USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Edward Isaac Cohen

John G Purnell

According to a preferred embodiment, a mechanical face seal assembly comprises four generally ring-shaped members and plural spring devices. The first ring-shaped member is directly fastened (e.g., bolted) to the flanged structural section located at the end of the shaft sleeve. The first and second ring-shaped members are coaxially aligned and rotatively communicative at respective radial surfaces. The first ring-shaped member is made of a metal (or ceramic) matrix composite material. The second ring-shaped member is made of a polymer matrix composite material. The second and third ring-shaped members are mated via radial openings (in the second ring-shaped member) and corresponding radial projections (in the third ring-shaped member). The third ring-shaped member has axial projections and is thereby directly fastened (e.g., bolted) to the fourth ring-shaped member, which clampingly secures the third ring-shaped member with respect to the shaft. The third ring-shaped member contains the spring devices so that they push against the second ring-shaped member, which is consequently biased against the first ring-shaped member. Since each ring-shaped member is a &ldquo;split&rdquo; structure having two joinable semicircular halves, the entire sealing system can be installed without disassembling the shafting mechanism. The matrix composite compositions confer structural qualities on the first and second ring-shaped members, and further afford tribological &ldquo;self-healing&rdquo; properties of the wear junction therebetween. The resultant benefits include fewer parts, greater compactness, longer service life, and less frequent maintenance and repair.

Split face mechanical seal system

Fiber optic filaments are embedded at a bearing surface. In the context of a mechanical bearing system, the filaments wear as the surface wears. Based on the observed amount of light which is transmitted through the filaments, the degradation of the filaments is related in a measurable way to the wear of the bearing surface. The sole power requisite for inventive operation is light, for observation purposes. As compared with convention approaches to wear measurement, the invention more accurately measures wear of the bearing itself and is therefore a better predictor of servicing requirements. Inventive practice of remote wear monitoring is a viable and preferable option.

Embedded wear sensor

The parameters of a rotor bearing assembly are readily changed to facilit evaluation, determination and establishment of optimum bearing clearance and rotor bearing adjustment to minimize noise and vibration, by an arrangement which includes seating of solid deflection pads positioned within a carrier on replaceable adjustment shims and retention of the pads and shims seated in adjusted positions by means of hold-down screws.

Adjustable electric motor bearing system

A pre-stressed composite liner structure is provided for tribological syss typically associated a pump, engine, compressor or systems having bearings rotating within a journal. A hollowed ceramic core is concentrically wound with cladding material in the form of a filament or braid. The ceramic core and the wound cladding form an interference fit with one another to pre-stress the ceramic core in terms of tensile strength.

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Severna Park, MD, United States of America

Edward Isaac Cohen