Externally adjustable seal and bearing structure

摘要

An externally adjustable seal and bearing structure includes an external and an internal tube. The tubes overlap within the container and are radially separated by a seal and a bearing. The bearing permits the tubes to oscillate with respect to one another. The bearing is in two parts which are separated by the seal. The bearing and the seal are arranged between a retainer and a stop plate. An adjustment nut external of the container is threaded on to the external tube and tightening of the nut longitudinally moves the external tube with respect to the internal tube. The stop plate and retainer act against the bearing parts to compress and radially expand the seal between the two tubes.