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US 10,865,048 B2Granted
Conveyor idler seal apparatus, systems, and methods
AssigneeSuperior Industries, Inc.
InventorsLafe Grimm, Paul Schmidgall, Owen Greg Rude
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Seal assemblies for conveyor idler rolls are provided. In some embodiments, a plurality of subsets of seal components are selectively installable in the seal assembly. In some embodiments, one or more fins are included on a seal.
Claims28
A seal assembly for use with an idler roll having an end disc, a bearing, and an idler shaft extending in a generally axial direction, the seal assembly comprising:
- an internal seal, said internal seal comprising:
- a first annular internal seal wall;
- and
- a second annular internal seal wall, said second annular internal seal wall having an internal seal wall annular inner surface and an annular outboard surface;
- an external seal, said external seal comprising:
- a first annular external seal wall, said first annular external seal wall having an external seal wall annular inner surface;
- and
- a second annular external seal wall, said second annular external seal wall having an inboard surface,
- wherein an inboard portion of said internal seal wall annular inner surface at least partially defines a first annular sealing element volume, said first annular sealing element volume being configured to selectively receive a first annular sealing element therein,
- wherein an outboard portion of said internal seal wall annular inner surface at least partially defines a second annular sealing element volume, said second annular sealing element volume being configured to selectively receive a second annular sealing element therein,
- wherein said annular outboard surface of said second annular internal seal wall, said inboard surface of said second annular external seal wall, and said external seal wall annular inner surface cooperate to at least partially define a third annular sealing element volume, said third annular sealing element volume being configured to selectively receive a third annular sealing element therein.
8 more elements
A seal assembly for use with an idler roll supported on an idler shaft extending along an axial direction, the seal assembly comprising:
- an internal seal;
- an external seal, said external seal cooperating with said internal seal to form a labyrinthine flow path, wherein at least one of said internal seal and said external seal at least partially define each of a first annular sealing element volume, a second annular sealing element volume, and a third annular sealing element volume, wherein said first, second, and third annular sealing element volumes are disposed along said labyrinthine flow path;
- a first annular sealing element selectively installable in said first annular sealing element volume;
- a second annular sealing element selectively installable in said second annular sealing element volume;
- and
- a third annular sealing element selectively installable in said third annular sealing element volume,
- whereby the seal assembly has a first plurality of configurations in which only one of said first, second and third annular sealing elements are installed,
- whereby the seal assembly has a second plurality of configurations in which only two of said first, second and third annular sealing elements are installed,
- whereby the seal assembly has a fully installed configuration in which said first, second and third annular sealing elements are installed.
6 more elements
A method of assembling a seal assembly in one of a plurality of configurations for use with an idler roll supported on an idler shaft, the method comprising:
- installing an internal seal, said internal seal at least partially defining one or more of a first, second, and third annular sealing element volumes;
- forming a flow path by installing an external seal, said external seal at least partially defining one or more of a-said first, second, and third annular sealing element volumes, wherein said first, second, and third annular sealing element volumes are disposed along said flow path;
- selecting and installing a subset of a set of annular sealing elements along said flow path, the set comprising at least one of a first, second and third annular sealing element, said subset comprising any one, two, or three of said set of annular sealing elements.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.