Debris protection system for a propeller shaft of a marine vessel

Abstract

The invention relates to an underwater sealing system for providing a barrier against dirt between a rotatable shaft and a stationary member, the sealing system comprising an annular member for extending around the rotatable shaft, wherein the annular member comprises: a body section having a sealing contact surface extending between an inner circumference and an outer circumference of the annular member, wherein, in use, the sealing contact surface faces the stationary member to provide a lubricated sealing contact, wherein the body section comprises a plurality of recesses extending from the sealing contact surface into the body section and open towards the stationary member to receive dirt from between the annular member and the stationary member into the plurality of recesses; and a coupling section for contacting the rotatable shaft such that the annular member rotates, in use, integrally with the rotatable shaft, wherein at least one recess of the plurality of recesses extends in a radial direction.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a sealing system for a drive shaft (also known as a main shaft) in underwater applications. Such a drive shaft can be, for example, part of a vessel or part of a turbine drive pipeline for tidal energy. Background Technology

[0002] Technical seals in underwater applications are susceptible to contamination. Therefore, contaminant barriers are typically positioned upstream of the technical seals to prevent contaminant from entering. Upstream means the barrier acts as the first line of defense against contamination. A known problem with contaminant barriers is the accumulation of contaminant between the barrier and the technical seal.

[0003] NL 2013406 is an example of a technical seal and relates to a sealing structure for a rotatable shaft, the sealing structure comprising: a housing having an annular cavity inside the housing; and a cylinder located within the annular cavity and capable of radial movement within the annular cavity. The cylinder includes a plurality of annular sealing elements for sealing against the rotatable shaft.

[0004] DE 2930462 C2 relates to a seal for grease-lubricated shafts. DE 2930462 C2 provides a sealing ring to protect downstream seals from substances such as mud, abrasive particles, dust, etc. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide an underwater sealing system that reduces the accumulation of contaminants near technical seals.

[0006] Therefore, according to a first aspect of the invention, an underwater sealing system is provided for providing a debris barrier between a rotatable shaft and a stationary member, the sealing system comprising an annular member extending about the rotatable shaft, wherein the annular member comprises: The body section has a sealing contact surface extending between the inner and outer circumferences of the annular member, wherein, in use, the sealing contact surface faces the stationary member to provide a lubricating sealing contact. The body section includes a plurality of recesses extending from the sealing contact surface into the body section and opening toward the stationary member to receive contaminants from between the annular member and the stationary member into the recesses. The connecting section is used to contact the rotatable shaft, allowing the annular component to rotate together with the rotatable shaft. In this case, at least one of the multiple recesses extends in the radial direction.

[0007] At least one of the recesses extends radially, which helps to convey contaminants away from the shaft during shaft rotation. The contaminants are then conveyed into the environment, typically into seawater. Importantly, this reduces contaminant buildup between the annular and stationary components.

[0008] In other words, at least one of the recesses extends radially, allowing dirt and water to be separated by density. Dirt accumulates in the recess near the outer circumference of the recess. It should be clear that typically all recesses in the multiple recesses extend radially to improve the separation of dirt and water.

[0009] Typically, the connecting section rotates the annular member by frictional contact with the rotatable shaft. Therefore, the connecting section includes a clamping section. Any other suitable method of connecting the annular member to the shaft can be envisioned, such as a form-closed connection. Thus, in other words, the connecting section provides a connecting fastener between the shaft and the annular member. The connecting fastener can function based on a connection by form or by force. In a steady state, the annular member rotates integrally with the rotatable shaft. The connecting section can be connected to the shaft via a so-called liner. In this case, the connecting section contacts the liner. This liner is typically mounted on the shaft to protect it. The liner (also called a sleeve) is replaceable if desired.

[0010] Underwater sealing systems that provide contaminant barriers act as the first line of defense against contaminants that could otherwise penetrate into finer downstream technical seals. An example of such a technical seal is a flushing seal system with a flushing chamber between lip seals. Therefore, the underwater sealing system providing the contaminant barrier works in conjunction with the technical seal system. The sealing system acts as a contaminant barrier and can therefore be considered a sealing system; however, the underwater sealing system providing the contaminant barrier typically forms a sealing assembly together with the technical seal system. The technical seal provides a liquid seal and can withstand a certain pressure, while the contaminant barrier protects the technical seal.

