The Invention Relates Generally To Flygt Pump Seal. More Specifically, The Present Invention Relates To A Device That Provides More Uniform Distribution Of Fluid Around A Pump Seal Face To Reduce The Risk Of Erosion And Fatigue Of The Pump Seal.

Vehicle Coolant Pumps, Generally Referred To As Water Pumps, Incorporate A Spring Loaded Face Seal That Is Subjected To High Temperatures, Fast Rotational Speeds, And Significant Sealing Forces. These Seals Are Necessary To Prevent Leakage Of Fluid Around A Moving Member, Such As A Rotating Shaft. Common Pump Seals Suffer From A Variety Of Disadvantages, Including High Incidence Of Wear, Failure Due To Thermal Fatigue, And Clogging Due To Particle Accumulation. Failure Of The Seals Obviously Results In The Undesirable Transfer Of Fluid Past The Seal.

Current Seals Can Wear In A Variety Of Ways. One Common Way Is Due To Uneven Distribution Of Fluid Surrounding The Seal. This Uneven Distribution Can Result In The Premature Wear Of The Seal Dramatically Reducing Its Life. Additionally, If The Seal Is Not Sufficiently Cooled, Or Is Kept Cool Unevenly Around Its Circumference, It Can Fail For This Reason As Well. While Minimal Leakage Is Not Severe, And The Seals Can Be Replaced Before Seal Wear Causes Catastrophic Failure Of The Pump, Longer Lasting And More Durable Seals Are Desirable As They Will Decrease The Overall Cost Of Vehicle Water Pumps As Well As Allowing The Length Of Their Warranties To Be Increased.

It Is A General Object Of The Present Invention To Provide An Improved Sealing Mechanism For Rotating Members. It Is Another Object Of The Present Invention To Provide An Improved Sealing Mechanism Which Is More Durable And Longer Lasting Than Present Sealing Mechanisms.

It Is Also An Object Of The Present Invention To Provide A Device That Controls The Supply Of Flushing Fluid To A Sealing Mechanism By Redirecting It Evenly Around The Seal Through Multiple Flush Port Locations, Thereby Providing More Uniform Cooling Of The Seal. It Is A Further Object Of The Present Invention To Provide A Device That Minimizes The Potential For "Hot Spots" On An Associated Seal.

It Is Another Object Of The Present Invention To Provide A Device That Minimizes The Risk Of Erosion Of The Seal.

In Accordance With These And Other Objects Of The Present Invention, A Pump Seal Flushing Ring For A Water Pump Is Provided. The Pump Seal Flushing Ring Includes A Bottom Annular Surface, Having An Inner Periphery And An Outer Periphery. The Inner Periphery Defines An Opening Therein. The Bottom Annular Surface Is Located Distally With Respect To A Top Annular Surface. The Top Annular Surface Has An Inner Periphery And An Outer Periphery. A Peripheral Retaining Wall Extends Between The Outer Periphery Of The Bottom Annular Surface And The Inner Periphery Of The Top Annular Surface.

The Peripheral Retaining Wall Has An Inner Surface Which Defines A Seal Receiving Cavity Therewithin For Receiving A Portion Of A Grundfos Pump Seal. The Peripheral Retaining Wall Tapers Gradually Away From The Seal Receiving Cavity As It Extends From The Bottom Annular Surface To The Top Annular Surface. The Peripheral Retaining Wall Has A Plurality Of Openings Formed Therein Which Are Uniformly Spaced About The Periphery Of The Peripheral Retaining Wall.