John Crane Inc.

Jon J Radosav

David M Dudek

Thomas A Evans

Brian J Atwater

Robert J Eisbrenner

Russell G Wieser

Angelo G Ralle

Orest T Browar

A mechanical end face seal comprising two relatively rotatable seal rings, a resilient bellows for providing a secondary seal between one seal ring and either a housing or a rotating shaft and a finger spring element nested in the bellows. The resilient bellows comprises an elastomeric material, such as molded rubber, and has a single convolution having a general cross-sectional shape of an inverted &ldquo;Omega.&rdquo; The finger spring member comprises a plurality of generally &ldquo;U&rdquo; shaped spring fingers which provide the axial biasing force to urge the ring faces in sealing relation. In a preferred embodiment, the spring includes ferrules for providing radially inward force on a flange portion of each end of the bellows to maintain the secondary seal.

Mechanical face seal

A mechanical face seal comprising two seal rings for use in water pumps and other fluids, including a resilient bellows for providing a secondary seal between one seal ring and either a housing or a rotating shaft extending through an aperture in the housing. The resilient bellows preferably comprises an elastomeric material, such as molded rubber, and has a single convolution having a general cross-sectional shape of an inverted &ldquo;omega.&rdquo; A finger spring member comprises a plurality of generally &ldquo;U&rdquo; shaped spring fingers which are adapted and deformed upon installation to provide an axial biasing force against the seal ring attached to the resilient bellows so as to urge it toward the other ring. In a preferred embodiment, the resilient bellows includes a ferrule for providing radially inward force on a flange portion of the bellows to maintain the secondary seal between the bellows and the seal ring, and a corresponding second ferrule at a flange portion disposed opposite the axial end of the bellows which provides a secondary seal between the bellows and either the shaft or the housing. Preferably, the seal elements are associated with a shaft sleeve and a retainer to present the seal as a cartridge for easy installation.

A totally split mechanical face seal being installable and replaceable without necessitating breakdown of the shaft and/or housing. The inventive split seal is well suited for replacement of packing or stuffing in heavy duty or inaccessible locations. The inventive seals include a sealing element that seals the primary ring against the shaft and rigidly positions the primary ring in the axial, circumferential and radial directions, and also includes a sealing element which seals the mating ring against the housing and non-rigidly positions the mating ring in the axial direction while simultaneously providing an axial biasing force on the mating ring to provide mating contact of the two rings. For applications where gross displacements of the shaft relative to the housing are expected, a thrust bearing or a connection is made between the mating ring assembly and rotating elements associated with shaft. Alternatively, a bearing assembly is provided for maintaining the axial position of the primary ring assembly and both primary and mating rings are held in approximately the same positions relative to each other regardless of the gross shaft displacements.

Split mechanical face seal

A totally split mechanical face seal being installable and replaceable without necessitating breakdown of the shaft and/or housing. The inventive split seal is well suited for replacement of packing or stuffing in heavy duty or inaccessible locations. The inventive seals include a sealing element that seals the primary ring against the shaft and rigidly positions the primary ring in the axial, circumferential and radial directions, and also includes a sealing element which seals the mating ring against the housing and non-rigidly positions the mating ring in the axial direction while simultaneously providing an axial biasing force on the mating ring to provide mating contact of the two rings.

A totally split mechanical face seal being installable and replaceable without necessitating breakdown of the shaft and/or housing. The inventive split seal is well suited for replacement of packing or stuffing in heavy duty or inaccessible locations. The inventive seals include a sealing element that seals the primary ring against the shaft and rigidly positions the primary ring in the axial, circumferential and radial directions, and also includes a sealing element which seals the mating ring against the housing and non-rigidly positions the mating ring in the axial diection while simultaneously providing an axial biasing force on the mating ring to provide mating contact of the two rings.

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Norridge, IL, United States of America

Jon J Radosav