PATENTS

14Sealing Technology December 2013

define at least one interface passage, including a radially-outermost annular interface pas-sage between an annular, outermost, radially-extending projection of the stator and an annular rearward-extending distal projection of the rotor that overlaps the radially-extending projection of the stator. The radially-outermost annular interface passage tapers outwards and rearwards at an acute angle relative to an axial reference line. The annular elastomeric seals remain stationary with respect to the stator dur-ing dynamic operation of the rotor, and do not come into contact with the surface of the rotor. The interface also can have two radially-dis-posed exclusion chambers – the outer one being defined in part by a radially-inboard projection of the rotor. The stator may have a projection that provides a contact-avoidance interface position inboard of at least two contaminant-excluding interfaces.Patent number: WO/2013/126229Inventors: R. Jaskot, W. Nepa and T. BricksonPublication date: 29 August 2013

Support and protection for power-train components

Applicant: NTN USA Corp, USAThis invention generally relates to supports for power-train components. In particular, it relates to bearings supporting constant velocity (CV) joints. A CV joint system has a bearing assem-bly supporting a first shaft. A first labyrinth seal on one axial side of this assembly is formed by a shoulder that is described as being unitary with the outer member of the CV joint, and by a radially inward projection on a bracket, hold-ing in place the outer race of the bearing assem-bly. A second labyrinth seal is formed between a cylindrical section of the bearing support bracket and an annular member that axially retains the bearing on the shaft. Both the bear-ing support bracket and the annular member are formed from stamped sheet metal. The shoulder and the annular member are shaped to promote centrifugal slinging of contaminants away from the bearing assembly.Patent number: WO/2013/126516Inventors: B. Ketchel, C. Katke and N. YuichiroPublication date: 29 August 2013

Machine sealing arrangement

Applicant: Trelleborg Sealing Solutions Germany GmbH, GermanyThis invention relates to a sealing arrangement (10) that has an improved sealing effect and a lower tendency to wear. It comprises two

machine parts (12 & 14), which are arranged along/about a movement axis (16) so as to be moveable relative to one another. A single elas-tically deformable seal (22) is held (press-fit) on a seal-holding structure (20) on one of the parts (12 & 14). This seal forms a sliding guide (40) for the two machine parts, and has at least one lip that fits against one of the parts to form a seal. This sealing lip extends in an axial direc-tion from the seal-holding structure. A free end-section (32) of the sealing lip is supported by at least one elastically deformable pre-tensioning element (38) on one of the machine parts in such a way that the free end-section fits against the other machine part with a defined contact pressure.Patent number: WO/2013/124192Inventor: H. JordanPublication date: 29 August 2013

Packer end-ring with polymer gripping device

Applicant: Halliburton Energy Services Inc, USAThis patent relates generally to equipment used and operations performed in conjunction with a subterranean well. The systems and methods detailed aim to improve the way in which pack-ers are constructed. An example is described in which a gripping device is contained in an end-ring in such a way that it grips a base pipe and prevents longitudinal displacement of a seal element relative to the pipe.Patent number: WO/2013/128222Inventors: K. Andersen and S.S. LyngPublication date: 6 September 2013

Sealing arrangement for gear pumps

Applicant: Dover Pump Solutions Group (Europe) GmbH, SwitzerlandThis invention relates to a sealing arrangement (1) for conveying devices – in particular for gear pumps – in which an inner space (5) can be sealed off from an outer space (6). The seal-

ing arrangement comprises at least two parts (2 & 3), each having at least one sealing surface (20 or 21). These surfaces include a first seal (11), along a first, medial perimeter of the seal-

recess (15) between the first and second seal. The recess is connected to a source of a flush-ing medium.Patent number: WO/2013/127464Inventor: R. TriebePublication date: 6 September 2013

Container shaft seal structure

Applicant: Hitachi Ltd, JapanThis invention addresses the problem of creating a container shaft seal structure that can be used even in a corrosive environment such as sea water, or when there is a pressure difference inside and outside the container in which the rotary shaft pivots – the structure having a variable rotation angle at which torque does not become excessively large. This seal structure is provided with a rotary member that is supported by a container that isolates an internal space from an external one. One end of a seal member is integrally fixed to the container whilst the other end is integrally fixed to the rotary member.Patent number: WO/2013/128535Inventors: H. Aoyama and T. SawadaPublication date: 6 September 2013

Axially moveable sealing device for a turbo-machine

Applicant: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft, GermanyThis invention relates to a sealing device (12) for a turbo-machine (1). It seals off two regions (6 & 8) that are arranged at an axial distance from one another. The objective is that the sealing device, whilst designed to be relatively simple, enables the turbo-machine

The objective of this invention, detailed by patent WO/2013/124192, is to develop an arrangement that has an improved sealing effect and a lower tendency to wear.

