Apparatus and method for testing the effectiveness of dynamic seals in a dust-laden operating environment

摘要

An apparatus and procedure is provided for testing and evaluating the sealing effectiveness of dynamic seals of the type having at least one and often at least two dust-excluding seals. Included is a housing having a support wall formed with an opening through which a representative shaft is supported for rotation. An annular gap exists between the shaft and wall opening and is closed by the test seal. A dust chamber is provided on the atmosphere side of the test seal and includes a slow speed dust redistribution device which gathers and transports dust from the bottom of the chamber to the top where it is released and falls back into the chamber. A high speed beater agitation device disperses the released dust to maintain a constant density dust cloud environment within the dust chamber. A dry dust collection chamber is provided on the opposite oil side of the test seal. A separate pumping seal with hydrodynamic features creates a draw of the dust-laden air from the dust chamber toward the dust collection chamber. Dust which passes by the test seal is collected and measured to assess the sealing effectiveness of the test seal.