| 摘要 |
A shaft seal comprising a plurality of members which collectively engage the shaft exterior in substantially uninterrupted 360 degrees sealing contact in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the shaft while providing relatively high capacity for wear using nonflexible materials such as graphite. The provision of 360 degrees contact in a single plane enables engagement between the shaft seal and the shaft to be limited to a single ring structure, rather than requiring a pair of rings in side-by-side abutting relation. The seal members comprise a plurality of followers and an equal plurality of drivers, with each of the members being movable inwardly as it wears. Each of the followers is driven inwardly by drivers on each side as it wears. Each follower has a wear surface configured for sealing engagement with the shaft, and a pair of bearing surfaces for engagement with drivers on either side. Each of the drivers has a pair of bearing surfaces for engaging the respective bearing surfaces of the followers on either side, and a central wear surface for engaging the shaft. The bearing surfaces of the drivers and the followers are substantially planar, and the bearing surfaces on each driver are preferably coplanar with one another. In some embodiments of the invention the followers and drivers are each four in number. In other embodiments the drivers and followers are each three in number. The drivers and followers may be made of a graphite ceramic material and used without lubrication, or alternatively may be made of a babbitt material or other conventional material for use in a lubricated environment.
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