Sealed rotary joint for turret rotator
First Claim
1. A rotatable payload support turret for operation in a potentially hazardous environment, the support turret comprising a fixed element and a rotatable element, supported by the fixed element, for rotation with respect thereto, comprising:
- an annular rotary seal attached to the fixed element in an annular clearance gap formed between said fixed element and said rotatable element, said annular rotary seal comprising a magnetic circuit formed to capture a magnetic fluid in the annular clearance gap thereby sealing the clearance gap with a gas tight seal; and
,an annular wiper seal assembly positioned in said annular clearance gap between said potentially hazardous environment and said annular rotary seal for sealing the clearance gap to prevent elements of said potentially hazardous environment from contaminating said magnetic fluid, the annular wiper seal comprising;
an annular flexible member attached to the rotatable element for rotation therewith, and an annular sealing surface attached to said fixed element, said annular flexible member being forced into contact with said annular sealing surface during rotation of said rotatable element.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A rotatable payload support turret for operation in a potentially hazardous environment includes a fixed element attached to a vehicle or fixed structure and a rotatable element, supported for rotation with respect to the fixed element. The turret includes a camera payload having a pointing direction configured to be upwardly pointing. An annular clearance gap formed between the fixed element and the rotatable element is sealed by a conventional gas tight magnetic fluid seal element. A wiper seal is also provided in the clearance gap between the location of the magnetic fluid and the external environment to prevent breakdown of the magnetic fluid by elements of the potentially hazardous environment. The clearance gap may also form a labyrinth seal having up to three legs that are oriented to oppose a gravitational force direction. In addition, the fixed element may include a fluid repelling feature for repelling streams of incoming fluids thereby deflecting elements of the potentially hazardous environment away from an outer opening of the clearance gap.
17 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A rotatable payload support turret for operation in a potentially hazardous environment, the support turret comprising a fixed element and a rotatable element, supported by the fixed element, for rotation with respect thereto, comprising:
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an annular rotary seal attached to the fixed element in an annular clearance gap formed between said fixed element and said rotatable element, said annular rotary seal comprising a magnetic circuit formed to capture a magnetic fluid in the annular clearance gap thereby sealing the clearance gap with a gas tight seal; and
,an annular wiper seal assembly positioned in said annular clearance gap between said potentially hazardous environment and said annular rotary seal for sealing the clearance gap to prevent elements of said potentially hazardous environment from contaminating said magnetic fluid, the annular wiper seal comprising;
an annular flexible member attached to the rotatable element for rotation therewith, and an annular sealing surface attached to said fixed element, said annular flexible member being forced into contact with said annular sealing surface during rotation of said rotatable element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification