High pressure rotary coupling

Abstract

The present invention in a rotary coupling or swivel is arranged for maintaining together, respectively, stationary and rotating pipes wherethrough a fluid under pressure is passed and involves an outer stationary body with an inner body journaled therein. The two bodies are held together by positioning a number of hardened balls within complimentary grooves formed, respectively, around the stationary body inner circumference and around the inner body outer circumference, the aligned grooves forming a track or race wherein the hardened balls roll freely. The hardened balls are dropped into the grooves through a port formed through the stationary body, holding the bodies together and functioning as a roller bearing to carry high thrust loads beyond the pressure loading. The coupling additionally includes a dual packing seal arrangement that, when installed between the stationary and rotating bodies will act as a barrier to fluid flow into the coupling and includes a visual flow indicator associated therewith that will indicate to an operator the failure of a primary seal. The dual packing seal arrangement is arranged to be easily installed without a necessity of fully separating the coupling bodies. Additionally, proximate ends of the coupling stationary and rotating bodies across where the fluid under pressure is passed are each tapered appropriately so as to provide a minimum pressure drop across the junction, and a plurality of radial bearings are preferably provided between the coupling bodies for supporting bending moments exerted thereacross.