Borg-warner Industrial Products, Inc.

James L Kozlowski

Alan L Miller

An adaptive control system regulates operation of a mechanical seal assembly by reacting dynamically to changes in seal operating conditions to provide minimal wear with minimal fluid leakage. The disclosed 'self-learning' method adapts automatically to arbitrary changes in fluid medium temperature and pressure, as well as shaft rotation speed, by detecting a limit cycle type oscillation of a seal-related variable, such as temperature of a seal face and/or fluid temperature. This variable is monitored via a microcomputer-based system which identifies these abrupt oscillations or spikes. The control algorithm selects a particular displacement of an actuator to modify the seal face deflection to the optimal value, and in this way attains maximum seal life while minimizing leakage.

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Whiting, IN, United States of America

James L Kozlowski