Lip seals and related methods
AssigneeBal Seal Engineering, Inc.
InventorsMiquel Balta, Marc Soriano, Serdar Eren
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 to restrict flow and gaskets 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.
Claims20
A pre-packaged seal system comprising:
- a cylinder having a body, an interior surface defining a bore, a retaining end having a retaining wall at one end of the bore, and an insertion end at an opposite end of the bore;
- a first seal assembly comprising a seal element, a locking ring, and an energizer;
- wherein the 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 locking ring;
- a second seal assembly comprising a seal element, a locking ring, and an energizer;
- wherein the 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 locking ring;
- at least one washer comprising an outside perimeter, an inside perimeter defining an opening, and a memory lip having a curved portion at the opening;
- and
- wherein the first seal assembly and the second seal assembly contact one another along a parting line between them.
A seal assembly comprising:
- a locking ring comprising a locking flange and an inner flange extension aligned with one another along an axial position, a first deck having a notch on a first side of the inner flange extension and a second deck having a notch on a second side of the inner flange extension;
- a first seal element having an inside flange and an outside flange mechanically engaged to the notch of the first deck and having a first energizer biasing against the inside flange of the first seal element and an inner surface of the first deck;
- and
- a second seal element having an inside flange and an outside flange mechanically engaged to the notch of the second deck and having a second energizer biasing against the inside flange second seal element and an inner surface of the second deck.
A seal assembly comprising:
- a seal element comprising an outside flange, an inside flange, and a center channel section connected to the inside flange and the outside flange;
- a washer comprising an outside perimeter, an inside perimeter defining an opening, and a memory lip having a curved portion at the opening;
- a locking ring comprising a first ring portion connected to a second ring portion at an intersection;
- wherein the second ring portion has a planar surface, a first projection on a first side of the planar surface;
- and a second projection on a second side of the planar surface;
- wherein the second projection of the second ring portion mechanically engages a notch on an outer surface of the outside flange;
- and
- wherein the center channel section and the washer are both located between the first ring portion and the second projection.
A pre-packaged seal system comprising a cylinder having a bore, a first seal assembly having a first energizer biasing a first inside flange of a first seal element, a second seal assembly having a second energizer biasing a second inside flange of a second seal element, and at least two washers made from a non-metallic material positioned within the bore, at least one memory lip is incorporated with one of the two washers, and wherein a first locking ring of the first seal element contact a second locking ring of the second seal element along a parting line between them.
A method of assembling a pre-packaged seal system comprising:
- placing a first seal assembly into a bore of a cylinder, wherein the first seal assembly comprises a first energizer biasing a first inside flange of a first seal element;
- placing a second seal assembly having a second energizer biasing a second inside flange of a second seal element into the bore of the cylinder;
- placing at least two washers made from a non-metallic material inside the bore of the cylinder, at least one memory lip is incorporated with one of the two washers;
- and
- wherein a first locking ring of the first seal element contact a second locking ring of the second seal element along a parting line between them.
A seal assembly comprising:
- a seal element having an inside flange, an outside flange, and a center channel section located between the inside flange and the outside flange;
- a deck extending from an outer flange extension and an inner flange extension and projecting into a space between the outside flange and the inside flange and together defining a spring cavity with the inside flange, the outside flange and the deck being mechanically engaged to one another;
- a canted coil spring located in the spring cavity and biasing against the deck and the inside flange;
- an excluder at an end of the center channel section with a flat or a blunt tip;
- and
- wherein the inside flange is separated from the excluder by an annular recess.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.