PATENTS

April 2014 Sealing Technology13

mer, disposed inside this bladder, absorbs water that could potentially migrate into the bladder from the well-bore.Patent number: WO/2013/166392 Inventors: D.P. Gerrard, J.J. Mack, J.L. Bearden and B.M. RichardPublication date: 7 November 2013

Shaft seal with lamellae

Applicant: EN3 GmbH, GermanyThis invention relates to a system for sealing shafts. It comprises at least one device (1 & 2) for positioning at least one first sealing means (3) and a second sealing means (6) on a shaft (7) in a specified manner. At least the first seal-ing means has a partly elastic wall region (3a, 3b & 3c) for restricting fluid passage out of a first region, in which a fluid is provided, into a second region, from which the shaft (7) is sealed by the first region. A wall region (3a, 3b & 3c) forms an opening (24 & 25) through which the shaft is guided. The diameter of this opening is variable depending on the diameter of the shaft, and the second sealing means (6) lies over the first sealing means (3) so as to make contact with it at least in some regions, in order to seal the fluid passage.Patent number: WO/2013/164261 Inventors: N. Günther, G. Eggert, R. Engel and T. GenzPublication date: 7 November 2013

Bush assembly

Applicant: Airbus Operations Ltd, UKThis invention relates to a seal for a bush assembly. The seal includes a member that sits over a flange of the bush which is fitted in the bore of a component and a material for sealing between the member and the flange/compo-nent. The seal assembly described is designed to substantially prevent the ingress of contami-nants into the interface between the flange and the surface of the component. Referring to the accompanying figure, the assembly comprises a component (1) that has a bore, a bush (5) fitted

in the bore and flange (9) that extends radially outwards over the surface of the component surrounding the bore, and a seal assembly for sealing the interface between the flange and the surface of the component. The assembly also includes a seal member and a layer of sealant (22) between the member, and the interface between the flange and the surface of the com-ponent. Also described is a method for sealing a bush (5), and a kit of parts and clamping tool for forming a bush assembly.Patent number: WO/2013/164580Inventors: J. Wilson, A. Quayle, P. Hadley, C.J. West, S. Carrick, J. Monteith and P. MasonPublication date: 7 November 2013

External clamshell slip-joint seal

Applicant: Caterpillar Inc, USAThis disclosure describes a slip-joint seal for a slip joint that includes an outer pipe and an inner pipe. The seal includes a clamshell clamp (202) with an upper portion (206) and a lower portion (208). These mate with one another to form a hollow cylindrical ring (209). The ring has a base portion, a protruding portion, an inner surface (211) and an outer surface. A band (210) fits around the base portion for securing the upper and lower portions to one

another around the slip joint. The slip-joint seal has a ceramic fibre filament with a first portion that fits within the base portion and surrounds a portion of the slip joint, around a slidable interface. A second portion fits within the pro-truding portion and fills an annular channel of the slip joint. The clamshell clamp (202) and the filament work to prevent leakage from the interface between the inner pipe, whilst ena-bling relative movement to occur between the inner and outer pipes.Patent number: WO/2013/166154Inventors: T.S. Grivetti and R.A. SarsfieldPublication date: 7 November 2013

System for monitoring seals between stationary and rotating conduits

Applicant: National Oilwell Varco Lp, USAA device for monitoring a seal assembly has been developed. It includes a body with a cen-tral axis and a through-passage; a piston is dis-posed (but can slide) in this through-passage and is biased towards one end of the body (by a biasing member); and a signalling assembly coupled to the body. The signalling assembly includes an indicator to which is coupled a switch. The through-passage and the piston are exposed to fluid pressure in the seal assem-bly. The piston is configured to translate axi-ally in the through-passage to transition the switch between a first position and a second position, enabling the switch to transition the indicator between a deactivated state and an activated state.Patent number: WO/2013/170178 Inventor: R.F. WeaverPublication date: 14 November 2013

Conformable metallic seal

Applicant: Baker Hughes Inc, USAThe seal described includes a metal composite that has a cellular structure which includes a metallic nano-matrix material, a metal matrix disposed in the cellular nano-matrix, and a disintegration agent; an inner sealing surface; and an outer sealing surface disposed radially from the inner sealing surface. The seal can be prepared by combining a metal matrix powder, the disintegration agent and metal nano-matrix material to form a composition. This com-position is then compacted and sintered. The resulting material is pressed to form the seal.Patent number: WO/2013/169418 Inventors: Z. Xu, Y. Xu, G.L. Hern and B.M. RichardPublication date: 14 November 2013

Patent WO/2013/164261 provides details of a system for sealing shafts.

A cross-section through the bush assembly that forms the first embodiment of pat-ent WO/2013/164580. The seal assembly described is designed to prevent the ingress of contaminants into the interface between the flange and surface of the component.

A perspective view of the slip-joint seal, which forms the subject of patent WO/2013/166154. The clamshell clamp (202) and the filament work to prevent leakage from the interface between the inner pipe, whilst enabling relative movement to occur between the inner and outer pipes.