Unitizing element and method for assembling a seal

A sealing assembly for sealing a rotating shaft and a bearing housing comprising:

• a rotor comprising:
• an annular engagement flange extending in an axial direction comprising a groove on a radial side thereof;
• a stator comprising:
• an annular engagement flange extending in an axial direction comprising a groove on a radial side thereof;
• and
• an annular unitizing element comprising:
• a stator engaging member;
• a rotor engaging member;
• and
• a rear member;
• wherein the rotor engaging member engages the rotor groove;
• and,
• wherein the stator engaging member extends from the unitizing element in a radial direction to engage the stator groove.

A method for assembling a sealing assembly for sealing a rotating shaft and a bearing housing comprising:

• providing a rotor comprising:
• an annular engagement flange extending in an axial direction comprising a groove on a radial side thereof;
• providing a unitizing element comprising a stator engaging member, a rotor engaging member, a void comprising the area between the stator engaging member and the rotor engaging member, and a rear member;
• engaging the unitizing element with the rotor such that the rotor engaging member of the unitizing element is retained within the groove on the rotor annul engagement flange;
• providing a stator comprising an annular engagement flange extending in an axial direction comprising a groove on a radial side thereof;
• and
• engaging the rotor and unitizing element with the stator such that the stator engaging member deflects onto the void until the unitizing element is in position, then the stator engaging member extends into the area of the stator groove.