ROTARY SEAL FOR DIRECTIONAL DRILLING TOOLS

摘要

A rotary valve assembly for a rotary steerable tool is disclosed for directi ng flow of an abrasive laden drilling fluid; the valve assembly has a first sealing surfac e rotatably engaging a second sealing surface. At least one of the surfaces has at least about 5% of its area comprising interconnecting voids to an average depth of at least 0. 02 mm. The interconnected voids allow fluid pressure to equalize between the sealing faces by flowing through the interconnecting voids to the sealing surfaces. Because t he fit of the sealing surfaces of the valve is less than perfect, and because the void s on mating surfaces do not necessarily overlap, the 5% of the surface area comprising interconnected voids can easily translate to a 10% or more reduction in seal ed area when both sealing surfaces have the interconnecting voids. The additional reduction in surface area subjected to differential pressure has substantially eliminated the hydraulic lock problem previously encountered upon startup.