Seal member for pellet dispenser

• US 4,711,370 A
• Filed: 07/03/1986
• Issued: 12/08/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Autotrol Corp. (GE Aerospace)
• Original Assignee: Autotrol Corp. (GE Aerospace)
• Inventors: Goudy, Paul R. Jr., Weekley, William G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rolla, Joseph J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ammeen, Edward S.
• Application Number:
  US06/882,201
• Time in Patent Office: 523 Days
• Field of Search: 221/265, 221/263, 221/258, 221/9, 221/13, 221/15, 221/21, 277/42, 277/43, 277/92, 277/95, 222/290, 222/292, 222/328, 222/370, 222/367, 384/517, 384/611
• US Class Current: 221/265
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/687 Devices for dosing solid compounds

Abstract

A seal member for use in a pellet dispensing apparatus which can provide a barrier between a rotor member and a supply hopper so that gas emitted from the supply hopper will not escape. The seal arrangement also serves the function of a spacing or biasing member for a drive gear as well as a bearing surface. The seal member is disposed in a manner that it will selfadjust during wear yet is flexible to withstand contact with debris. Preferably the seal unit is fabricated from a fluorocarbon resin and is frusto conical in shape.

Claims

1. A seal member for a rotor assembly comprising:

a rotor member including passages for the movement of particulate material therethrough;

a housing providing a supporting surface;

a shaft member connected to said rotor member and extending from said housing;

a gear secured to said shaft member; and

a seal member operatively positioned between said gear and said housing, said seal member encompassing the area of said shaft extension from said housing, said seal member constructed in a manner and of a material to provide both an enclosure of said area and a biasing of said gear away from said housing;

wherein said gear and said shaft have angled surfaces to mate with respective inner and outer portions of said seal member with said seal member biased therebetween.

2. In a dispensing device for pellets having a rotor with at least one pellet carrying passage, said rotor adapted to be connected to a hopper with said pellet carrying passage in communication with an opening in the hopper, a housing for rotatably supporting said rotor, a shaft connected to said rotor and extending through said housing and a gear secured to said shaft, the improvement comprising:

a seal member operatively positioned between said gear and said housing, said seal member surrounding the area of said shaft extension from said housing, said seal member constructed in a manner and of a material to provide both an enclosure of said area and a biasing of said gear away from said housing, wherein said gear includes an annular projection positioned to contact said seal member and wherein said gear and shaft have angled surfaces to mate with respective inner and outer portions of said seal member with said seal member biased therebetween.