Cartridge and related methods

Abstract

A cartridge for mounting around a movable shaft is provided. According to one exemplary embodiment, the cartridge features a cartridge housing, first and second rings having respective radial inner peripheries for establishing interfaces with a movable shaft, first and second pressure plates situated in the cartridge housing between the first and second rings, and a biasing member urging the first and second pressure plates towards the first and second rings, respectively. According to a second exemplary embodiment, the cartridge features a cartridge housing, a ring having a radial inner periphery for establishing an interface with a movable shaft, a pressure plate situated in the cartridge housing between the protruding portion and the ring, and a biasing member urging the pressure plate towards the ring. The cartridges of both embodiments may be designed to permit removal of the ring(s) from the cartridge housing without requiring removal of either the pressure plate(s) or the biasing member(s).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cartridge for mounting around a movable shaft, the cartridge comprising:
 a cartridge housing;   first and second rings having respective radial inner peripheries for establishing interfaces with a movable shaft;   first and second pressure plates situated in the cartridge housing between the first and second rings; and   a biasing member urging the first and second pressure plates towards the first and second rings, respectively.   
     
     
         2 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second rings comprise first and second segmented seal rings. 
     
     
         3 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second rings comprise first and second solid seal rings. 
     
     
         4 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the cartridge housing comprises a central body portion; and   the first and second pressure plates have radially extending legs respectively situated on opposite sides of the central body.   
     
     
         5 . The cartridge of  claim 4 , wherein the cartridge housing further comprises:
 first and second outer body portions situated on opposite sides of the central body portion; and   a fastener connecting the first and second outer body portions and central body portion together.   
     
     
         6 . The cartridge of  claim 4 , wherein the central body portion has a biasing member-receiving opening. 
     
     
         7 . The cartridge of  claim 6 , wherein the biasing member comprises a compression spring received in the biasing member-receiving opening of the central body portion. 
     
     
         8 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein;
 the radial inner peripheries of the first and second rings have a first inner diameter; and   the first and second pressure plates have respective radial inner surfaces with a second inner diameter which is greater than the first inner diameter of the first and second rings for establishing a spatial gap between the radial inner surfaces of the pressure plates and the movable shaft.   
     
     
         9 . The cartridge of  claim 8 , wherein a central body portion of the cartridge housing has a radial inner surface having a third inner diameter which is greater than the second inner diameter of the pressure plates for establishing a spatial gap between the radial inner surface of the central body portion and the movable shaft. 
     
     
         10 . The cartridge of  claim 9 , wherein the spatial gaps established by the radial inner surfaces of the central body portion and pressure plates relative to the movable shaft collectively form a T-shape spatial region. 
     
     
         11 . The cartridge of  claim 8 , wherein the cartridge housing contains an internal passage tor delivering fluid to the spatial gap. 
     
     
         12 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the biasing member urges the first and second pressure plates into sufficiently tight contact with the first and second rings, respectively, to establish fluid-tight seals between the first and second rings and adjacent components. 
     
     
         13 . A compressor assembly, comprising:
 a movable shaft;   the cartridge of  claim 1  fitted on the movable shaft; and   at least one annular member fitted on the movable shaft adjacent to the cartridge.   
     
     
         14 . A cartridge for mounting around a movable shaft, the cartridge comprising:
 a cartridge housing;   first and second rings having respective radial inner peripheries for establishing interfaces with a movable shaft;   first and second pressure plates situated in the cartridge housing between the first and second rings; and   a biasing member situated in the cartridge housing urging the first and second pressure plates towards the first and second rings, respectively   wherein the first and second rings are removable from the cartridge housing without requiring removal of either one of the pressure plates or the biasing member from the cartridge housing.   
     
     
         15 . An assembly, comprising:
 a movable shaft;   the cartridge of  claim 14  fitted on the movable shaft; and   at least one annular member fitted on the movable shaft adjacent to the cartridge.   
     
     
         16 . A cartridge for mounting around a movable shaft, the cartridge comprising:
 a cartridge housing having a protruding portion;   a ring having a radial inner periphery for establishing an interface with a movable shaft;   a pressure plate situated in the cartridge housing between the protruding portion and the ring; and   a biasing member urging the pressure plate towards the ring,   wherein the ring is removable from the cartridge housing without requiring disassembly or removal of either the pressure plate or the biasing member.   
     
     
         17 . The cartridge of  claim 16 , wherein the ring comprises a segmented seal ring. 
     
     
         18 . The cartridge of  claim 16 , wherein the ring comprises a solid seal ring. 
     
     
         19 . The cartridge of  claim 16 , wherein the cartridge housing has a biasing member-receiving opening. 
     
     
         20 . The cartridge of  claim 16 , wherein the biasing member comprises a compression spring received in the biasing member-receiving opening. 
     
     
         21 . The cartridge of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the radial inner periphery of the ring has a first inner diameter; and   the pressure plate has a radial inner surface with a second inner diameter which is greater than the first inner diameter of the first and second rings for establishing a spatial gap between the radial inner surfaces of the pressure plates and the movable shaft.   
     
     
         22 . The cartridge of  claim 21 , wherein the cartridge housing comprises a protruding portion having a radial inner surface with a third inner diameter which is greater than the second inner diameter of the pressure plate for establishing a spatial gap between the radial inner surface of the protruding portion and the movable shaft. 
     
     
         23 . The cartridge of  claim 22 , wherein the spatial gaps established by the radial inner surface of the protruding portion and the pressure plate relative to the movable shaft collectively form a L-shaped spatial region. 
     
     
         24 . The cartridge of  claim 16 , wherein the biasing member urges the first and second pressure plates into sufficiently tight contact with the first and second rings, respectively, to establish fluid-tight seals between the first and second rings and adjacent components. 
     
     
         25 . An assembly, comprising:
 a movable shaft;   the cartridge of  claim 16  fitted on the movable shaft; and   at least one annular member fitted on the movable shaft adjacent to the cartridge.   
     
     
         26 . A method of making a cartridge mountable around a movable shaft, the method comprising:
 loading a biasing member into an opening of a first cartridge housing component;   situating at least one pressure plate adjacent to the cartridge housing component to receive an urging force from the biasing member;   assembling the first cartridge housing component and a second cartridge housing component together to retain the pressure plate; and   placing at least one ring adjacent the pressure plate to receive the urging force of the biasing member transmitted through the pressure plate, the ring having a radial inner periphery sized for establishing an interface with a movable shaft.   
     
     
         27 . A method of repairing a cartridge for mounting around a movable shaft, the cartridge comprising a cartridge housing, at least one ring having a radial inner periphery for establishing an interface with the movable shaft, at least one pressure plate situated in the cartridge housing, and a biasing member urging the pressure plate towards the ring, said method comprising:
 replacing the ring without disassembling any of the cartridge housing, the pressure plate, and the biasing member from one another.