| CPC F16J 15/46 (2013.01) [F16J 15/3268 (2013.01); F16J 15/3284 (2013.01); F16J 15/3296 (2013.01); G01M 3/2869 (2013.01)] | 11 Claims |
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1. A sealing arrangement for a shaft comprising:
an outer structure extending around the shaft, wherein the outer structure includes a circumferential inner surface extending circumferentially around the shaft and facing a circumferential outer surface of the shaft;
a first annular seal element between the inner surface of the outer structure and the outer surface of the shaft, wherein the first annular seal is arranged around and in sliding contact with the shaft, wherein the first seal element includes a first annular outer shell of elastic material and a first annular hollow core within the first annular outer shell, and the first annular outer shell includes a first sidewall extending outward radially with respect to an axis of the shaft aligned;
a second annular seal element between the inner surface of the outer structure and the outer surface of the shaft, wherein the second annular seal arranged around and in sliding contact with the shaft, wherein the second annular seal element includes a second annular outer shell of elastic material and a second annular hollow core within the second annular outer shell, and the second annular outer shell includes a second sidewall facing the first sidewall along a direction parallel to the axis of the shaft and the second sidewall extending outward radially with respect to the axis of the shaft;
an annular fluid space arranged around the shaft between the first seal element and the second seal element, wherein opposite radially extending ends of the annular fluid space spaced apart along the direction parallel to the axis of the shaft are defined by the first and second sidewalls, a radially outer circumference of the annular fluid space is defined by the inner surface of the outer structure, and a radially inner circumference of the annular fluid space is defined by the outer surface of the shaft and/or a gland mounted on the shaft,
wherein the radially outer circumference of the annular fluid space extends radially outward at least as far as the radial outer surface of the first annular seal element or the second annular seal element,
wherein the hollow core of the first seal element and/or the second seal element is pressurized with a fluid to provide an adjustable sealing effect,
wherein the first seal element and/or the second seal element comprises an electric circuit element configured to break due to the outer shell being worn or torn,
wherein the electric circuit is on or in the outer shell adjacent a surface of the outer shell in sliding contact with the outer surface of the shaft, and
wherein the electric circuit forms a conductive path extending a length of the outer shell, in the direction parallel to the axis of the shaft, wherein the length extends entirely across the outer surface of the outer shell in sliding contact with the shaft.
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