| 摘要 |
A pump shaft clearance seal construction disposed adjacent a bearing frame (49, 51) for preventing lubricating fluid from migrating away from the bearing frame. The clearance seal construction includes a plurality of grooves (labyrinth or single spiral groove) defined in the exterior periphery of a rotating member disposed immediately adjacent the bearing frame, the rotating member and a corresponding stationary member defining a fluid sealing clearance passageway (63) in which the grooves are disposed. When the pump shaft (7) is rotated, the air flow created in the passageway (63) by the rotating grooves (73) deters the lubricating fluid from migrating away from the bearing frame (49,51). The passageway also includes a radially extending portion (69) in which a plurality of arc-shaped sealing vanes (103) are formed, the vanes (103) for creating a centripetal pumping/sealing action thereby preventing foreign contaminants from flowing radially outward into the radially extending portion (69) of the passageway toward the labyrinth grooves (73) and the adjacent bearing frame (49, 51). Accordingly, the seal construction functions to simultaneously both (i) prevent lubricating fluid from migrating away from the bearing frame; and (ii) preclude foreign contaminants from reaching the bearing frame and the lubrication chamber therebeyond.
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