摘要 |
A rotary joint is provided which is particularly useful in deep-sea diving suits, and which is constructed in such a way that resistance to rotational movement or the potential for leakage, does not increase substantially with external pressure on the joint. The joint has a sealing member (8), a retaining member (22), and a central member (30) disposed axially between the sealing and retaining members. The central member (30) has an annular first end (32) dimensioned and axially slidably mounted on a retaining end (23) of the retaining member (22) so as to define a first variable volume chamber (40) therebetween. The central member (30) also has a second end (41) with inner and outer extending annular bearing members (44, 46), each concentric with, and normally rotatably abutting a corresponding sealing surface portion (11, 12) on the sealing member (8), so as to define annular side walls of a second chamber (48). The second chamber (48) is interconnected (50) with the first chamber (40). |