Patent ID: 7871241

Claim:
A self-adjusting, self-monitoring system for evaluating and effecting adjustment of a leakage restricting mechanism in rotodynamic pumps having a rotating element adjacent a non-rotating element, the system comprising: at least one adjustment device positioned to effect axial movement between the rotating and non-rotating leakage restricting elements of a pump to provide a selected leakage restricting gap dimension between said rotating and non-rotating elements upon determination of a condition requiring adjustment between said rotating and non-rotating elements; at least one sensor mechanism positioned to detect conditions of the pump, said at least one sensor being positioned in proximity to said leakage restricting gap between said rotating and non-rotating elements of said pump to determine whether conditions require adjustment of said gap; and a control system in communication with said at least one sensor mechanism and being capable of receiving data from said at least one sensor mechanism to indicate the need for effecting adjustment between the rotating and non-rotating elements of a pump to provide a selected leakage restricting gap dimension therebetween.