USRE22353E - Shaft seal - Google Patents

Description

, July 27, 'l943. A. E. KALBl-:RG Re .22,353

SHAFT SEAL l original Filed oct, 1s, 1941 Ressued July 27, 1.943

Re. 22,353 I SHAFT SEAL Arvid E. Karlberg, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Chicago Seal Company, Chicago, l'll., a corporation of Illinois Original No. 2,299,395, dated October 20, 1942,

Serial No. 415,592, filed October 18,' 1941. Application for reissue October 20, 1942, Serial No.

14 Claims. (Cl. 286-7) This invention relates to seals for shafts, particularly adapted, though not necessarily limited in its use, for sealing compressor shafts which project through a wall of the compressor casing, to prevent escape or leakage of oil and gas. l

Heretofore, with seals of this character, there has been provided a bellows constructed of metal, which encompasses the shaft, and this bellows has running engagementwith a metal element at both ends. The bellows, being connected at one end to the shaft, ywill expand and contract not only under torsional stresses, but also by reason of any longitudinal movement of the shaft. Such expansion and contraction of the bellows is detrimental to a sealing organization, asthe continuous flexing causes the material to crystallize and break.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to overcome these difilculties and objections, and to provide an improved shaft seal of this character, in which the bellows is dispensed with, and, at the same time, to provide kan improved structure whereby an effective and efficient seal will be provided, and there will be provided sealing elements at one end of the sleeve, which latter encompasses the shaft, and a seal at the otherend of the sleeve which will permit 'the sleeve not only to rotate with respect to the casing wall, but will also permit it to move longitudinally with respect to and throughthe casing wall, at the same time maintaining a perfect seal.

partly in vertical section, of a structure embodying thisinvention.

Figure 2 is an exploded view of the parts of the sealing organization.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral Il) designates a portion of a driven shaft' which is to be sealed, and this shaft is provided connected thereto, in which the shaft III rotates.

A further object is to provide in a seal of this j longitudinal movement therethrough, inasso-` ciation with a resilient 'sealing element, the sealing action of which latter is increased under the action of the longitudinal movement of the sleeve.

c To theattainment of these ends and the accomplishment of other new and useful objects as will appear, the invention consists in the features of novelty in substantially the construction, combination and arrangement of the several parts .hereinafter more fullyl described and claimed,

and shown in the accompanying drawing illustrating this invention, in which:

Figure 1 is a view, partly in elevation and A front plate I5 is secured to the housing wall I3, preferably by means of screws or bolts I6, and, this `plate is provided with an opening \I'l therethrough, through which the reduced portion II of the shaft III passes. This` opening II is of a diameter considerably greater than the external diameter of the portion I I of the shaft.

Encompassing the portion II of the shaft and abutting the shoulder I2, is a resilient sealing element I8, the outer surface I9 of which is convex.

A bearing element` 2li encompasses the portion II of the shaft and is provided with a concave recessed face 2|, to receive the convex face I9 of the element I8. A portion of the bearingelement 2l) preferably extends over the shoulder I2, as at 32, so as to prevent a portion of the element I8 from being forced between the extremity of the element 2D and the shoulder I2, in the event of' excessive compression of the element I8.

The bearing element 2li has/an outer flat bearing surface *23. A non-rotatable sleeve 24 encompasses the portion Il, and is provided with a bearing surface-25 which contacts the surface 23 of the element 20, and a spring 26 encompassing the sleeve rests against a shoulder 21 thereon at one end, while the other end of the spring 26 preferably contacts the inner surface of the plate I5, and tends normally to maintain the bearing faces 22 and 2i in contact, as Well as the surfaces I9 and 2l of the elements I8 and 20.

With this construction, the sleeve 24' will have a. running contact against the bearing element 20; the bearing element 20, in turn, having contact with the resilient element I8, will permit of a rocking movement of the shaft III-II while maintaining an effective seal. Within thewall of the opening I1 in the plate I5, I and encompassing the opening and disposed within the planes of the inner and outer faces of the plate I5, is an open recess or groove 2B.

