The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 02, 2005
Filed:
Apr. 15, 2003
Wesley C. Morrow, Houston, TX (US);
Jeffery J. Dinkel, Houston, TX (US);
Michael J. Kubinski, Houston, TX (US);
Wesley C. Morrow, Houston, TX (US);
Jeffery J. Dinkel, Houston, TX (US);
Michael J. Kubinski, Houston, TX (US);
National-Oilwell, L.P., Houston, TX (US);
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for providing enhanced seal life of a swivel seal assembly by decreasing the effective differential pressure across a given rotating seal. The differential pressure is decreased by providing a pressurized fluid on the low-pressure side of the seal at a predetermined fraction of the operating pressure of the swivel seal assembly. A preferred swivel seal assembly utilizes a washpipe and packing box that are rigidly affixed to their respective conduits such that misalignment and dynamic run-out is compensated for in the gap between the washpipe and the packing box. A control system monitors and regulates the pressurized fluid supplied to the assembly.