Hydrodynamic sealing element for a radial shaft seal

Abstract

A hydrodynamic sealing element for a radial shaft seal includes a radial flange leg encircling a rotation axis and an oblique flange leg encircling the rotation axis and joined to the radial flange leg. The oblique flange leg extends both radially inward and axially away from the radial flange leg to form an oblique angle relative to the radial flange leg. The oblique flange leg has an air-side surface and an end face that meet at a lip. The oblique flange forms a plurality of hydrodynamic indentations that extend into the oblique flange leg from the air-side surface. The sealing element may be formed from leather, in which case the indentations may be created by debossing the leather. The sealing element may be inserted into a seal case to create a radial shaft seal.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.