The sleeve 24 projects into the opening I1 and is of a length to normally project beyond the recess or groove 28 in the plate I5. Within the recess 2l and encompassing the sleeve 2l is'disposed a resilient packing element 29, the body of which is preferably of a circular cross-sectional configuration, and the element is annular in conguration, and through which element 29 the The groove or channel28 is of a semi-circular configuration in cross-section, and the length of `the opening is only slightly greater than the cross-sectional diameter of the' body of the ele-` ment 29, so that when the sleeve 24 is moved with respect to the casing wall of the plate I5 to be' projected through the opening I1, the sleeve will not only slide through the element 29, but the' element 29 will be given a rolling movement. By reason or the configuration of the groove or channel 2l, the instant that the element 29 is given such a rolling movement, it will be further compressed and the sealing qualities thereof will be immediately increased.

With this construction, it will be manifest that the sealing organization is free from rigid anchorage at'both ends. By reason of the frictional engagement of the bearing element 2li with the resilient element I9, the element 29 will `beca'used to rotate with the shaft, and, at the same time, it will be adapted forrelatlve rotary movement with respect to the shaft, thereby overcoming excessivey torsional stresses.

'I'he sleeve 2l will be resiliently held against rotation `by means of the sealing element 29, and

as the bearing element 2II rotates, its face 2| will have running contact with the face 25 of the sleeve 2l. y,

The spring 26 operates, at all times, to hold the end of the sleeve 2l in contact with the bearing element 20. Under excessive rotative stresses, the sleeve 29 is adapted to rotate within the element 29, and in the event that there is any longitudinal movement of the shaft IIi and I I, for any reason, the spring 2B will yield and the sleeve 24 will slide freely through the packing element 29 vand the o pening I1 in the plate I5. At the same time, a perfect seal will b e maintained between the sealing element 29 and the sleeve 2l and the wall of the opening II in the plate I5.

` The opening I1 is of suilicient diameter to per mit of arocklng movement of the shaft Il, whereby the shaft may be adjusted when it is out of alinement, and the convex and concave bearing surfacesl I9 and 2I between the elements I8 and 20 will permit of such rocking movement. The

sealing element 29 forms a resilient support for the sleeve and maintains the sleeve out of contact with the wall of the opening, adapting the sleeve for a substantially universal movement.

While thel preferred form of the invention has been herein ,shown `and described, it is to l be understood that various changes may be made in the details of construction and in the combinaf tion and arrangement of the several parts, withg f 'in the scope of the claims, without vdeparting from the spirit of this invention.

What is claimed as new is: l.A In combination withy a sealing organization,

, a casingv embodying a chamber and a wall forming a closure for the chamber, the faces of said wall V being substantially parallel `throughout; substantially their areas, there being an opening in said in alinement with said chamber, a shaft passing through said opening and of a diameter considerably less than the diameter of said opening, a non-rotatable sleeve of substantial length encompassing the shaft, one end of the sleeve extending into and adaptedto pass through said opening, there being an annular recess in the wall of said opening, disposed entirely within the confines of the saidl faces of said wall, a resilient i l element seated in said recess and itself being dis-` posed and maintained, at all times, within the planes of the faces of said wall, and outside of said chamber, said resilient element being compressed and also maintained under pressure solely by and between the bottom of said recess and said sleeve, a resilient sealing elementspaced from the wall oi the casing and abutting a shoulder on said shaft, -a bearing element abutting the last said resilient element, and with which bearing element one end of the sleeve has running en sagement, and resilient means interposed between Vsaid wall and a shoulderfon said sleeve for maintaining the` said end of the sleeve in contact with said bearing element. l

2. In combination with a sealing organization, a casing having an opening in its wall, a shaft passing through said opening and of a diameter considerably less than the diameter of said opening, a non-rotatable sleeve of substantial length encompassing the saidy shaft, one end of the sleeve extending into and adapted to pass through said opening, a resilient sealing annular member positioned between said sleeve and thel wallfof said opening, and disposed within 'the planes of the faces of said wall, said element being seated in a recess in said-opening in the wall and compressed between the bottom of said recess and last said resilient element, and with `which bearing element one end of the sleeve has running engagement, and resilient meansl for maintaining K the said end of the sleeve in contact with said bearing element, the abutting faces of said -bear- `ing element and the second recited sealing element being provided one with a convex surface and the other with a concave surface to receive the convex surface, to provide a rocking movement one with respect to the other.

