Elastomer energized rod seal

• US 6,497,415 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2001
• Issued: 12/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: WS Shamban Europa A/S
• Original Assignee: TI Specialty Polymer Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Iverson, Gert, Castleman, Larry J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Knight, Anthony
• Assistant Examiner(s): PEAVEY, ENOCH E
• Application Number:
  US09/912,170
• Publication Number:
  US 20020158420A1
• Time in Patent Office: 521 Days
• Field of Search: 277/500, 277/549, 277/553, 277/556, 277/560
• US Class Current: 277/549
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/3208 provided with tension elements, e.g. elastic rings

Abstract

The present seal system is in two parts. First is that of an elastomer energizer, which may be in the shape of a square ring, o-ring, or an other custom design for energizing the seal system. Second is that of a seal element having a particular geometry and composition. The geometric layout of the seal element ensures firm contact between the seal and groove bottom, independently of the seal pressure and radial position of the moving part, and concentrates contact forces against the moving part by means of a seal apex. In the installed state, the seal is forced into contact with the groove bottom by having an outer diameter matching or exceeding that of the groove bottom, and a radial height exceeding that of the housing groove. Further, the influence of the compression ring or energizer is balanced out by positioning the seal apex near the axial position of the center of the energizer. The seal apex itself is defined by an inlet angle upstream of the apex of preferably more than 30° to the moving part, and a downstream slip angle of greater than 5° preferably greater than 7°.

Claims

1. Annular seal for sealing between a static and a dynamic machine part, therebetween which a fluid or gas seal is required, the annular seal being made of a resilient material and energized by a surrounding compression ring, the annular seal being installed with the compression ring in a common, rectangular housing groove such that it separates the compression ring from a moving surface of the dynamic machine part and the downstream wall of the housing groove, characterized by the outer diameter of the seal meeting or exceeding that of the groove bottom, the seal having a seal apex, the seal being configured for concentrating contact forces against the moving surface solely via the seal apex.

2. The seal of claim 1 in which the outer diameter of the seal exceeds that of the groove bottom by between 0 and 0.75 mm.

3. The seal of claim 1 in which the radial height of the seal meets or exceeds that of the housing groove.

4. The seal of claim 1 in which the radial height of the seal exceeds that of the housing groove by between 5% and 15%.

5. The seal of claim 1 in which the radial height of the seal exceeds that of the housing groove by between 7% and 10%.

6. The seal of claim 1 in which the seal is laid out with the seal apex defined by an upstream seal angle of more than 40°

and a downstream slip angle of more than 5°

, the seal apex is formed one of by the intersection of inlet and slip angle and by a flat or a convex shape with a width of no more than 0.75 mm.

7. The seal of claim 1 in which the seal is laid out with the seal apex defined by an upstream seal angle of more than 40°

and a downstream slip angle of more than 10°

, the seal apex is formed one of by the intersection of inlet and slip angle and by a flat or a convex shape with a width of no more than 0.75 mm.

8. The seal of claim 1 in which the seal is laid out with the apex defined by an upstream seal angle between 40°

and 50° and

a downstream slip angle between 12° and

17°

.

9. The seal of claim 1 in which the position of the seal apex is axially located near the center of the compression ring in its installed state.

10. The seal of claim 1 in which the seal body is such laid out that the ratio Radial groove height/axial distance from the seal apex to where the seal meets te groove bottom, exceeds 1.25.

11. The seal of claim 1 in which the seal body is such laid out that the ratio Radial groove height/axial distance from the seal apex to where the seal meets the groove bottom, exceeds 1.75.

12. The seal of claim 1 in which the seal body is such laid out that a straight line can be drawn from the seal apex through the body of the seal to the radial line defining the downstream wall of the seal, and that the first line forms an angle with the moving part of at least 40°

.

13. The seal of claim 1 in which the seal body is such laid out that a straight line can be drawn from the seal apex through the body of the seal to the radial line defining the downstream wall of the seal, and that the first line forms an angle with the moving part of at least 50°

.

14. From seal of claim 1 in which the the radial line going through the downstream end position of the compression ring the seal is such laid out, that a line can be drawn downstream from the point where the radial line intersects the moving surface, forming an angle with the moving surface of at least 7°

without contacting the seal body.

15. From seal of claim 1 in which the the radial line going through the downstream end position of the compression ring the seal is such laid out, that a line can be drawn downstream from the point where the radial line intersects the moving surface, forming an angle with the moving surface of at least 14°

without contacting the seal body.

16. From seal of claim 1 in which the the radial line going through the downstream end position of the compression ring the seal is such laid out, that a line can be drawn downstream from the point where the radial line intersects the moving surface, forming an angle with the moving surface of at least 18 and not more than 24°

without contacting the seal body.