Patent ID: 7789395

Claim:
An isolator device for use in hindering fluid flow between components which are rotating relatively to each other about a longitudinal axis, said flow being in a first direction parallel to said axis, the isolator device comprising a stator for securing to a relatively fixed one of said components and a rotor for securing to a relatively rotating one of said components, the stator having a surface extending longitudinally and adjacent to a surface of a component which rotates relative to said stator, the fluid flow being between said surfaces, the stator having an annular recess in said surface of said stator with said annular recess defined by a first inclined surface inclined at an angle to the longitudinal axis of from 15° to 30° and a second inclined surface forming a terminal end wall for said annular recess extending to a maximum depth of said annular recess at an angle to the longitudinal axis of from 80° to 60°, wherein the first inclined surface is downstream of the second inclined surface is a repelling fluid flow side, the first inclined surface sloping from the downstream side, radially outwardly, to the upstream side, so that the fluid flow entering said annual recess strikes the second inclined surface and is directed, or repelled, backward toward the upstream side, said annular recess being shaped for promoting fluid flow within said annular recess in a second direction, said second direction opposing said first direction, said stator further including a velocity reducing groove adjacent to said annular grove and defined by a pair of radial walls and an interconnecting circumferential wall.