Seal assembly

• US 3,870,099 A
• Filed: 05/19/1972
• Issued: 03/11/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Walter Wolowodiuk
• Original Assignee: Walter Wolowodiuk
• Inventors: Wolowodiuk, Walter
• Primary Examiner(s): Rothberg, Samuel B.
• Application Number:
  US05/254,973
• Time in Patent Office: 1,026 Days
• Field of Search: 277/61,62 165/81,82,83 285/375
• US Class Current: 165/82
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/06 with solid packing compressed between sealing surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: F22B 1/162 in combination with a nuclear installation
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 2021/0054 for nuclear applications cooling arrangements for nuclear reactors G21C15/00
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 7/1669 the conduit assemblies having an annular shape; the conduits being assembled around a central distribution tube
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 2230/00 Sealing means
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 9/005 Other auxiliary members within casings, e.g. internal filling means or sealing means
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 9/0236 floating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 9/22 Arrangements for directing heat-exchange media into successive compartments, e.g. arrangements of guide plates
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 165/056 Fluid sealing means between movable header and enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 277/903 Seal for rotating kiln or drum

Abstract

An annular seal assembly between concentric sidewalls which will not prevent the sidewalls from being moved axially with respect to one another. The seal assembly is positioned by two lips, one on each sidewall and has a seal wall engaging one of the lips, a sealing ring engaging against the seal wall, the sealing ring being urged away from the lip on which said sealing wall is mounted and towards the other lip and a seating surface which is connected with the other lip and moveable away from the sealing ring when the other lip is moved axially.

Claims

1. A heat exchanger comprising:

a cylindrical side wall;

a primary fluid inlet in said side wall;

a primary fluid outlet in said side wall below said primary fluid inlet;

an inner core, said inner core comprising;

an upper tube sheet;

a plurality of heat exchange tubes extending downward from said upper tube sheet for flowing a secondary fluid;

a cylindrical shroud encircling said heat exchange tubes, and extending substantially over the entire length of said heat exchange tubes, said shroud being coaxial with and within said side wall;

a seal assembly positioned between said side wall and said shroud below said primary fluid inlet comprising;

a first annular lip extending inward from said side wall toward said shroud;

an annular vertical seal wall connected at its bottom with said lip in a fluid tight connection;

a seal ring encircling said seal wall, said seal ring having a plurality of annular grooves in its inner surface and a plurality of pressure rings held within said grooves and engaging against the outer vertical surface of said seal wall;

a plurality of first springs between said lip and said seal ring;

a second annular lip projecting outward from said shroud at a level higher than the level of said first annular lip;

a horizontal annular plate extending above said second lip;

a first annular gasket held between said second lip and said horizontal annular plate;

a cylindrical seating member extending downward from said annular plate, said cylindrical seating member secured to said annular plate at the outer marginal portion of said annular plate;

a second annular gasket engaging the bottom of said cylindrical seating member and the top of said seal ring;

a plurality of second springs connected with said annular horizontal plate and said second annular lip urging said annular horizontal plate downward sO that said first gasket is compressed between said second lip, and said horizontal annular plate and said second gasket is compressed between the bottom of said seating member and the top of said seal ring whereby when said primary fluid flows through said primary fluid inlet the annular space between said shroud and said side wall above said seal assembly will be filled with fluid and primary fluid and will flow downward through said cylindrical shroud to below said seal assembly and then out through said primary fluid outlet and whereby when a surge of pressure urging said primary fluid to flow from said primary fluid outlet into said heat exchanger occurs, said second springs will extend when said pressure reaches a predetermined value to allow said horizontal annular plate and said cylindrical seating member to move upward, so that said first annular gasket and said second annular gasket will no longer be compressed to allow primary fluid to flow upward through said seal assembly into the space above said seal assembly between said shroud and said side wall.

2. The heat exchanger defined in claim 1 wherein said annular vertical seal wall includes an inwardly extending horizontal foot at the bottom of said annular vertical seal wall, with said foot resting on said first annular lip and said first springs compressed between the top of said foot and the bottom of said seal ring.