Brief Description of the Drawings
FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of an oil seal made according to the invention, and showing one part of the seal received in an associated machine part counterbore and showing a portion of a shaft receiving the other part of the seal assembly;
FIG. 2 is a partially exploded view of the seal assembly of FIG. 2;
FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the seal of FIG. 1, showing the seal unit as sold and delivered by the manufacturer;
FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view of another embodiment of the composite seal unit of the invention;
FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of a still further modified form of oil seal embodying the invention;
FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view, with portions broken away, of a preferred form of oil seal made according to the invention and showing the seal associated with a shaft or the like.
FIG. 7 is a view of the seal of FIG. 6, but showing the seal without cross-hatching for clarity.
FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view of the seal of FIG. 6, but showing the same in a partially exploded or disassembled relation;
FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view of a still further form of a seal made according to the invention and showing the seal in assembled position of use with an associated shaft;
FIG. 10 is a view of the seal of FIG. 9, shown without cross-hatching;
FIG. 11 is a vertical sectional view of the seal of FIGS. 9 and 10 showing the components thereof in partially exploded relation;
FIG. 12 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of a still further form of seal made according to the invention; and
FIG. 13 is a view of the seal of FIG. 12, shown without cross-hatching.
Description of the Preferred Embodiments of the Invention
While it will be understood that the invention may be embodied in a number of different forms, and that the seal of the invention is capable of being used in a number of applications, a detailed description of the invention will be given wherein the seal is used in a heavy duty truck or like application; wherein the sealed medium is oil, and wherein the primary lip seal is a radially inwardly acting seal unit. As pointed out above, either the radially inner or the radially outer portion of the seal may be associated with a movable machine member, and the other portion will then be associated with a fixed or non-rotatable machine member.
Reference is sometimes made herein to axially "inner" or "outer", or to the "air side" or "oil side" of the seal. As is known in the art, the so-called "oil side" of the seal is the portion of the seal facing toward the sealed region, and "axially inner" refers to the direction lying toward such sealed region.
In FIGS. 1-5, for example, the sealed region lies to the left and in FIGS. 6-13, it lies toward the right; the more steeply inclined surface of the seal lip generally lies on the oil side, and, if the sealed region were completely filled with oil, the garter spring would be in contact therewith. Portions on the air side of the seal would not be so exposed.
Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, FIGS. 1-3 show one embodiment of a unitized seal assembly made according to the invention. The seal assembly generally identified as 20 is shown to form a seal between a relatively fixed or rotatable machine element 22 having a seal-receiving counterbore 24 therein and the radially outer surface 26 of a fixed or rotatable shaft 28.
The seal assembly 20 includes a radially outer seal assembly generally designated 30 (FIG. 2) and a radially inner seal assembly generally designated 32. The outer seal unit 30 includes a rigid mounting flange 34 which is of an annular configuration and which extends axially a length approximately equal to the axial depth of the counterbore 24.
Axially outwardly of the rigid mounting flange 34 is a shoulder 36 terminating in a collar 38 of reduced diameter, and axially outwardly thereof is a radially inturned, seal body mounting flange 40. The flange 34 supports a portion 42 of the elastomeric seal body which will engage the counterbore surface 24 to form a tight seal thereagainst. The should 36 serves as an abutting surface to limit the axial travel of the nose 44 of the metal unitizing collar generally designated 46 and shown to include axial and radial flanges 48, 50 (FIG. 2). As shown in FIG. 3, when the nose 44 and the radially inner surface of the flange 48 are associated with the shoulder and collar 36, 38, respectively, these sealed parts are locked together as a unit.
An elastomeric seal body generally designated 52 includes the portion 42 referred to earlier, as well as a radially extending neck portion 54 which surrounds the radially extending seal lip mounting flange 40. The primary seal lip body 56 includes an oil side surface 58 and an air side surface 60, each of frustoconical configuration and meeting at a seal band area 62. A secondary or dirt lip 64 also forms a part of the elastomeric seal body 52 as does a contoured snubber or spacer 66, the purpose of which is referred to herein. Referring again to FIG. 2, radially inner mounting assembly 32 is shown to include an annular metal portion generally designated 68 and shown to include axial and radial flanges 70, 72 and a second inner radial flange 74. The radially outer surface 76 of the axial flange 70 cooperates with the seal band 62 to form the primary seal, that is, the seal created between relatively movable parts.