[0011] Underwater sealing systems provide a contaminant barrier between a rotatable shaft and a stationary component. The rotatable shaft is, for example, the drive shaft of a ship's propeller. The stationary component is, for example, part of a technical seal that separates oil from water outside the ship.

[0012] The body section of the annular member has a sealing contact surface extending between the inner and outer circumferences of the annular member. It should be understood that, in use, the sealing contact surface contacts the associated mating surface of the stationary member. The contact between the sealing contact surface and the associated mating surface includes a lubricating sealing contact. This means that during operation, a water film is formed between all or at least a portion of the sealing contact surface and the associated mating surface.

[0013] In embodiments of the underwater sealing system, at least one recess includes a sidewall surface for entraining water within the recess. The combination of the recess and the sidewall surface for entraining water further facilitates radial flow of water to transport contaminants away from the rotatable shaft into the environment. In other words, the combination of the recess and the sidewall surface provides a path for transporting contaminants from the rotatable shaft to the environment. This prevents contaminants from accumulating between the sealing system and downstream technical seals. Additionally, the radial flow provides a pressure drop between the annular member and the mating member (which is a stationary member). This pressure drop prevents displacement between the annular member and the stationary member and also compensates for axial movement of the shaft relative to the stationary member.

[0014] In embodiments of the underwater sealing system, the annular member includes a mass distribution such that, during rotation of the rotatable shaft, deformation of the annular member causes a body section to flex away from the stationary member, at least partially opening at least one of a plurality of recesses and allowing contaminants to exit from at least one recess into the environment and away from the rotatable shaft. In other words, the mass distribution facilitates deformation during rotation. The openings in the recesses allow contaminants to be conveyed out of the recesses and into seawater.

[0015] The improved deformability of the annular member allows dirt to exit through at least one recess into the environment and away from the rotatable shaft. The combination of multiple recesses and the deformability of the annular member facilitates sealing while the rotatable shaft is stationary and conveying dirt away from the shaft during rotation. Importantly, this reduces dirt buildup between the annular member and the stationary member.

[0016] In embodiments of the underwater sealing system, the annular member comprises a flexible material, preferably one or more of rubber, flexible polyurethane, elastomer, NBR, NBR80, or the like. The inclusion of a flexible material in the annular member further improves its deformability. NBR80 rubber is merely an example; importantly, the annular member can deform due to the angular velocity of the annular member caused by the rotation of the shaft. Those skilled in the art will understand that any suitable material is conceivable.

[0017] In embodiments of the underwater sealing system, the annular member includes a weakened section to facilitate deformation of the annular member. The weakened section further facilitates deformation of the annular member and deflection of the body section away from the stationary member to at least partially open at least one of a plurality of recesses and allow contaminants to exit from at least one recess into the environment and away from the rotatable axis. The weakened section may be within an internal volume of the annular member, such as a hollow portion or cavity. The weakened section may be located on an inner surface and / or an outer surface. The weakened section may include one or more notches. The notches may extend along a portion or the entire circumference of the annular member. It should be understood that many variations are conceivable as long as the weakened section further facilitates deformation of the annular member.

[0018] In embodiments of the underwater sealing system, at least one of the plurality of recesses is open on the side facing the rotatable shaft. Having at least one recess open on the side facing the rotatable shaft facilitates the transport of contaminants from the rotatable shaft to the environment, as contaminants can more easily enter at least one recess.

[0019] A combination in which at least one of the recesses is open on the side facing the rotatable shaft and closed on the opposite side of the outer circumference of the annular member is particularly advantageous. In this case, it facilitates the transport of contaminants during rotation, and the sealing system continues to perform its sealing function when the shaft and the annular member are stationary.

[0020] An open recess refers to a recess having an opening and being entirely open on the radially projected surface of the recess. It should be clear that if all recesses are open on the side facing the rotatable shaft, contaminant transport is generally optimized. It is even conceivable that at least one of the multiple recesses is also open on a side away from the rotatable shaft, which is the side of the recess on its outer circumference. In this case, the sealing system has an open connection between the shaft and the environment. This is optimal for transport during rotation; however, during periods of rest, the lining of the technical seals and the waterproof lip seals are exposed, which can be disadvantageous. The desirability of the open connection must be evaluated based on the type of application and the context of the sealing system.

