Crane Packing Limited

John Kemp

David J Lowe

Surinderpal S Sall

A mechanical face seal has a first seal face member mounted in fixed rotational and radial relationship to one component and sealed with respect thereto; abutment means mounted in fixed rotational and radial relationship to a second component and sealed with respect thereto; and a second seal face member interposed between the first seal face member and the abutment means. Spring means is arranged to apply an axial load between the first and second seal face members, said second seal face member having opposed faces, one of said faces being maintained in sealing engagement with a corresponding face on the first seal face member under the axial load applied by the spring means and the other face being sealed with respect to a corresponding face on said abutment means. Means is provided to interconnect said second seal face member rotationally with respect to said abutment means while permitting limited radial movement therebetween and one of said faces of the second seal face member and the corresponding face of the first seal face member or abutment means is inclined to the axis of the seal, so as to impose a radial load on the second face member. Two such seal assemblies may be provided co-axially of one another to provide a double seal.

Radially stable mechanical face seals

A mechanical face seal comprises a first seal face member associated in fixed relationship and sealed with respect to one component, a second seal face member associated in fixed rotational relationship and sealed with respect to a second component and a third seal face member interposed between the first and second seal face members. Springs are provided to urge the second seal face member towards the first seal face member and maintain the first, second and third seal face members in sealing engagement. The sealing faces of the first, second and third seal face members are inclined, so that the first and second seal face members impose a radial load on the third seal face member. Two such seal assemblies may be provided co-axially of one another to provide a double seal.

Mechanical face seals

A method of monitoring the wear of the sealing faces of a mechanical face seal comprising; positioning a probe radially of the axially moveable seal face member of the seal or a component which moves axially with the seal face member; producing a signal which is directed radially outwardly from the surface of the seal face member or component so that it may be picked up by the probe; and arranging the surface of the seal face member or component such that there is a change in signal, indicative of the wear on the sealing faces, as the seal face member moves axially with respect to the probe.

Mechanical face seals with wear monitor means

A sealing member for sealing an axially movable face seal member to an associated component comprises an annular body of graphite or other predominantly carbon-containing material of U-shape or C-shape in cross-section formed around a supporting annular core.

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Earnhan Common, United Kingdom

John Kemp