Lip seals and related methods
AssigneeBal Seal Engineering, Inc.
InventorMiquel Balta
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Seal assemblies, gaskets, bearing assemblies, and their components can be used as pre-packaged seal systems and pre-packaged seal and bearing systems. The seal assemblies can be orientated in different configurations for different applications. Gaskets or washers to restrict flow and gaskets or washers with memory lips to operate as sealing lips can be included to increase the number of sealing points. In a pre-packaged configuration, the cylinder can be a straight cylinder, a stepped cylinder, or a split cylinder. Bearing assemblies can be pre-packaged with the sealing assemblies and service grease may optionally be used to provide lubrication and limit fluid incursion into the spring cavities.
Claims55
A seal system comprising:
- a cylinder having a body, an interior surface defining a bore, a first retaining end having a first retaining wall at a first end of the bore;
- a first seal assembly located in the bore adjacent the first retaining wall, the first seal assembly comprising a first seal element, a first locking ring, and a first energizer;
- wherein the first seal element comprising a spring cavity formed by an inside flange, an outside flange, and a center channel section and wherein part of the spring cavity is shaped by the first locking ring;
- a second seal assembly located in the bore and spaced further from the first retaining wall than the first seal assembly, the second seal assembly comprising a second seal element, a second locking ring, and a second energizer;
- wherein the second seal element comprising a spring cavity formed by an inside flange, an outside flange, and a center channel section and wherein part of the spring cavity is shaped by the second locking ring;
- a first sealing washer comprising an outside perimeter and an inside perimeter defining an opening located between the first retaining wall and the first seal assembly;
- and
- wherein the first locking ring and the second locking ring are located adjacent one another without any intervening structure therebetween.
A seal system comprising:
- a cylinder having a body with an interior surface defining a bore;
- a combination locking ring located in the bore of the cylinder, the combination locking ring comprising a body with a first deck and a second deck;
- wherein an inner flange extension extends from the body and defining a central opening located between two ends of the body;
- a first seal element having a center channel section located between an inside flange and an outside flange coupled to the first deck and together defining a first spring cavity having a first canted coil spring located therein, the first deck pressing the outside flange of the first seal element against the interior surface of the cylinder;
- a second seal element having a center channel section located between an inside flange and an outside flange coupled to the second deck and together defining a second spring cavity having a second canted coil spring located therein, the second deck pressing the outside flange of the second seal element against the interior surface of the cylinder;
- a first sealing washer comprising an outside perimeter and an inside perimeter defining an opening in contact with the first seal element;
- and
- a second sealing washer comprising an outside perimeter and an inside perimeter defining an opening in contact with the second seal element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.