Patent WO/2013/127464 describes a seal-ing arrangement (1) for a conveying device, such as a gear pump. The structure includes a recess (15), between two seals, which is con-nected to a source of a flushing medium.

PATENTS

December 2013 Sealing Technology15

to run more efficiently. To achieve this aim the device comprises a labyrinth seal (10) having a first moulded part (14), arranged on the shaft (2) of the turbo-machine, and a second moulded part (16), arranged on the housing (4) in an axially moveable manner. The second moulded part has a projection (18) that extends into the housing, wherein a first surface (28) of the projection (18) – fac-ing the first region (6) – bounds a first pres-sure-controllable chamber (24), and a second surface (30) of the projection (18) – facing the second region (8) – bounds a second pressure-controllable chamber (26). The pres-sure (p1 & p3) in the first and second cham-bers (24 & 26) is controlled in such a way that the force arising (because of the pressure difference) counterbalances the force on the second moulded part (16) and the projection (18) arising because of the pressure difference of the first and second regions (6 & 8).Patent number: WO/2013/127687Inventor: R. PötterPublication date: 6 September 2013

Resilient seal with a pressurised bellows spring

Applicant: Eaton Corp, USAA seal with increased resilience has been devel-oped. It uses a sealed gas-filled inner chamber in a bellows spring that functions as both a mechanical spring and a gas spring to provide a constant separation force between two face-plates to provide a seal between two mechani-cal components, such as those found in an air-craft jet engine. The bellows spring is made of

a plurality of walls that are joined together in a pressurised chamber which is filled with an inert gas. In alternative embodiments the bel-lows spring has walls that are shaped and ori-ented to optimise its operating characteristics when the pressure is increased in the sealed inner chamber in response to an increase in temperature. In another embodiment the walls forming a portion of the chamber overlap to optimise the geometry of the bellows spring.Patent number: WO/2013/130709Inventors: J.E. Swensen and M.E. RoachPublication date: 6 September 2013

Method for operating a rotary valve to reduce seal sheet wear

Applicant: UOP Llc, USAThis patent describes a method of operating a rotary valve, using variable dome seating pressure, to provide a minimum seating force (for each position of the valve). According to various approaches, the method involves

-sure of tracks in a stationary track-plate at

a seal sheet at that position, based on the measured pressure at the first position and

each track in the stationary track-plate at this

seal sheet at this position, based on the meas-ured pressure and the seating force.Patent number: WO/2013/130284Inventor: J.T. CorradiPublication date: 6 September 2013

Seal for pipeline

Applicant: Chevron USA Inc, USADisclosed is an apparatus for sealing and sev-ering a subsea pipe adapted to convey fluids – for example, hydrocarbons. The apparatus includes a housing adapted to enable it to

-ing an opening in the pipe at a predetermined

connection to a source of sealant material and space within the pipe adjacent to the opening

Methods disclosed include piercing the pipe to form an opening, injecting sealant material through the opening into the pipe to form a fluid-tight seal, and cutting the pipe through the seal to form sealed cut ends.Patent number: WO/2013/130235Inventors: J.C. Sharp, S.O. Crook, J.D. Adkins, D.C. Kefford, E.S. Nakajima and J.M. ThibodeauxPublication date: 6 September 2013

Well-head gasket seal

Applicant: Cameron International Corp, USAAn offshore system for a subsea well includes a floating platform, an external riser and an internal riser nested within the external one. A device tensions the external riser. The drilling system also includes a well head, a collet and a flange assembly. These are assembled to estab-lish a common bore for receiving the top of the internal riser. A gasket located between the top of the internal riser and an inner shoulder of the flange assembly seals between the well-head sys-tem and the top of the internal riser. The surface well-head system also retains the internal riser in tension with the well-head – the internal riser extending above the well head into the collet.Patent number: WO/2013/134250Inventors: D. Cain, W.F. Puccio, S.J. Chou, V.A. Cheruvu, K.P. Guidry and C. TrimblePublication date: 6 September 2013

Seal integrity testingApplicant: ABB Technology Ltd, SwitzerlandThis disclosure relates to a method of testing the integrity of a second seal of an electrical insulator. It involves filling a first volume of the insulator with a gas, comprising a detectable

-ing a second volume through a first closable opening, and determining that the second seal – between the second sealing element and the body, or the closed second closable opening – is leaking, should the component be present in the evacuated gas from the second volume. Patent number: WO/2013/131790Inventors: A. Holmberg, A. Brorsson, B. Asplund, J. Persson and M. LundborgPublication date: 12 September 2013

An axially moveable sealing device for a turbo-machine is detailed by patent WO/2013/127687.