RECIPROCABLE PISTON WITH A FLUID SCAVENGING SYSTEM AND METHOD OF SCAVENGING A FLUID

摘要

A reciprocable piston comprises a cylindrical body reciprocable within a hollow cylinder and at least two spaced ring seals disposed around the circumference of the cylindrical body. Within the cylindrical body there is a scavenging system that comprises: an internal chamber that is in fluid communication with a space between the spaced ring seals; and a one-way fluid passage that allows one-way fluid flow from the internal chamber to the cylinder chamber when fluid pressure within the internal chamber is greater than fluid pressure within the cylinder chamber. A method of scavenging fluid comprises collecting fluid that leaks by a piston seal and returning the collected fluid to the cylinder chamber from which it originated, through a scavenging system disposed within the piston.