# US 10,865,048 B2 · Conveyor idler seal apparatus, systems, and methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,865,048 B2 - Document ID: US10865048B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/799,311 - Filed: 2020-02-24 - Published: 2020-06-18 - Granted: 2020-12-15 - Earliest claimed: 2016-10-03 - Assignees: Superior Industries, Inc. - Applicants: Superior Industries, Inc. - Inventors: Lafe Grimm; Paul Schmidgall; Owen Greg Rude - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10865048B2 ## CPC - B65G 39/09: Arrangements of bearing or sealing means - F16C 13/022: {supporting a hollow roll mantle rotating with respect to a yoke or axle} - F16C 33/7859: {with a further sealing element} - F16C 33/7866: {with sealing lips} - 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 33/7896: {with two or more discrete sealings arranged in series} - F16C 33/80: Labyrinth sealings {(F16C33/761 takes precedence)} - F16C 33/805: {in addition to other sealings, e.g. dirt guards to protect sealings with sealing lips} - F16C 2326/58: Conveyor systems, e.g. rollers or bearings therefor - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) - F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The seal assembly of claim 1, further comprising: an annular protrusion disposed axially between said inboard portion of said internal seal wall annular inner surface and said outboard portion of said internal seal wall annular inner surface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The seal assembly of claim 1, wherein said first and second annular sealing elements comprise rubber seals. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The seal assembly of claim 2, wherein said third annular sealing element comprises a felt disc. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The seal assembly of claim 1, wherein said third annular sealing element comprises a felt disc. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The seal assembly of claim 1, wherein said first and second annular sealing element volumes are at least partially defined by the idler shaft. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The seal assembly of claim 1, wherein said third annular sealing element volume is at least partially defined by the idler shaft. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The seal assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a third annular external seal wall, said third annular external seal wall extending generally in the axial direction, said first annular external seal wall having an external seal wall outer surface, wherein said first and second annular sealing element volumes are at least partially defined by said external seal wall outer surface. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The seal assembly of claim 1, wherein said internal seal further comprises an internal seal annular lip, said internal seal annular lip at least partially defining a fill volume, said fill volume being disposed at least partially between said internal seal annular lip and the end disc, and wherein said external seal further comprises an external seal annular lip, said external seal annular lip and said internal seal annular lip cooperating to at least partially define an annular channel therebetween. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The seal assembly of claim 9, further comprising: a first plurality of fins arranged circumferentially on said internal seal, each of said first plurality of fins extending into said fill volume. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The seal assembly of claim 10, further comprising: a second plurality of fins arranged circumferentially on said internal seal, each of said second plurality of fins extending into said annular channel. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The seal assembly of claim 10, further comprising: a first plurality of fins arranged circumferentially on said internal seal, each of said first plurality of fins extending into said fill volume. ### Claim 13 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. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The seal assembly of claim 13, further comprising: an annular protrusion supported on one of said external seal and said internal seal. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The seal assembly of claim 13, wherein said first and second annular sealing elements comprise rubber seals. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The seal assembly of claim 15, wherein said third annular sealing element comprises a felt disc. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The seal assembly of claim 13, wherein said third annular sealing element comprises a felt disc. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The seal assembly of claim 13, wherein said internal seal further comprises an internal seal annular lip, said internal seal annular lip at least partially defining a fill volume, and wherein said external seal further comprises an external seal annular lip, said external seal annular lip and said internal seal annular lip cooperating to at least partially define an annular channel therebetween. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The seal assembly of claim 18, further comprising: a first plurality of fins arranged circumferentially on said internal seal, each of said first plurality of fins extending into said fill volume. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The seal assembly of claim 18, further comprising: a second plurality of fins arranged circumferentially on one of said internal seal and said external seal, each of said second plurality of fins extending into said annular channel. ### Claim 21 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. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein said first and second annular sealing elements comprise rubber seals. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, wherein said third annular sealing element comprises a felt disc. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein said third annular sealing element comprises a felt disc. ### Claim 25 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein said internal seal further comprises an internal seal annular lip, said internal seal annular lip at least partially defining a fill volume, and wherein said external seal further comprises an external seal annular lip, said external seal annular lip and said internal seal annular lip cooperating to at least partially define an annular channel therebetween. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25, further comprising: rotating a plurality of fins on said internal seal relative to said external seal. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The method of claim 26, wherein said plurality of fins are attached to said internal seal annular lip. ### Claim 28 (depends on 26) The method of claim 26, wherein said plurality of fins are disposed adjacent to said external seal.