Magnetic/centrifugal-fluid seal

摘要

A magnetic/centrifugal-fluid seal comprising a rotating disk-like collar/vane surrounding a rotatable shaft journalled in a housing defined by close-fitting stationary members forming a cavity to accommodate the rotatable shaft and disk-like collar/vane. A magnetic fluid is retained in a close clearance magnetic gap region between the rotatable shaft and the stationary members and is magnetized by an external permanent magnet or electromagnet. At standstill or low-speed the magnetic fluid is retained by magnetic force in the close-clearance magnetic gap region formed by several sets of opposing pole-like teeth confronting the inner surfaces of the rotating disk-like collar/vane. By virtue of magnetic attraction the magnetic fluid can withstand a pressure drop between high and low pressure regions and thus effects a magnetic seal at standstill and low speeds. As the shaft rotates faster, the magnetic fluid is forced centrifugally from the magnetic seal region and becomes a rotating mass or pool of fluid at the circumferential rim of the disk-like collar/vane. The fluid then acts as a conventional centrifugal seal. When stopping or slowing down, a speed is reached where the magnetic/gravitational forces again dominate over the centrifugal forces and the magnetic fluid returns to the magnetic seal region.