William J Key

US Patent:

6446976, Sep 10, 2002

Filed:

Sep 6, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/655810

Inventors:

William E. Key - Escondido CA
Lionel A. Young - Murrieta CA

Assignee:

Flowserve Management Company - Irving TX

International Classification:

F16J 1534

US Classification:

277367, 277369, 277400

Abstract:

A mechanical face seal includes a pair of relatively rotatable seal rings having opposing seal faces which define a sealing region therebetween. The sealing region extends radially between the inside and outside diameters of the seal rings to seal a fluid in a sealing chamber near one diameter thereof. The seal faces are provided with hydrodynamic lift features near the sealing chamber to provide a lift load that permits a liquid between the seal faces to form a fluid film therebetween. The hydrodynamic lift features primarily function to hydrodynamically generate a hydrodynamic lift load while a plurality of concentric grooves are also provided on the seal face to serve as a leakage barrier during shaft rotation of the that prevents the liquid film from leaking across the seal faces.