Patent ID: 9695940
Date: 2017-07-04
CPC Classifications: F16J

Claim:
1. A circumferential shaft seal segment for sealing about a rotatable shaft, the seal segment comprising: a radial outer face; a radially inner face; a first axial face extending from the radial outer face to the radial inner face; and a second axial face axially spaced from the first axial face and extending from the radially outer face to the radially inner face, a bleed slot in the radially inner face extending from the first axial face toward the second axial face; and first and second recesses in the radially inner face in communication with the bleed slot and extending from the bleed slot in opposite circumferential directions, each recess including first and second parallel, radially and circumferentially extending side walls and a ramped surface connecting the first and second side walls and facing generally toward the bleed slot and toward the other ramped surface such that the first recess is configured to generate lift when the shaft rotates in a first direction and the second recess is configured to generate lift when the shaft rotates in a second, opposing direction.