[0021] In theory, the recess could have a closed circumference, thus opening only towards a stationary object in the axial direction. Even so, there would be radial outward flow that could transport contaminants away from the axis. However, in this case, contaminant transport is not optimal.

[0022] In embodiments of the underwater sealing system, at least one of the recesses includes a section that expands in a radially outward direction. The radial expansion of at least one of the recesses facilitates the transport of contaminants from the rotatable shaft to the environment. Furthermore, the expanded section may further facilitate the deformation of the annular member. The expanded section may be a tapered section.

[0023] In embodiments of the underwater sealing system, the connecting section includes a clamping section, and the center of gravity of the annular member is offset from the location of the resultant clamping force of the clamping section. This further contributes to bending moment and deformation of the annular member as it rotates. This offset is best understood from a side view perspective, where the offset is defined along the axis of rotation.

[0024] In embodiments of the underwater sealing system, the body section includes a solid ring section arranged along the outer circumference of the annular member and extending between and / or across a plurality of recesses when viewed radially outward. This solid ring section, arranged along the outer circumference of the annular member and extending radially across the recesses, facilitates deformation of the annular member and deflection of the body section away from the stationary member, at least partially opening at least one of the recesses and allowing contaminants to exit from at least one recess into the environment and away from the rotatable axis. In other words, taking into account the deformation of the annular member during rotation, the solid ring improves the mass distribution of the annular member. Furthermore, the solid ring increases the deviation of the annular member's center of gravity from the clamping force position of the clamping section.

[0025] In embodiments of the underwater sealing system, the annular member includes an elastic transition section between the body section and the connecting section, wherein the elastic transition section is configured to allow the body section to axially suspend relative to the connecting section, and wherein the elastic transition section preferably includes a bellows. The elastic transition section allows the sealing system to accommodate axial free play of the rotatable shaft. In other words, within axial tolerances, sealing contact is maintained between the annular member and the stationary member. The term "between" the body section and the connecting section means that the transition section connects the body section and the connecting section, wherein the elastic transition section is configured to allow the body section to axially suspend relative to the connecting section. Precise positioning of the elastic coupling between the body section and the connecting section is not strictly required. Different positions of the elastic coupling are conceivable as long as axial suspension of the body section relative to the connecting section is allowed.

[0026] In embodiments of the underwater sealing system, at least one of the plurality of recesses includes a height dimension h1 in the radial direction, which is greater than approximately 50% of the height dimension h2 of the body section. The lower limit of the recess's height in the radial direction ensures sufficient radial flow, thus ensuring that contaminants are transported away from the shaft. It should be understood that the lower limit of the recess's height dimension h1 in the radial direction can also depend on the shaft's rotational speed.

[0027] In embodiments of the underwater sealing system, the height dimension h1 of at least one recess is between approximately 50% and approximately 80% of the height dimension h2 of the body section. The upper limit of the recess's height in the radial direction prevents excessive radial flow. Excessive radial flow can lead to a pressure drop across the height dimension h2 of the body section, thus causing failure of the technical seal positioned upstream relative to the annular member. It should be understood that the upper limit of the recess's height in the radial direction can also depend on the shaft's rotational speed.

[0028] In embodiments of the underwater sealing system, the radial height dimension h1 is between 50% and 95% of the height dimension h2 of the body section, and the height dimension h2 of the body section is less than 30 mm, preferably about 25 mm. This imposes an upper limit on the height h1 of the recess in the radial direction, and this avoids excessive pressure drop at the lining around the shaft.

[0029] In embodiments of the underwater sealing system, at least one of the plurality of recesses includes a radial axis of symmetry. In use, the radial axis of symmetry is aligned with the normal vector of the rotatable shaft. The radial axis of symmetry enables the sealing system to be used in both rotational directions of the rotatable shaft.

[0030] In embodiments of the underwater sealing system, the annular member includes a first end, a second end, and a connecting section connecting the first end and the second end to form a closed annular member, wherein the connecting section includes one or more of adhesive bonding, welded bonding, and formal closure bonding. This facilitates the installation of the sealing system around an already operated shaft.

