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Contact Seal Maintenance (Open-Drive Machines) (Refer to Figure 36)
During machine operation, a few drops of oil per minute normally seeps through the space
between the contact sleeve (Item 16) and the shaft locknut (Item 8). This oil slowly accumulates
in an atmospheric oil chamber and is automatically returned to the system by a seal oil return
pump.
Oil should never leak between the contact sleeve and the packing gland (Item 14). If oil is
found in this area, the O-ring (Item 12) should be checked and replaced.
The oil passing through the shaft seal carries with it some absorbed refrigerant. As the oil
reaches the atmosphere, the absorbed refrigerant flashes to gas because of the reduction in
pressure. For this reason, a detector will indicate the presence of a slight amount of refrigerant
around the compressor shaft whenever the machine is running.
During machine shutdown, however, no refrigerant should be detected nor should there be
any oil seepage. If oil flow or the presence of refrigerant is noted while the machine is shut
down, a seal defect is indicated. Arrange for a seal-assembly inspection by a qualified
serviceman to determine the cause of the leakage and make the necessary repairs.
Click here for Figure 35 — Electronic Vane Actuator Linkage