Patent ID: 9039013
Filing Date: 2015-05-26
Classification: F16J

Abstract:
1. A hydrodynamic non-contacting seal comprising: a stationary seal member having a sealing surface; a rotatable seal member in close proximity to said stationary seal member and having a radially inner radius and a radial expanse, a sealing surface of said rotatable seal member opposing the sealing surface of said stationary seal member; said rotatable seal member being adapted for rotation in a first circumferential direction and including, in the sealing surface thereof, a radially outwardly extending spiral pattern of grooves, each of said grooves having a width and a depth; wherein the depth of each of said grooves decreases across the width thereof in a direction opposite to the circumferential direction of rotation of said rotatable seal member; wherein the rotatable seal member extends radially between an inner surface and an outer surface, and each of the grooves extends radially into the rotatable seal member from an edge of the inner surface; and wherein each of the grooves includes a pair of opposing sidewalls and a bottom wall, each sidewall has an inner edge and a height, and the bottom wall extends between the sidewalls at the inner edges thereof, and wherein the depth extends between the bottom wall and the sealing surface of the rotatable seal member.