Patent ID: 7597360

Claim:
A coolant union having a tubular carrier member axially movable within a union housing having an inner wall defining a cylindrical inner chamber, with the carrier member adapted to receive fluid coolant and structurally arranged to direct the coolant through the union to an associated tubular rotor, with the coolant union having a seal assembly including in combination: a first seal member presenting an annular sealing surface mounted to and rotatable with said rotor; a non-rotating second seal member presenting an annular sealing surface mounted to the tubular carrier member for axial movement within the housing between an unpressurized position wherein said second seal member is spaced apart from said first seal member and a pressurized position wherein said first and said second seal members are structurally arranged to provide a seal between the annular sealing surfaces of said first and said non-rotating seal members; wherein said first seal member and said non-rotating seal member are comprised of silicon carbide material; and wherein at least one of the annular sealing surfaces presented by said first seal member and said non-rotating seal member is such that the width of one of said annular sealing surfaces is less than the width of said other annular sealing surface to provide a narrowed contact area therebetween to provide an increased operating life of the coolant union during operation.