Importance

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Abstract

A fluid swivel is described, which is especially useful for carrying hydrocarbons at high pressures between stationary and rotating walls of a swivel. The swivel forms a fluid-carrying annular chamber and a pair of gap-like passages lying between the walls and extending from opposite sides of the chamber to the environment, with primary and secondary face seals located along each passage. Each passage includes a portion extending between the seals, the passage portion forming a pair of largely radially-extending wall surfaces, one on the outer wall and one on the inner wall. The radially-extending wall surface on the outer wall faces in a first axial direction, and the outer wall at the secondary seal faces in an opposite axial direction. As a result, if the primary seal should fail, this will not change the axial force on the outer wall. The extrusion gaps at the seals extend in radial directions from the seal, so these gaps do not widen when high pressure is applied to the fluid swivel.

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First Claim