[0031] In embodiments of the underwater sealing system, the annular member is configured to be mounted on a rotatable shaft with a diameter between 50 mm and 1250 mm.

[0032] In embodiments of the underwater sealing system, the annular member is configured to operate on a rotatable shaft at circumferential speeds ranging from 0 m / s to 20 m / s. The circumferential speed at the sealing contact surface is, for example, 5 m / s. These circumferential speeds are typical in the context of ship propulsion. It should be understood that the speeds may differ for other applications.

[0033] In embodiments of the underwater sealing system, multiple recesses extend between 5% and 15% of the circumference of the annular member in the circumferential direction. This further facilitates the transport of contaminants away from the shaft during shaft rotation. Furthermore, it has been proven that even when multiple recesses extend beyond 5% to 15% of the circumference of the annular member in the circumferential direction, the body section with a sealing contact facing the stationary member still provides sufficient wear resistance. Similar to the height of the recesses in the radial direction, the 5% to 15% range can also depend on the shaft's rotational speed.

[0034] It should be clear that the multiple recesses extending circumferentially between 5% and 15% of the circumference of the annular member refer to the sum of all the recesses in the multiple recesses. The width and actual number of the recesses can vary depending on the shaft diameter. For example, for an annular member with a 330 mm shaft, the width of the recesses is approximately 6 mm, and the actual number of recesses is 16. In this example, the multiple recesses extend circumferentially at approximately 9.25% of the circumference of the annular member. In practice, the shaft diameter can be between 125 mm and 850 mm. Thus, assuming a recess width of approximately 6 mm, the corresponding actual number of recesses is between 6 and 42.

[0035] According to another aspect of the invention, and based on the advantages and effects described above, a sealing system and a technical shaft seal assembly as described above are provided. This technical seal is typically a pressure seal and comprises a plurality of lip seals in series, with a corresponding number of flushing chambers between adjacent lip seals. The sealing system is arranged upstream to form a first line of defense against contamination.

[0036] According to another aspect of the invention, and based on the advantages and effects described above, the use of the sealing system according to any one of the preceding claims in brine, fresh water, sludge or the like is provided.

[0037] According to another aspect of the invention, and based on the advantages and effects described above, a method for maintaining underwater applications is provided, the method comprising assembling a sealing system as described above around a rotatable shaft.

[0038] In an embodiment of the method for maintenance, the method includes connecting a first end and a second end of an annular member by gluing and / or welding to form a closed annular member. Attached Figure Description

[0039] The embodiments will now be described with reference to the following schematic diagrams, in which: Figure 1A A bottom view of a first embodiment of the sealing system according to the present invention is shown; Figure 1B It shows Figure 1A A cross-sectional side view of the sealing system; Figure 1C It shows Figure 1A Side views of different sections of the sealing system; Figure 2 It shows Figure 1A Details; Figure 3 It shows Figure 1A The sealing system and components of the technical shaft seal; Figure 4AA perspective view of a second embodiment of the sealing system according to the present invention is shown; Figure 4B It shows Figure 4A A cross-sectional side view of the sealing system; Figure 5A A perspective view of a third embodiment of the sealing system according to the present invention is shown; and Figure 5B It shows Figure 5A A cross-sectional side view of the sealing system.

[0040] The accompanying drawings are intended for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope or protection defined by the claims. Detailed Implementation

[0041] The following is a description of certain embodiments of the invention given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Referring now... Figure 1A , Figure 1B , Figure 1C as well as Figure 2 The first embodiment of the invention is described below. An underwater sealing system 1 is shown. The sealing system 1 operates underwater and is not suitable for dry operation. The sealing system 1 provides a contaminant barrier between the rotatable shaft 22 and the stationary member. Typically, contaminants accumulate in front of any sealing system. Therefore, it is known to apply an upstream pre-seal, which acts as the first line of defense against contamination that could otherwise damage the downstream pressure seal. The sealing system includes an annular member 2. The annular member 2 has a center 16 and is annular about the center. In use, the annular member 2 extends about the rotatable shaft 22, as... Figure 3 As shown.

