Patent ID: 8931783
Filing Date: 2015-01-13
Classification: F16J

Abstract:
1. A seal assembly for providing a seal between a pair of relatively rotatable components comprising; a first seal ring defining a seal face and mounted in sealing relationship, non-rotatably and for limited axial movement on a first of the components; a second seal ring defining a seal face and mounted in axially aligned relationship to the first seal ring, said second seal ring being mounted in sealing relationship, non-rotatably and for limited axial movement on a second of the components; first resilient means associated with the second seal ring urging it axially towards the first seal ring; second resilient means acting on the first seal ring urging it away from the second seal ring to separate the first and second seal rings; and a centrifugal actuator associated with the first seal ring, said centrifugal actuator comprising a radially extending chamber between the first seal ring and the component associated therewith, said chamber being closed at-an outer periphery, an inner periphery of the chamber being open to inner peripheries of the first and second seal rings, whereby fluid present in the interior of the first and second seal rings may enter the chamber, rotation inducing means being provided whereby a body of fluid in the chamber will be induced to rotate when the components rotate relative to one another, so that centrifugal action will force the fluid towards the outer periphery of the chamber, pressurizing the fluid and applying an axial load to the first seal ring urging it axially against the second resilient means and said sealing face of the first seal ring into relatively rotating sealing engagement with said sealing face of the second seal ring.