Movement of fluid in the groove made in the form of Archimedean spiral on the rotating ring of a mechanical seal of increased tightness

The article deals with the design and operating principle of a mechanical seal of increased tightness. Mechanical seals consist of non-rotating and rotating friction rings. The non-rotating ring is installed in the housing, and the rotating ring is installed in the sleeve, which is connected with the shaft by means of a key. A groove in the form of Archimedean spiral is made on the face surface of the rotating ring. The non-rotating and the rotating friction rings are pressed together by means of a pressure element spring. Movement of fluid that tries to get through the friction rings junction from outside and falls into the groove in the form of Archimedean spiral and its return to the air-tight cavity has been investigated. To obtain analytical expressions of fluid movement that has penetrated into the groove in the form of Archimedean spiral from the face surface of the rotating ring with a rectangular cross section, the scheme of forces acting on the elementary volume of fluid has been shown; corresponding differential equations being written and solved. Using the analytical expressions and computer simulation, graphic dependences have been obtained on the strength of which the operating conditions of the considered mechanical seal have been got