A Test Apparatus for Measuring the Effects of Waviness in Mechanical Face Seals

A unique mechanical-face seal test apparatus is described, and some experimental results are presented. The apparatus is designed to test a single 96-mm shaft diameter face seal. Provision is made to measure friction torque, leakage and seal face temperature and to record these data as a function of time automatically using a computerized data acquisition system. The unique feature of the machine is that face waviness is imposed on one of the rings using gas pressure. In order to minimize the effects of wear on the waviness so that long-term tests can be made, the waviness is moved slowly relative lo the ring. Results show that seal wear and friction are greatly reduced by the face waviness when compared to a flat face seal. Presented at the 35th Annual Meeting in Anaheim, California, May 5–8, 1980