3. In combination with a sealing organization, a casing having an opening in its wall, a shaft passing through said opening and of a diameter considerably less than the diameter of said opening, a non-rotatable sleeve of substantial length encompassingdthe said shaft, one end of the sleeve extending into and adapted to pass through said opening, a resilient sealing annular member, the body of which is normally substantially round in cross-section, and beingpositioned between said sleeve and the wall of said opening, and disposed within the planes of the faces of said wall, said element being seated in a recess in said opening in the wall and compressed between the bottom of said recess and said sleeve, a resilient sealing i element spaced from the 4wall of the casing and of said annular sealing member and operating i to cause thelatter to be further compressed as it is moved axially in the recess by the sleeve moving longitudinally through said opening. f

4. In associationl with a housing member having a shaft extending through an opening in the wall thereof androtatable with respect to said wall, the combination with a sealing organization embodying a bearing member rotatably mountedwitn and sealed at one ena t the shaft,

v passing freely through said opening, there being an open recess in the wall of said opening, a resilient annular sealing element encompassing said sleeve and seated in said recess and disposed within the planes of the faces of said .'wall, and

through which last said sealing element said sleeve is adaptedto slide. the depth of said recess being less than the'normal cross-sectional diameter of the last said sealing element, whereby the latter will be compressed between the bottom of' said recess' and said sleeve, the said recess ranging in depth from a medial point to wards the ends thereof, to further compress thi sealing element as it is moved axially in said recess, and resilient means disposed between a shoulder on said sleeve and a stationary abutment for maintaining one end of said sleeve in running engagement with said bearing member. 5. In a sealing organization, a easing having a chamber and a removable wall forming a closure for the chamber, there being an opening in said wall inalinement with said chamber, a non-rotatable sleeve encompassing a shaft which projects into said opening, said sleeve also projecting into said opening and being of an external diameter considerably less than the diameter of said opening, there being an annular recess in the wall of said opening disposed entirely within the confines of the faces of said wall and opening only into said recess, the size of said recess being unvariable, and an annular resilient element seated and replaceable as such, said resilient element being compressed and also maintained under pressure solely by and between the bottom of said y recess and said sleeve and serving to maintain a tight sealing' joint, said element forminga resilient support for the said sleeve and serving to maintain the sleeve out of contact with the wall of said opening, whereby said sleeve is adapted for a substantially universal movement with respect to said closure wall. y

6. In a sealing organization, a casing having a. chamber and a removable wall forming a closure for the chamber, there being an opening in said wall in alinement with said chamber, a non-rotatable sleeve encompassing a shaft which projects into said opening, said sleeve also projecting into said opening and being of an external diameter resilient element seated in said recess and itself being disposed and maintained, at alltimes, within the planes of the faces of said wall and constituting, with said closure wall, an assembled unitary structure removable and replaceable as such, said resilient element being compressed and also maintained under pressure solely by and be- I tween the bottom of said recess and said sleeve and serving to maintain a tight sealing joint, said element forming a resilient support for the said sleeve and serving to maintain the sleeve out of contact with the wall of said opening, whereby said sleeve is adapted for a substantially universal movement with respect to said -closure wall, the depth lof said recess being less than the normal cross-sectional diameter of the sealing element. the body of said sealing element being substantially round in cross-section, said recess varying in depth from a. medial point towards the ends thereof, to further compress the sealing element as it is moved axially in said recess.

'7. In combination with a sealing organization, a casing having a chamber, a removable wall for said casing, said wall having an opening therethroughin alinement with the chamber, there being an annular recess in the wail of said opening disposed entirely within the coniines of the lateral faces of the wall, said recess opening only into said opening and being unvariabie in size,

an annular resilient packing element seated in said recess, said packing element being, at all times, maintained in said recess and within the confines of the lateral faces of the wall, the normal exterior diameter of said annular packing element being greater than the diameter of the opening in the lateral faces of the wall, whereby said packing element, when seated in said recess. will be held against displacement through said opening and will, at all times, be maintained .within the planes of the faces of the wall, the cross-sectional diameter of the body of said packing element being greater than the depth of said recess, said wall and packing element constituting an assembled unitary structure.

