Seal assembly with a load bearing ring

A mechanical assembly comprising:

• an outer member having an inner circumferential surface defining a bore and a first radial surface extending into the bore;
• an inner member disposed within the bore of the outer member so as to define an annular space, the inner member or the outer member being rotatable about a central axis extending through the inner member;
• a bearing rotatably coupling the inner member and the outer member and having an inner ring coupled with the inner member and an outer ring coupled with the outer member and disposed against the first radial surface of the outer member;
• and
• a seal assembly for sealing a section of the annular space adjacent to the bearing and including:
• an annular seal disposed about the inner member and having a sealing lip sealingly engageable with the inner member;
• and
• an annular load ring disposed within the bore of the outer member and having an outer circumferential surface, an inner circumferential surface defining a bore, the seal being disposed within the bore of the load ring so as to be coupled with the load ring, a first axial end disposed against the bearing outer ring or a spacer disposed axially between the load ring and the bearing outer ring, and a second axial end disposed against a second radial surface of the outer member, the load ring being configured to support axial loading on the bearing outer ring and to retain the bearing outer ring axially between the first radial surface of the outer member and the load ring or the spacer.

A seal assembly for sealing an annular space adjacent to a bearing and defined between an inner member and an outer member disposed about the inner member, the inner member or the outer member being rotatable about a central axis, the outer member having an inner circumferential surface defining a bore and the bearing having an inner ring coupled with the inner member and an outer ring coupled with the outer member, the seal assembly comprising:

• an annular seal disposed about the inner member and having a sealing lip sealingly engageable with the inner member;
• and
• an annular load ring disposed within the bore of the outer member and having an outer circumferential surface, an inner circumferential surface defining a bore, the seal being disposed within the bore of the load ring so as to be coupled with the load ring, a first axial end disposed against the bearing outer ring or a spacer disposed axially between the load ring and the bearing outer ring, and a second axial end disposed against a radial surface of the outer member, the load ring being configured to support axial loading on the bearing outer ring and to prevent axial displacement of the bearing outer ring;
• wherein the load ring is formed of a rigid material and has a radial thickness defined between the outer and inner circumferential surfaces, the radial thickness of the load ring having a value of at least a substantial portion of a value of a radial thickness of the bearing outer ring, and the seal includes a rigid annular case with an outer axial section disposed against the inner circumferential surface of the load ring, the axial section of the annular case having a radial thickness with a value of less than twenty-five percent of the value of the radial thickness of the load ring.

A mechanical assembly comprising:

• an outer member having an inner circumferential surface defining a bore;
• an inner member disposed within the bore of the outer member so as to define an annular space, the inner member or the outer member being rotatable about a central axis extending through the inner member;
• a bearing rotatably coupling the inner member and the outer member and having an inner ring coupled with the inner member and an outer ring coupled with the outer member, the outer ring having a raceway surface facing toward a first axial end of the outer member;
• and
• a seal assembly for sealing a section of the annular space adjacent to the bearing and including:
• an annular seal disposed about the inner member and having a sealing lip sealingly engageable with the inner member;
• and
• an annular load ring disposed within the bore of the outer member between the bearing outer ring and the first axial end of the outer member, the load ring and having an outer circumferential surface, an inner circumferential surface defining a bore, the seal being disposed within the bore of the load ring so as to be coupled with the load ring, a first axial end disposed against the bearing outer ring or a spacer disposed axially between the load ring and the bearing outer ring, and a second axial end disposed against a radial surface of the outer member, the load ring being configured to support axial loading on the bearing outer ring and to prevent axial displacement of the bearing outer ring.