Importance

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Abstract

A seal arrangement for a gear machine includes a thrust plate for reducing the cross face leakage of fluid from a high pressure side to a low pressure side of a gear machine. A first groove and a second groove are formed in the thrust plate for receiving a first seal assembly and a second seal assembly, respectively. The first groove generally defines the numeral '8' with lateral sides spaced from one another and includes a top segment and a bottom segment. Each of the segments has an extension at each of its ends. The second groove generally defines a geometric form located between the lateral sides of the first groove and has its center spaced generally equidistant between the top and bottom segments. The first groove and the first seal assembly are arranged to form four chambers. Three of these chambers confine pressurized fluid therein for each direction of rotation of the machine, thereby urging the plate toward localized sealing engagement with the gears of the machine. The second groove and the second seal assembly are arranged to form a fifth pressure chamber to confine pressurized fluid for either direction of machine rotation. This chamber likewise urges the plate toward localized sealing engagement with the gears of the machine. Two embodiments are disclosed.

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First Claim