8. In combination with a sealing organization, a casing having a chamber, a removable wall for said casing, said wall having an opening therethrough, in alinement with the chamber, there being an annular recess in the wall of said opening disposed entirely 'within the confines of the lateral faces oi. the wall, an annular resilient packing element seated in said recess, said packing element being, at all times, maintained in said recess and within the connes of the lateral faces of the wail, the normal exterior diameter of said annular packing element being greater than the diameter of the opening in the lateral faces of the wall, -whereby said packing element, whenv seated in said recess, will be heid against displacement through said opening and will, at all times, be maintained within the planes of the faces of the wall, the cross-sectional diameter of the body of said packing element being greater than the depth of said recess, said wall and packing element constituting an assembled unitary structure, said recess varying in depth from a medial point towards the ends thereof.

9. In ashaft seal of the character described, a wail provided with an opening therethrough and having a. recess in the wall oi' said opening spaced considerably less than the diameter of said openfrom thev lateral faces of the first said wall and communicating with said opening entirely within the confines of the planes of thev o'uter faces of the first said wall, the size of said recess being unvariable and the depth thereof being greater than the diameter of that portion of the said opening which is adjacent the ends of the recess, a shaft sleeve projecting into said opening and of an external diameter less than the diameter of said opening, and an annular resilient packing member encompassing said sleeve 'and seated in said recess, the depth of said recess being less than the normal external diameter of the said resilient element, Ithe internal `diameter of said resilient element being less than the externa diameter of said sleeve. f r v 101 In a shaftseal of the character described, a

l wall provided `with an opening therethrough and having :a recess in the wall of `said opening spaced` from the lateral faces of the first :saidwall andk communicating saidppening entirely within the contines of `'planes of the outer faces of the first said wall, the sine of said recess being unvariable :and the depththereof being greater than the diameter of that' portion of the said opening `which is adjacent the ends of the recess, a shaft sleeve proiecting into said openthe character described, a `closure wall of integral structure of and having a shaft receiving opening therethrough, v,said wall structure of substantial thickness and having la shaft receiving opening therethrough, said wall also provided with a recess of unvarable size in the wall of saidopening of a depth greater than the diameter of said shaft opening at the ends of the recess, and an annular resilient element seated in said recess and maintained at all times within the contines of the planes of the opposite faces of the wall', the normal external diameter of said annular element being greater than the depth of the said recess, whereby the said element will be'maintained seated in said' `recess and against displacement through the yends of the said wall opening. f

13. For use in a shaft sealing organizationof the character described, and as an assembled unitary structure insertable into and removable from place as such, a closure wall yof integral structure of substantial thickness and having a also provided a recess inthe wall of said v opening of a greater than the diameter of said shaft opening at ends of the recess, and an annular resilient `element .seated in said recess and maintained at times the connes of the planes of the opposite faces of the wall, the

`normal external diameter of said :annular element lthe character and `as anassembled unitary into and `removable from place as such, a closure wall of integral shaft receiving opening therethrough, said wall also providedwith a recessof unvariable size in the wall of said opening of a depth greater than `the diameter of said shaft opening at the ends of the recess, and an annular resilient element seated in said recess and maintained at all times within the coniines of the planes of the opposite `faces of the wall, the normal external diameter of said annular element being greater than the depth of the said recess, whereby the said element wllbe maintained seated .in said recess and against displacement through the ends of the said wall opening,.the said recess varying in depth from a medial point towards the endsthereof.

14. For use in a shaft sealing organization of `the character described, a closure Wall of integral structure of substantial thickness and having a `shaft receiving opening therethrougnsaid wall also provided with a recess in the wall of. said opening of a depth greater than the diameter `olf said shaft opening at the ends of the recess, and an annular resilient element seated in said recess and maintained at all times within the connes of the planes of the opposite faces of the wall, the normal external diameter of said annular element being greater than the depth of the :said recess, whereby the said element will be maintained seated in 4said recess and against displacement through the ends of the said wall opening, the internal diameter of said `resilient element being substantially less than the dameter of :said opening in the rst said wall.

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