Thrust controlled rotary apparatus
First Claim
1. Rotary apparatus comprising:
- an outer body member having an internal generally axially directed first thrust area;
an inner body member mounted at least partially within said outer body member for relative rotation of said body members and having a second generally axially directed thrust area generally opposed to said first thrust area;
wherein said body members define fluid passageway means and said thrust areas define a fluid-receiving space therebetween in communication with said passageway means;
first annular seal means sealing between said thrust areas;
second annular seal means of lesser diameter than said first seal means and also sealing between said thrust areas, whereby an annular first portion of said fluid-receiving space is defined between said two seal means;
said apparatus defining two gaps located respectively an opposite sides of said first and second seal means from said first portion of said fluid-receiving space, and said gaps each communicating with a respective one of two zones of differing pressure external to said first portion;
and thrust control means for selectively varying the fluid pressure in said first portion of said fluid-receiving space, said thrust control means including means for selectively providing pressuring equalizing communication between said first portion and said two gaps.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention comprises an improved rotary apparatus comprising an outer body member having an internal generally axially directed first thrust area. An inner body member is mounted within the outer body member for relative rotation of the two body members. The inner body member has a second generally axially directed thrust area generally opposed to the first thrust area. The body members define fluid passageways and the thrust areas define a fluid-receiving space therebetween in communication with the passageways. First and second annular seals of differing diameters seal between the thrust areas, and a thrust control system is provided for selectively varying the fluid pressure in the annular portion of the fluid-receiving space bounded by the two seals by selectively providing pressure equalizing communication between that portion and a plurality of zones of differing pressures external to the annular portion.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. Rotary apparatus comprising:
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an outer body member having an internal generally axially directed first thrust area; an inner body member mounted at least partially within said outer body member for relative rotation of said body members and having a second generally axially directed thrust area generally opposed to said first thrust area; wherein said body members define fluid passageway means and said thrust areas define a fluid-receiving space therebetween in communication with said passageway means; first annular seal means sealing between said thrust areas; second annular seal means of lesser diameter than said first seal means and also sealing between said thrust areas, whereby an annular first portion of said fluid-receiving space is defined between said two seal means; said apparatus defining two gaps located respectively an opposite sides of said first and second seal means from said first portion of said fluid-receiving space, and said gaps each communicating with a respective one of two zones of differing pressure external to said first portion; and thrust control means for selectively varying the fluid pressure in said first portion of said fluid-receiving space, said thrust control means including means for selectively providing pressuring equalizing communication between said first portion and said two gaps. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. Rotary apparatus comprising:
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an outer body member having an internal generally axially directed first thrust area; an inner body member mounted at least partially within said outer body member for relative rotation of said body members and having a second generally axially directed thrust area generally opposed to said first thrust area; wherein said body members define fluid passageway means and said thrust areas define a fluid-receiving space therebetween in communication with said passageway means; first annular seal means sealing between said thrust areas radially inwardly from the radially outer extremities of said thrust areas; second annular seal means of lesser diameter than said first seal means sealing between said thrust areas radially inwardly of said first seal means but radially outwardly from the radially inner extremities of said thrust areas, whereby said fluid-receiving space is divided into co-axial inner, outer, and mid portions by said first and second seal means; and wherein said outer body member has three bores therethrough, each of said bores communicating with a respective one of said three portions of said fluid-receiving space, whereby said apparatus may be adapted for communication of said mid portion of said fluid-receiving space with either said inner or said outer portion by interconnecting the respective ones of said bores. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A method of controlling thrust on a rotary apparatus of the type comprising an outer body member having an internal generally axially directed first thrust area, an inner body member mounted at least partially within said outer body member for relative rotation of said body members and having a second generally axially directed thrust area generally opposed to said first thrust area, and wherein said body members define fluid passageway means and said thrust areas define a fluid-receiving space therebetween in communication with said passageway means, comprising:
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providing first annular seal means sealing between said thrust areas; providing second annular seal means of lesser diameter than said first seal means and also sealing between said thrust areas; and selectively varying the fluid pressure in an annular first portion of said fluid-receiving space bounded by said two seal means, by selectively providing pressure equalizing communication between said first portion of said fluid-receiving space and a second portion of said fluid-receiving space, said second portion being radially offset from said first portion and in communication with said fluid passageway means. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification