Self-cooling ferrofluid seal

Abstract

A method of cooling a ferrofluid seal that includes moving air from an atmospheric side of the ferrofluid seal over one or more heat dissipating surfaces within the ferrofluid seal through an air path formed in the ferrofluid seal by incorporating one or more vent openings in a housing case and one or more fan blades on a surface selected from the group consisting of an outside surface of a shaft and an inside surface of the housing case where the space surrounding the shaft communicates with the one or more vent openings and where the moving air is caused by the rotation of the surface having the one or more fan blades.

1 . A method of cooling a ferrofluid seal comprising:
 incorporating one or more fan blades on an outside surface of a rotatable shaft, an air flow path from the space surrounding the shaft to a vent opening in a housing case of the ferrofluid seal, and a plurality of heat dissipating surfaces within the ferrofluid seal; and   rotating the rotatable shaft wherein the one or more fan blades cause air movement along the air flow path whereby cooling air is moved from an atmospheric side of the ferrofluid seal through the space surrounding the shaft and out the vent opening in the housing case.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of incorporating the one or more fan blades includes incorporating fan blades on the rotatable shaft selected from the group consisting of the atmospheric end of the shaft, adjacent the bearing, concentric with the magnet, and concentric with the pole piece on the atmospheric side of the ferrofluid in the ferrofluid seal. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising incorporating a hollow shaft having one or more vent openings in communication with an inside of the shaft and the space between the shaft and the housing case. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising incorporating a hollow shaft having a plurality of heat dissipating fins on an inside surface of the hollow shaft. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising incorporating a plurality of heat dissipating fins on an outside surface of the housing case. 
   
   
       6 . A method cooling a ferrofluid seal having a stationary shaft, said method comprising:
 incorporating one or more fan blades on an inside surface of a housing case of the ferrofluid seal, an air flow path from the space surrounding the stationary shaft to a vent opening in the housing case of the ferrofluid seal, and a plurality of heat dissipating surfaces within the ferrofluid seal; and   rotating the housing case wherein the one or more fan blades cause air movement along the air flow path whereby cooling air is moved from an atmospheric side of the ferrofluid seal through the space surrounding the shaft and out the vent opening in the housing case.   
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the step of incorporating the one or more fan blades includes incorporating fan blades on the inside surface of the housing case selected from the group consisting of the atmospheric end of the housing case, adjacent the bearing, concentric with the magnet, and concentric with the pole piece on the atmospheric side of the ferrofluid in the ferrofluid seal. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising incorporating a hollow shaft having one or more vent openings in communication with an inside of the shaft and the space between the shaft and the housing case. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising incorporating a hollow shaft having a plurality of heat dissipating fins on an inside surface of the hollow shaft. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising incorporating a plurality of heat dissipating fins on an outside surface of the housing case. 
   
   
       11 . A method of cooling a ferrofluid seal comprising moving air from an atmospheric side of the ferrofluid seal over one or more heat dissipating surfaces of the ferrofluid seal through an air path formed in the ferrofluid seal by incorporating one or more vent openings in a housing case and one or more fan blades on a surface selected from the group consisting of an outside surface of a shaft and an inside surface of the housing case wherein the space surrounding the shaft communicates with the one or more vent openings and wherein the moving air is caused by the rotation of the surface having the one or more fan blades. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the step of incorporating the one or more fan blades on the surface includes incorporating fan blades on the surface in a location selected from the group consisting of the atmospheric end of the housing case, adjacent the bearing, concentric with the magnet, and concentric with the pole piece on the atmospheric side of the ferrofluid in the ferrofluid seal. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising incorporating a hollow shaft having one or more vent openings in communication with an inside of the shaft and the space between the shaft and the housing case. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising incorporating a hollow shaft having a plurality of heat dissipating fins on an inside surface of the hollow shaft. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising incorporation a plurality of heat dissipating fins on an outside surface of the housing case.