[0042] The annular member 2 includes a body segment 3. The body segment 3 is configured to make sealing contact with a mating component. Therefore, the body segment 3 has a sealing contact surface 8. The sealing contact surface extends between the inner circumference 6 and the outer circumference 7 of the annular member 2. In other words, the normal to the sealing contact surface 8 has an axial component or is axial relative to the annular member 2. Figure 3 As shown, in use, the sealing contact surface 8 faces the stationary member 27 and provides a lubricated sealing contact between the annular member 2 and the stationary member 27. In this case, the body section 3 includes a solid ring section 29. The solid ring section 29 is arranged along the outer circumference of the annular member 2. Viewed in the radially outward direction, the solid ring section 29 extends between and / or across the plurality of recesses 5.

[0043] The body section 3 of the annular member 2 includes multiple recesses 5. Similar to... Figure 1AThe bottom view refers to the observer looking at multiple recesses 5. A single recess 5 will now be described. Recess 5 extends from the sealing contact surface 8 into the body section 3. Recess 5 is open towards the stationary member. This means that recess 5 is open on its side facing the stationary member. Therefore, recess 5 can receive contaminants from between the annular member 2 and the stationary member. Furthermore, the pressure drop in the recess improves the sealing contact between the body section 3 and the stationary member 27.

[0044] Additionally, the recess 5 is also open at the inner circumference of the annular member 2. This means that the recess 5 is open on the side facing the rotatable shaft 22, which facilitates the entry of contaminants and their transport away from the rotatable shaft into the environment. In this case, all recesses 5 are open on the side facing the rotatable shaft 22.

[0045] The recess 5 extends in the radial direction 21. In other words, the recess 5 extends between the inner circumference 6 and the outer circumference 7 of the annular member 2. Therefore, during rotation of the annular member 2, contaminants in the recess 5 can be accelerated within the recess 5 and transported away from the shaft 22. In other words, the radial recess 5 in the body section 3 provides a path for transporting contaminants from the rotatable shaft to the environment. Or, the volume of the recess 5 allows for density separation, thereby allowing contaminants to move away from 22. The recess 5 allows the contents within the recess 5 to be accelerated in the radial direction of the annular member within the height dimension h1, such as... Figure 2 As shown. In this case, h1 is between 50% and 95% of the radial height h2 of the body section 3. For example, the recess height h1 is between 15 mm and 18 mm to provide functional conveying of dirt away from the shaft 22 when the shaft rotates at approximately 318 rpm, which is a circumferential speed of 4 m / s for a typical liner diameter of 240 mm. In this example, the radial height h2 of the body section 3 is approximately 25 mm.

[0046] The recess 5 includes sidewalls 18 and 19. In this case, the recess 5 includes a pair of opposing sidewalls 18 and 19. The sidewalls extend in the radial direction 21. Therefore, the surfaces of the sidewalls 18 and 19 can trap water in the recess 5. Thus, the water in the recess 5 is forced outward to the outer circumference 7. In this case, the recess 5 includes a radial axis of symmetry 20.

[0047] The annular member 2 includes multiple recesses 5 to increase the dirt-holding capacity of the sealing system 1. In this case, the multiple recesses 5 are evenly distributed along the circumference of the annular member 2. This provides a uniform and continuous effect of the sealing system 1 along the circumference of the shaft.

[0048] Multiple recesses 5 extend in the circumferential direction. The circumferential direction corresponds to the rotational direction of the shaft on which the annular member 2 is applied. The multiple recesses 5 extend in the circumferential direction at between 5% and 15% of the circumference of the annular member 2. The body section 3 providing the sealing contact surface 8 still maintains sufficient wear resistance. The width and actual number of recesses 5 can vary depending on the shaft diameter. The shaft diameter corresponds to the inner circumference 6 of the annular member 3. The sealing system 1 shown has an annular member 3 designed for a 330 mm shaft. Here, the width of the recess is approximately 6 mm, and the actual number of recesses 5 is 16. In practice, the shaft diameter can be between 125 mm and 850 mm. Thus, assuming the width of the recess is approximately 6 mm, the corresponding actual number of recesses is between 6 and 42. The width of the recess 5 corresponds to the distance between a pair of opposing sidewalls 18, 19, as shown... Figure 2 As shown in the best example.

