# US 10,309,465 B2 · Sealing assembly for a cup bearing of a universal joint

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- Number: US 10,309,465 B2
- Document ID: US10309465B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/389,793
- Filed: 2016-12-23
- Published: 2018-06-28
- Granted: 2019-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2016-12-23
- Assignees: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
- Applicants: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
- Inventors: John Tate; Seth Claus; Tyler Boger
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10309465B2

## CPC

- F16D 3/385: {Bearing cup; Bearing construction; Bearing seal; Mounting of bearing on the intermediate member}
- F16C 19/466: {comprising needle rollers and an outer ring, i.e. subunit without inner ring}
- F16C 21/005: {the external zone of a bearing with rolling members, e.g. needles, being cup-shaped, with or without a separate thrust-bearing disc or ring, e.g. for universal joints (seals F16C33/72, F16D3/38)}
- F16C 33/586: {outside the space between the races, e.g. end faces or bore of inner ring}
- F16C 33/7809: {for needle roller bearings}
- F16C 33/7826: {of the opposing surface cooperating with the seal, e.g. a shoulder surface of a bearing ring}
- F16C 33/7876: {with sealing lips}
- F16C 33/7896: {with two or more discrete sealings arranged in series}
- F16C 43/045: {Mounting or replacing seals}
- F16C 33/7886: {mounted outside the gap between the inner and outer races, e.g. sealing rings mounted to an end face or outer surface of a race}
- F16C 2226/74: with snap-fit, e.g. by clips
- F16C 2361/41: Couplings
- F16D 3/41: with ball or roller bearings
- F16D 2250/0084: Assembly or disassembly
- F16D 2300/08: Details or arrangements of sealings not provided for in group F16D3/84
- Y10T 29/49876: by snap fit
- F16D: COUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES
- F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A sealing assembly for a cup bearing of a universal joint includes a seal sub-assembly configured to be positioned in a space between a cup of the cup bearing and a trunnion of the universal joint. The seal sub-assembly includes an elastic sealing member configured to contact an outer surface of the trunnion, and a seal insert attached to the elastic sealing member and configured to contact an inner surface of the cup. The seal insert includes an extension portion configured to contact and extend away from a rim surface of the cup. The sealing assembly further includes an external shield including an inner portion and an outer portion. The inner portion is configured to contact the outer surface of the trunnion, and the outer portion is attached to the extension portion of the seal insert.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A sealing assembly for a cup bearing of a universal joint, the sealing assembly comprising:
a seal sub-assembly configured to be positioned in a space between a cup of the cup bearing and a trunnion of the universal joint,
the seal sub-assembly including:
an elastic sealing member configured to contact an outer surface of the trunnion; and
a seal insert attached to the elastic sealing member and configured to contact an inner surface of the cup, the seal insert including an extension portion configured to contact and extend away from a rim surface of the cup; and
an external shield including an inner portion and an outer portion, the inner portion configured to contact the outer surface of the trunnion, and the outer portion being attached to the extension portion of the seal insert by a separable snap fit.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The sealing assembly of claim 1, wherein the seal insert is annular and includes a first axially-extending portion, a second axially-extending portion attached to the outer portion of the external shield, and a radially-extending portion connecting the first axially-extending portion to the second axially-extending portion.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The sealing assembly of claim 1, wherein the seal insert is metal.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The sealing assembly of claim 1, wherein the elastic sealing member includes a plurality of sealing lips.

### Claim 5

A cup bearing for a universal joint, comprising:
a cup including an end surface and a perimeter wall, the perimeter wall including an inner surface, an outer surface, and a rim surface;
a bearing element positioned in the cup; and
a sealing assembly, comprising:
a seal sub-assembly configured to be positioned in a space between the cup and a trunnion of the universal joint, the seal sub-assembly including:
an elastic sealing member configured to contact an outer surface of the trunnion; and
a seal insert attached to the elastic sealing member and including a first axially-extending portion in contact with the inner surface of the cup and an extension portion in contact with and extending away from the rim surface of the cup; and
an external shield including an inner portion and an outer portion, the inner portion configured to contact the outer surface of the trunnion, and the outer portion being attached to the extension portion of the seal insert.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The cup bearing of claim 5, wherein the outer portion of the external shield is attached to the extension portion of the seal insert by a snap fit.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The cup bearing of claim 5, wherein the extension portion includes a second axially-extending portion which is attached to the outer portion of the external shield and a radially-extending portion which is in contact with the rim surface and connects the first axially-extending portion to the second axially-extending portion.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The cup bearing of claim 7, wherein the extension portion bridges a gap between the rim surface of the cup and the outer portion of the external shield.

### Claim 9 (depends on 5)

The cup bearing of claim 5, wherein the seal insert is metal.

### Claim 10 (depends on 5)

The cup bearing of claim 5, wherein the elastic sealing member includes a plurality of sealing lips.

### Claim 11 (depends on 5)

The cup bearing of claim 5, wherein the cup is a drawn cup.

### Claim 12 (depends on 5)

The cup bearing of claim 5, wherein the bearing element includes a plurality of rollers configured to facilitate relative motion between the cup and the trunnion.

### Claim 13

A method of assembling a cup bearing for a universal joint, comprising: attaching an external shield to a seal sub-assembly, the seal sub-assembly comprising an elastic sealing member and a seal insert, including attaching an outer portion of the external shield to an extension portion of the seal insert; inserting the seal sub-assembly into a cup having a perimeter wall until the seal insert contacts an inner surface and a rim surface of the perimeter wall, wherein the extension portion bridges a gap between the rim surface and the external shield.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein attaching the external shield to the extension portion is by a snap fit.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the external shield is attached to the extension portion of the seal insert prior to the seal sub-assembly being inserted into the cup.