| abstract |
A mechanical seal is disclosed having a rotatable sealing face and a stationary sealing face that are in opposed relation and arranged to be urged, into contact to form a seal. One of the sealing faces is mounted on a support assembly that includes a biasing device operative to move that sealing face into contact with the other sealing face. In one form of the invention, the biasing device comprises one or more resilient members that in use are deformed to provide the biasing force. In a second form of the invention, the support assembly forms part of a fluid barrier of the seal and the biasing device is fluid impervious and forms part of the barrier. In a third form of the invention, the biasing device is exposed to fluid pressure in the chamber and the biasing force increases on increasing the fluid pressure in the chamber. |