Patent ID: 6450546
Filing Date: 2002-09-17
Classification: F16L,Y10S

Abstract:
A sealed fluid joint comprising:an inner housing, outer and middle housing rings positioned coaxially about said inner housing, with said outer and middle housing rings arranged and designed to rotate together relative to said inner housing about a common central longitudinal axis, an inner annular fluid manifold defined between said inner housing and said middle housing ring, an outer annular fluid manifold defined between said middle and outer housing rings, a passage formed in said middle housing ring between said inner and outer annular fluid manifolds which allows communication of pressurized fluid between said inner and outer manifolds, upper and lower outer annular ring-shaped seal glands defined between said middle and outer housing rings, upper and lower outer annular seals positioned respectively in said upper and lower outer seal glands, upper and lower inner annular ring-shaped seal glands defined between said middle housing ring and said inner housing, upper and lower inner annular seals positioned respectively in said upper and lower inner seal glands, said middle housing ring and said inner housing and said outer housing ring and said seals in said seal glands being arranged and designed to maintain said upper and lower inner annular shaped seal glands at a predetermined extrusion gap width as a function of pressure of said pressurized fluid in said inner and outer annular fluid manifolds.