Patent ID: 6685194
Filing Date: 2004-02-03
Classification: F16J

Abstract:
An annular hydrodynamic seal assembly for sealing between relatively rotatable members at least one of which defines a relatively rotatable surface, said annular hydrodynamic seal assembly serving as a partition between first and second fluids and defining at least a portion of a chamber containing the first fluid, comprising:a resilient annular seal body defining a seal circumference and having at least one seal end and having at least one annular sealing surface having a varying slope that varies between a minimum slope and a maximum slope about at least part of said seal circumference, said at least one annular sealing surface being deformed by sealing engagement with the relatively rotatable surface of at least one of the relatively rotatable members to define a hydrodynamic wedging angle with respect to the relatively rotatable surface and to define at least a portion of an annular dynamic sealing interface having an annular interfacial contact footprint with the relatively rotatable surface, said annular interfacial contact footprint having first and second footprint edges each having an annular periphery and said first footprint edge being wavy on at least a portion of said annular periphery thereof and together with said hydrodynamic wedging angle establishing hydrodynamic geometry hydrodynamically wedging a lubricating film of the first fluid into said annular dynamic sealing interface in response to rotational movement of the first fluid against said hydrodynamic geometry, causing the lubricating film to migrate within said annular dynamic sealing interface from the chamber to said second footprint edge, and into the second fluid, said varying slope causing said annular interfacial contact footprint to vary in width from a maximum width to a minimum width, and said resilient annular seal body having a dynamic exclusionary intersection being an intersection between said at least one annular sealing surface and said at least one seal end.