Patent ID: 6568687
Filing Date: 2003-05-27
Classification: F16J

Abstract:
A mechanical end face seal assembly to provide a fluid tight seal between a housing defining a bore and a rotatable shaft extending through the bore, said seal assembly comprising:an annular mating seal ring; an axially movable annular primary seal ring; said rings each having a seal face in facing relation to the seal face of the other ring to define a sealing interface therebetween; a resilient bellows in fluid-tight sealing relation to said primary ring and adapted to be in fluid-tight sealing relation to a housing or shaft; said bellows including an inboard web and an outboard web; a base connecting said webs to form a single convolution, a finger spring member adapted to urge said primary ring toward said mating seal ring, said finger spring member including a plurality of spring fingers adapted to be deformed on installation of said seal assembly between the housing and shaft; said finger spring being nested within said single convolution; wherein a web of said bellows includes an axially extending annular flange in fluid-tight sealing engagement with said axially movable primary ring, and the other web includes an axially extending annular flange, and wherein said finger spring includes a ferrule connected to said inboard legs of said spring fingers, said ferrule being associated with said axially extending annular flange of said inboard web of said bellows, said finger spring further including a ferrule connected to said outboard legs of said spring fingers, said ferrule being associated with said axially extending annular flange on said outboard web of said bellows wherein said ferrules are sized to apply a compressive force to said associated axially extending annular flanges.