[0049] The annular member 2 includes a connecting section 4. The connecting section 4 is located at the inner circumference 6 of the annular member. Therefore, in use, the connecting section 4 faces the rotatable shaft 22. The connecting section 4 has a clamping surface 9. In use, the connecting section 4 contacts the rotatable shaft. In use, the clamping surface 9 of the connecting section 4 contacts the rotatable shaft. In use, the degree to which the connecting section 4 contacts the rotatable shaft allows the annular member 2 to rotate integrally with the rotatable shaft 22.

[0050] The body segment 3 extends primarily at right angles relative to the rotatable axis 22. The body segment 3 transitions into the connecting segment 4 via a transition segment 30. The transition segment 30 connects the body segment 3 to the connecting segment 4. The transition segment 30 is elastic. The transition segment 30 includes a radius of curvature r1, which defines the roundness of the transition segment 30. The radius of curvature r1 can be selected to facilitate the deformation of the annular member 2. The deformation of the annular member 2 involves the bending of the body segment 3 relative to the connecting segment 4. This bending causes the body segment 3 to reduce the contact pressure with the stationary object 27. The radius of curvature r1 is approximately 10 mm, which allows the annular member 2 to... Figure 4B The embodiments are easier to modify compared to the original ones.

[0051] Figure 3 It shows Figure 1AThe sealing system 1 and the assembly 34 of the technical shaft seal 10 are described. This assembly operates underwater (13). The technical seal 10 is typically a pressure seal and comprises several tandem lip seals 11a, 11b, with a corresponding number of flushing chambers between adjacent lip seals. The technical seal 10 typically seals the oil away from the water 13. The oil serves a lubricating and / or cooling function on the ship's side, typically indicated by the numeral 28. The sealing system 1 is positioned upstream relative to the technical seal 10 to form the first line of defense against fouling. The annular member 2 of the sealing system is clamped onto the rotatable shaft 22. The clamping force is generated by a spring element 12 that contacts the connecting section 4 of the annular member 2. In this configuration, the annular member 2 of the sealing system is clamped onto the rotatable shaft 22 via a liner 23.

[0052] The plurality of recesses 5 and contact surfaces 8 of the body section 3 are configured to seal against the stationary member 27 when resting against it. It should be understood that the ratio between the projected areas of the contact surfaces 8 and the recesses 5 maintains a sealing effect during rotation, and the recesses 5 entrain sufficient water to achieve a rinsing effect. The plurality of recesses 5 are open on the side facing the liner 23. The plurality of recesses 5 are closed on the opposite side of the outer circumference of the annular member 2. To close the plurality of recesses 5 on the opposite side, the wall section 35 contacts the stationary member 27.

[0053] The sealing system 1 improves the functionality of the technical seal 10. Improvements may include longer lifespan, longer maintenance intervals, and improved sealing.

[0054] The stationary object 27 is part of the technical shaft seal 10. The technical shaft seal 10 is stationary and connected to the ship's side 28.

[0055] Now for reference Figure 4A and Figure 4B A second embodiment of the invention is described. In this case, the recess 5 is open on one side. The recess 5 is open at the inner circumference of the annular member 2. The recess 5 is open on the side facing the rotatable shaft 22 to facilitate the entry of contaminants and their transport away from the rotatable shaft to the environment. In other words, the recess 5 has an opening 14 that faces the shaft 22 in use. The body section 3 extends substantially at a right angle relative to the rotatable shaft 22. The body section 3 transitions into the connecting section 4 via a transition section 30. The transition section 30 is elastic. The transition section 30 includes a radius of curvature r2 that defines the roundness of the transition section 30. The radius of curvature r2 is approximately 3 mm, which allows the annular member 2 to... Figure 1B The variations are smaller compared to the original embodiments.

[0056] Now for reference Figure 5A and Figure 5BA third embodiment of the invention is described. The annular member 2 includes a weakened section 15. In this case, the weakened section 15 is a notch. The notch 15 facilitates the deformation of the annular member 2. The notch 15 is arranged between the body section 3 and the connecting section 4.