A generally annular plastic member 78 having an L-shaped cross-section is shown to have portions bonded to the outer radial flange 72. Spaced axially inwardly from the axial flange 80 of the element 78 are a pair of relatively rigid locating rings 82, 84 of secondary seal means in the form of compressible square or rectangular cross-section which serve to confine a pair of elastomeric O-rings 86, 88.
When the components of FIG. 2 are assembled, as by exerting an axial force on the elements 32, 46 in the direction shown by the arrow "F" (FIG. 2), a unitized seal of the general form shown in FIG. 3 will result. Here, it is shown that the unitizing collar assembly 46 has been pressed into place to hold the units together.
The dirt lip 64 has been flattened (made more radial) by contact with the radial surface 90 of the flange 72, and the snubber 66 is shown to engage the flange 72 to prevent undue axially inward movement of the assembly 32. The radial flange 50 on the unitizing assembly 46 is then spaced just apart from the plastic flange.
When a seal such as that shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is assembled over a shaft such as the shaft 28, an assembly such as that shown in FIG. 1 results.
While the seals of FIG. 1 and 2 are shown to be identical, the seal of FIG. 3 is illustrated as being virtually identical, except that the locating ring 82a is shown as being wider than its counterpart 82 in FIG. 2 and the ring 84 of FIG. 2 has no counterpart in the seal of FIG. 3. Otherwise, the assemblies including the O-rings 86, 88 are the same. The flange 74 in FIG. 3 serves the same purpose as the ring 84 in FIGS. 1 and 2.
As installed, the outer surface 92 of the rubber body 42 may more or less tightly engage the counterbore 24, and the O-rings 86, 88 will be deformed sufficiently to form the seal by the contact with the surface 26 of the shaft 28.
In considering FIGS. 1-3, it will be seen that one form of seal made according to the invention include a first seal assembly having portions adapted to be received within a counterbore, another portion adapted to cooperate with the seal lip to form the primary seal, and third portion to comprise a unitizing element. The second portion includes a shaft-engaging portion and a companion flange for cooperation with the seal lip to form the primary seal, while the unitizing assembly is adapted to hold the first and second parts in assembled relation for shipping, handling and installation.
Referring now to FIG. 4, a very similar seal assembly generally designated 20b is shown. This unit includes a similar mounting assembly 30b, unitizing assembly 46b and a companion flange or second seal assembly 32b. In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the plastic element 78b is similar to its counterpart in FIG. 2, for example, except that the radial flange 80b is considerably longer, and only a single O-ring 86b is used. In other respects, the seal is the safe as its counterpart of FIGS. 1-3. The use and installation of the seal are likewise the same, and the seal of FIG. 4 is typically used where a single O-ring is sufficient to provide the required secondary seal.
Referring now to FIG. 5, a further embodiment of the invention generally designated 20c is shown. This unit is identical to the seals of FIGS. 1-4, except that the flange 78c is made entirely from a plastic or like material. This unit includes a radially inner plastic face 79c adapted to engage an associated shaft, and includes no O-rings at all. This form of seal is suitable for installation where the shaft with which it is associated is precisely ground and wherein the radially extending boy 80c of the flange 78c can be deformed sufficiently to provide a fluid-tight seal, and yet wherein the parts can be assembled without the use of special tools or applying unusual force. In some cases, the plastic or like material from which the element 78c is made may be somewhat more pliable than in its counterpart in the seals of FIGS. 1-4.
FIG. 6 shows an improved form of unitized seal made according to the invention. The seal of FIG. 6, generally designated 100, also includes an outer portion generally designated 102 and an inner portion generally designated 104. The outer assembly 102 includes portions adapted to be received within a counterbore (not shown in FIG. 6). An inner portion 104 of the assembly 100 includes a metal or like rigid companion flange 108 having an elastomeric sleeve 106 bonded thereto. The collar 106 includes an inwardly directed surface 110 adapted to sealingly engage an outwardly directed circumferential surface 112 of a shaft or stub 114.
In the embodiment of FIGS. 6-8, the outer assembly 102 includes a mounting flange generally designated 116 and includes an enlarged diameter axial flange 118, a shoulder 120 and a reduced diameter collar 122, terminating in an inwardly directed or radial flange 124 which serves to mount the elastomeric seal lip assembly.
The rubber portions of the outer unit 102 includes a radially outermost elastomeric outer body 125 with a surface 126 adapted to be received within an associated counterbore in snug sealing relation, an inner body 128 which includes a neck portion 130 from which extends a primary lip seal assembly generally designated 132 and an auxiliary or so-called dirt excluder lip assembly generally designated 134. In FIG. 7, it is shown that the primary seal lip assembly 132 includes a garter spring 135 disposed in a spring groove 136 and that the seal lip body 138 includes oil and air side surfaces 140, 142 respectively of generally frustoconical configuration which meet to define a seal band area 144. The dirt lip 134 includes a sealing body 146 of thin cross-section adapted to provide a flexible lip and terminating in a dirt lip seal edge 148.
As pointed out, the companion flange assembly 104 includes a radially inwardly extending flange 150, an axial flange 152 having a radially outwardly directed surface 154 which operates as a sealing surface for the seal band 144 and which makes sealing contact therewith.
A radial flange portion 156 of the member 106 includes an axially inwardly directed surface 158 adapted to cooperate with the dirt lip 148 to provide an excluder seal.
An important feature of the seal of FIG. 7 is that the unitizing is achieved entirely by means of an elastomeric collar generally designated 160 and shown to include a circumferential groove 162 (FIG. 8) having axially inner and outer wall surfaces 164, 166 which serve to confine the outermost portions 168 of the radial unitizing flange 156. The advantage of the seal assembly of FIGS. 6-8 is that unitizing is achieved without the need for press fitting of metal parts. The rigidity of the elastomeric collar 160 is such that it will effectively unitize the seal, but that it will not require special assembly techniques involving metal-to-metal assembly as would be required in assembling the seals of FIGS. 1-5, for example.
Referring again to FIG. 8, the seal of FIGS. 6 and 7 is shown in a disassembled form. When an axial force is applied in the direction to move the outer assembly 102 in the direction shown by the arrow "B", the flexible elastomeric collar 160 snaps over the outermost portion 168 of the metal flange 156, locking the two elements together and positioning the seal band 144 in the desired relation to the surface 154 with which it will cooperate to form the primary seal.
As the same time, the dirt lip 134, which is shown as extending axially in FIG. 8, engages the curved transistion surface portion of the stiffener 152 and rides therewith upwardly and radially outwardly until it is deformed as schematically shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. Consequently, its own resiliency, urging it to a relaxed position, provides a good secondary reaction sealing force.
The seal assembly of FIGS. 6-8 may thus be manufactured and assembled without the need for precisely matching the diameters of the associated metal stampings, and without the need for form a third or unitizing member from metal for this purpose. When the seal is installed, there is little if any tendency for the parts to become separated, and the unitizing assembly 160 is more than sufficient for holding the seal together after assembly for shipment and installation purposes.
Referring now to FIG. 9, a composite seal unit generally designated 200 is shown to be provided and to be similar in concept to the other embodiments shown. Generally, this seal includes an outer mounting assembly 202, an inner mounting assembly generally designated 204, and a unitizing member generally designated 206. The outer mounting rubber body portion 208 is the same as its counterparts in FIGS. 1-8, except that the dirt lip generally designated 210 in FIG. 9 is of the conventional type seen in ordinary oil seals, that is, it includes a flexible lip portion 212 terminating at a contact locus 214 radially inwardly of the seal body 216. In the seal of FIG. 9, the same reduced diameter unitizing collar 218 is provided for reception of the sleeve or unitizing member 206. The basic differences between the seals of FIG. 9, and those of FIGS. 1-5 are that the inner member 204, in addition to possessing the stiffener 220, includes a manually removable rubber body generally designated 222 and shown to include axial and radial flanges 224, 226.
Since the body 222 is elastomeric, it may be sized to be press fit over the shaft 228. If necessary, circumferential grooves 230 may be provided to reduce the overall compressive stiffness of the body 222, with such grooves 230 being provided on both the inner and outer diameters of the axial flange 224.
The seal shown in FIG. 9 may be assembled in the same way as its counterparts, namely, by co-axially aligning the inner and outer elements as shown in FIG. 11, moving them axially together as by movement in the direction of arrow "C" shown in FIG. 11, and then press fitting the unitizing member in place as shown. The rubber bumper surface 240 (FIG. 11) engages an offset surface 242 on the radial flange 244 of the stiffener 220. As in the other applications, the primary seal is formed between the seal band 246 of the seal lip 248 and a radially outwardly directed surface 250 of the flange 220; the edge 214 of the dirt lip 212 also engages an axially spaced apart portion of this surface 250.
Referring now to FIGS. 12 and 13, an embodiment of the invention generally designated 300 is shown. This seal is identical to that shown in FIGS. 9-11, inclusive, except that the mounting unit for the inner seal portion 302 not only includes an annular locating ring generally designated 302 and shown to include radial and axial flanges 304, 306, but further includes a radial flange 308 extending inwardly from the axial flange 310 of the metal stiffener 312. The end wall 314 of the axial flange 308 of the mounting unit 302 and a wall of the radial flange 308 of the stiffener 310 serve to locate therebetween an elastomeric O-ring 316. The combination of this O-ring and the inner diameter surface 318 of the unit 302 cooperate to affix the seal assembly 300 securely onto the outer diameter 320 of an associated shaft 322.
As shown in FIG. 13, the portions of the seal including the seal band 346, the garter spring 348, etc. are the same as their counterparts in the seals of FIGS. 9-11, for example.
In the use of the present invention, it is possible for the manufacturer to sell, as a unit, a seal which is capable of being installed in relatively heavy duty applications such as truck and trailer axles and the like, by hand or with simple tools. The seal is adapted to use oil as the sealed medium as opposed to grease, and this is a desirable feature for operators seeking extended wheel bearing life.
In those designs using a captive O-ring, advantage is taken of the resiliency of the O-ring and the precision, size and dixensional stability of a plastic inner diameter part. In those seals using a completely elastomeric inner diameter portion, advantage is taken of the use of ribs or the like to increase the general resilience of the unit, and to insure that there is a considerable axial length of rubber in contact with the shaft or stub to seal to provide a tight secondary seal.
Among other specific advantages possessed by one or more seal constructions illustrated and attributable to the present invention are the ease of manufacturing the parts in question, including the ability to remove the parts from the molds in which they are assembled.
In seals made according to the invention, the secondary seal areas are not vulnerable to damage during shipping; however, the seals can be non-destructively disassembled for additional inspection or quality control examination. Thus, while a user would receive an assembled seal which would be unlikely to have seal lip damage, the seal could still be inspected at a quality control point within the purchaser's facility and then be reassembled for handling and installation by personnel employed in assembling the entire sealed mechanism.
The arrangement of the inner and outer diameter rubber formulation is such that the seal is relatively easy to install. It does not require deformation of a metal member for such installation. On the other hand, having the rubber bonded to the metal, secondary sealing problems are reduced and the number of components in the assembly are reduced to two. Accordingly, the rubber components will not separate from the metal components during installation, in contrast to some other, unbonded prior art seals. Accordingly, where freedom from damage during installation and use is an important consideration, together with outstanding seal performance in use, seals of the present invention are highly advantageous, when used on truck and trailer axle seals wherein the sealed assemblies have been converted from the use of grease to the use of oil as the sealed medium. Inasmuch as the oil lubricated wheel bearing seal is coming into increasingly widespread use, the present invention promises significant economic advantages.
It will thus be seen that the present invention provides a novel seal having a number of advantages and characteristics including those pointed out above and others which are inherent in the invention. A preferred embodiment of the invention having been described by way of illustration, it is anticipated that changes and modifications of the described seal will occur to those skilled in the art and that such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.