.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said cap pad has a cap engaging surface.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein said passage means is at least one channel in said cap engaging surface.

6. The device of claim 4 wherein said passage means is at least one channel in said seal compression surface.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein said housing is a pump housing.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein said housing is a valve housing.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein said shaft rotates.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein said shaft reciprocates axially in the housing.

11. A method of producing or conveying fluids under pressure comprising the steps of:

providing a device having

a.) a housing having a housing exterior, cap abutment surface, a chamber and a bore opening, said chamber for containing fluid under pressure, said cap abutment surface comprising an area separate from said housing exterior and surrounding said bore opening for receiving a cap, said bore opening extending from said cap abutment surface to said chamber and having a sealing surface and at least one housing seal compression surface;

b. a seal held in said bore opening, said seal having a seal opening and a housing engagement surface, said seal opening for receiving a shaft extending axially therethrough, said seal sealing engaging said housing engagement surface against said sealing surface upon axial compression of the seal against said housing seal compression surface;

c.) a shaft having a shaft axis and mounted in the seal opening of said seal for rotation about said shaft axis or movement along a shaft axis;

d.) a cap having a cap exterior, housing abutment surface, a cap opening and a cap seal compression surface, said cap affixed to said housing with said housing abutment surface engaging said cap abutment surface and said shaft extending through said cap opening and said cap seal compression surface pressed against said seal compelling said seal against said housing seal compression surface to sealing engage said housing engagement surface against said sealing surface; and

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e.) passage means from said housing engagement surface to at least one of said cap exterior or said housing exterior and removed from said cap abutment surface and said housing abutment surface; and

,

operating said device such that fluid from said housing engagement surface is directed to the exterior of the cap or the exterior of said housing and away from said cap abutment surface and said housing abutment surface.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said passage means is a channel in at least one of said housing or cap.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein said seal has a body section and a cap pad, said body section for engaging said housing engagement surface and said cap pad having less flexibility than said body section to compress said body section against said housing seal compression surface.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said cap pad has a cap engaging surface.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said passage means is at least one channel in said cap engaging surface.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein said passage means is at least one channel in said seal compression surface.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein said housing is a pump housing.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein said housing is a valve housing.

19. The method of claim 11 wherein said shaft rotates.

20. The method of claim 11 wherein said shaft reciprocates axially in the housing.

21. A seal for use in a device for producing or conveying fluids under pressure said seal comprising:

a seal body constructed and arranged to be received in a bore opening of a housing, said housing having a housing exterior, cap abutment surface, a chamber and a bore opening, said chamber for containing fluid under pressure and said bore opening extending from said cap abutment surface to said chamber and having a sealing surface and at least one housing seal compression surface, said cap abutment surface apart from said housing exterior and surrounding said bore opening for receiving a cap, said seal body having a seal opening, said seal opening for receiving a shaft extending axially there-through, said shaft having a shaft axis and mounted in the seal opening of said seal for rotation about said shaft axis or movement along a shaft axis, said seal body having a housing engagement surface, a seal pad and a seal surface, said housing engagement surface for engaging said housing seal compression surface and said seal surface upon axial compression of the seal body against said seal compression surface sealing engaging said sealing surface of said bore opening;

a cap pad affixed to said seal body and having a cap pad opening cooperation with said seal body opening, said cap pad having a rigidity greater than the rigidity of said seal body to convey compressive force to said seal body, said cap pad having cap engaging surface for receiving a cap seal compression surface of a cap, said cap having a cap exterior, housing abutment surface, a cap opening and a cap seal compression surface, said cap for affixing to said housing with said housing abutment surface engaging said cap abutment surface and said shaft extending through said cap opening and said cap seal compression surface pressed against said cap engaging surface compelling said seal surface to engage said housing engagement surface against said sealing surface;

and passage means for receiving and conveying fluid from said housing engagement surface to at least one of said cap exterior or said housing exterior and away from said cap abutment surface and said housing abutment surface.

22. The seal of claim 21 wherein said passage means is at least one channel in said cap engaging surface.