[0057] As shown in the cross-sectional side view here, the center of gravity 24 of the annular member 2 is offset from the position 25 of the clamping force of the connecting section 4, particularly its clamping section. This offset of the center of gravity 24 of the annular member 2 from the position 25 of the clamping force of the connecting section 4 is indicated by reference numeral 26. This distance, or "arm," 26 facilitates the deformation of the annular member 2 during rotation. Therefore, the annular member 2 includes a mass distribution such that during rotation of the rotatable shaft, the deformation of the annular member 2 causes the body section 3 to flex away from the stationary member, at least partially opening the recess 5 and allowing contaminants to exit the recess 5 into the environment and away from the rotatable shaft 22 (not shown here).

Claims

1. An underwater sealing system (1) for providing a contaminant barrier between a rotatable shaft (22) and a stationary member (27), the sealing system comprising an annular member (2) extending around the rotatable shaft, wherein, The annular component includes: The body section (3) has a sealing contact surface (8) extending between the inner circumference (6) and outer circumference (7) of the annular member, wherein, in use, the sealing contact surface faces the stationary member to provide a lubricating sealing contact, wherein the body section includes a plurality of recesses (5) extending from the sealing contact surface (8) into the body section (3) and opening toward the stationary member to receive contaminants from between the annular member and the stationary member into the plurality of recesses, and The connecting section (4) is used to contact the rotatable shaft, so that the annular member rotates together with the rotatable shaft during use. At least one of the plurality of recesses (5) extends in the radial direction.

2. The sealing system according to claim 1, wherein, The at least one recess (5) includes sidewall (18, 19) surfaces for entraining water in the at least one recess.

3. The sealing system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The annular member (2) includes a mass distribution such that during rotation of the rotatable shaft, the deformation of the annular member (2) causes the body section (3) to flex away from the stationary member to at least partially open at least one of the plurality of recesses (5) and allow dirt to leave the at least one recess and enter the environment away from the rotatable shaft.

4. The sealing system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The annular component (2) comprises a flexible material, preferably one or more of rubber, flexible polyurethane, elastomer, NBR, NBR80 or the like.

5. The sealing system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The annular member (2) includes a weakening section (15) to facilitate the deformation of the annular member.

6. The sealing system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, At least one of the recesses is open on the side (14) facing the rotatable axis.

7. The sealing system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, At least one of the recesses includes a section that expands in a radially outward direction.

8. The sealing system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The connecting section (4) includes a clamping section, wherein the center of gravity (24) of the annular member (2) is offset from the position (25) of the clamping force of the clamping section.

9. The sealing system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The body section (3) includes a solid ring section (29) arranged along the outer circumference (7) of the annular member and extending between and / or across the plurality of recesses when viewed in the radially outward direction.

10. The sealing system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The annular member (2) includes an elastic transition section (30) between the body section (3) and the connecting section (4), wherein the elastic transition section is configured to allow the body section to travel axially suspended relative to the connecting section, and wherein the elastic transition section preferably includes a bellows.

11. The sealing system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, At least one of the recesses includes a height dimension (h1) in the radial direction that is about 50% greater than the height dimension (h2) of the body segment (3).

12. The sealing system according to claim 11, wherein, The radial height dimension (h1) is between 50% and 95% of the height dimension (h2) of the body section (3), and the height dimension (h2) of the body section (3) is less than 30 mm, preferably about 25 mm.

13. The sealing system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, At least one of the plurality of recesses includes a radial axis of symmetry (20).

14. The sealing system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The annular component includes a first end (32), a second end (33), and a connecting section (31) connecting the first end and the second end to form a closed annular component (2), wherein the connecting section includes one or more of adhesive connection, welded connection, and formal closed connection.

15. The sealing system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The annular component is configured for mounting on a rotatable shaft (22) with a diameter between 50 mm and 1250 mm.

16. The sealing system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The annular member (2) is configured to operate on a rotatable shaft (22) at circumferential speeds ranging from 0 m / s to 20 m / s.

17. The sealing system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The plurality of recesses (5) extend in the circumferential direction between 5% and 15% of the circumference of the annular member.

18. An assembly (34) of a sealing system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims and a technical shaft seal (10).

19. Use of the sealing system according to any one of claims 1 to 17 in brine (13), fresh water, sludge or the like.

20. A method for maintaining an underwater application, the method comprising assembling a sealing system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 17 around a rotatable shaft (22).

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the method comprises joining the first end and the second end of the annular member by gluing and / or welding to form a closed annular member.

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