摘要 |
A high pressure fluid seal assembly is shown and described. The seal assembly includes a seal carrier having a bore through which a reciprocating pump plunger may pass, the seal carrier having a first annular groove concentric with the bore, and carrying an annular seal. The seal carrier further includes an integral annular guidance bearing positioned in a second annular groove of the seal carrier, the second annular groove and guidance bearing contained therein being axially spaced from the first annular groove and seal contained therein. An inner diameter of the guidance bearing is smaller than an inner diameter of the seal carrier in a region between the seal and the guidance bearing. The seal is therefore supported directly by the seal carrier, although the seal carrier is spaced from the reciprocating plunger by the guidance bearing. Frictional heating in the region of the seal is therefore reduced, thereby increasing the life of the seal. Materials for the plunger, seal and guidance bearing are selected to minimize friction between the plunger and seal and between the plunger and guidance bearing. Furthermore, the seal assembly is manufactured by pressing the guidance bearing into the seal carrier, and then machining the bore in the guidance bearing and in the seal carrier in the same setup, thereby improving the alignment of the elements and simplifying manufacturing.
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