Sealing assembly for a pump with a leak path

Abstract

An assembly and process for draining fluid leaks from a pump housing is disclosed. The pump housing includes an internal mounting cavity, a valve installed in the mounting cavity and at least one housing passage extending to an exterior surface of the pump housing. A valve passage is formed through a wall of the valve. An interior fluid seal is installed on an interior surface of the valve forming a seal between the valve interior surface and a first surface of the mounting cavity. An exterior fluid seal is installed on an exterior surface of the valve that forms a seal between the valve exterior surface and a second surface of the mounting cavity. An inner leak path is created through the interior fluid seal to the valve passage. The valve passage collects fluid leaking in the inner leak path. An outer leak path is created through the exterior fluid seal. The outer leak path in fluid communication with the valve passage and with the housing passage. Fluid leaking in the exterior fluid seal and fluid contained in the valve passage is drained through the housing passage to the exterior of the pump housing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A process for draining fluid leaks from a pump housing, the pump housing including a mounting cavity, a valve installed in the mounting cavity having a valve passage through a wall of the valve, and at least one housing passage extending to an exterior surface of the pump housing, the process comprising:
 installing an interior fluid seal on an interior surface of the valve that forms a fluidic seal between the valve interior surface and a first surface of the mounting cavity,   installing an exterior fluid seal on an exterior surface of the valve that forms a fluidic seal between the valve exterior surface and a second surface of the mounting cavity;   creating an inner leak path through the interior fluid seal;   collecting fluid leaking in the interior fluid seal from the inner leak path with the valve passage;   creating an outer leak path through the exterior fluid seal, the outer leak path in fluid communication with the valve passage and with the housing passage;   collecting fluid leaking in the exterior fluid seal and fluid contained in the valve passage; and   draining the leaking fluid through the housing passage to the exterior of the pump housing.   
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the interior fluid seal comprises a first sealing member, a second sealing member, and a first spacer wherein the inner leak path extends through the first spacer. 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the exterior seal gasket comprises a first sealing member, a second sealing member and a second spacer, wherein the outer leak path extends through the second spacer. 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 2 , wherein the inner leak path comprises a first and a second cavity in fluid communication with each other through the first spacer, wherein the fluid leaking in the interior fluid seal travels through the inner leak path to the second cavity. 
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 4 , wherein the outer leak path comprises a third cavity and a fourth cavity in fluid communication with each other through the second spacer portion of the exterior fluid seal, the third cavity in fluid communication with the second fluid cavity and at least one valve passage, wherein the fluid leaking in the exterior fluid seal travels through the outer leak path, to the third cavity and collected by the at least one valve passage along with the fluid leaking from the interior fluid seal and the second fluid cavity. 
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one housing passage is in fluid communication with the fourth cavity, the fourth cavity receiving the leaking fluid from the third cavity draining the leaking fluid in the fourth cavity to the exterior of the pump housing. 
     
     
         7 . A method for guiding fluid to the exterior of a pump housing leaking from a valve installed in an annular mounting cavity in the pump housing having a housing passage exterior to the pump housing, the valve including an annular internal cavity defined by an annular interior surface bearing on a first surface of the mounting cavity, an annular exterior surface bearing against a second surface of the mounting cavity, and a valve passage extending through the valve, the method comprising:
 installing an interior seal gasket about a perimeter of the valve interior surface that forms a fluidic seal between the valve interior surface and the mounting cavity first surface, the interior seal gasket including an inner leak path through the interior seal gasket in fluid communication with the at least one valve passage, wherein the at least one valve passage collects fluid leaking in the interior seal gasket;   installing an exterior seal gasket about a perimeter of the valve exterior surface forming a fluidic seal between the valve exterior surface and the mounting cavity second surface, the exterior seal gasket including an outer leak path through the exterior seal gasket in fluid communication with the at least one valve passage and with the at least one housing passage, and   collecting the fluid in the outer leak path and the fluid contained in the at least one valve passage and draining the fluid leaking in the exterior seal gasket through the outer leak path to the at least one housing passage and to the exterior of the pump housing.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the interior seal gasket comprises a first sealing member, a second sealing member, and a first spacer wherein the inner leak path extends through the first spacer; and
 the exterior seal gasket comprises a first sealing member, a second sealing member and a second spacer, wherein the outer leak path extends through the second spacer.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the interior seal gasket comprises a first lobed ring-shaped sealing member, a second lobed ring-shaped sealing member, and a first spacer, wherein the inner leak path extends through the first spacer, and
 the exterior seal gasket comprises a first lobed ring-shaped sealing member, a second lobed ring-shaped sealing member, and a second spacer wherein the outer leak path extends through the second spacer.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the interior seal gasket comprises a first quad-ring sealing member, a second quad-ring sealing member, and a first spacer wherein the inner leak path extends through the first spacer, and
 the exterior seal gasket comprises a first quad-ring sealing member, a second quad-ring sealing member, and a second spacer wherein the outer leak path extends through the second spacer.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the interior seal gasket comprises a first lobed ring-shaped sealing member, a second quad-ring sealing member, and a first spacer wherein the inner leak path extends through the first spacer; and
 the exterior seal gasket comprises a first lobed ring-shaped sealing member, a second quad-ring sealing member, and a second spacer, wherein the outer leak path extends through the second spacer.