# US 2009/0212500 A1 · Floating seal

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 2009/0212500 A1
- Document ID: US20090212500A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 12/304,330
- Filed: 2007-06-07
- Published: 2009-08-27
- Earliest claimed: 2006-06-16
- Assignees: Komatsu Ltd.
- Inventors: Yukio Kometani
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20090212500A1

## CPC

- F16J 15/344: {the pressing force being applied by means of an elastic ring supporting the slip-ring}
- F16J: PISTONS {(specially adapted for dampers F16F9/32)}; CYLINDERS; SEALINGS

## Abstract

To prevent premature wear and damage of elastic rings caused by fine grained soil, floating rings 22, 24 are supported by corresponding housings 20, 21 through associated elastic rings 23, 25. The elasticity of the elastic rings causes the floating rings 22, 24 to contact each other. When the housings rotate relative to each other, the floating rings 22, 24 slide with respect to each other. An elastic layer 28, 29 is arranged on a contact surface of a portion of a contact surface of each floating ring 22, 24 or a contact surface of each housing 20, 21 with respect to the corresponding elastic ring located closer to an opposing portion 22a, 24a of the floating ring 22, 24.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A floating seal comprising a pair of housings, which are relatively rotatable on a common axis, wherein each housing supports a floating ring with an elastic ring in between, the floating rings being slidably sealed together by the elasticity of the elastic rings,
the floating seal further comprising, at a contact portion between each floating ring and the corresponding elastic ring and at least at a portion of each floating ring that is located closer to a sealing side, tight contact means is arranged in at least one of the floating ring and the elastic ring, the tight contact means maintaining the contact portion in a tight contact state, wherein a rough surface is formed on each of a contact surface of the floating ring that faces the elastic ring and a contact surface of the housing that faces elastic ring.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The floating seal according to claim 1, wherein the tight contact means is an elastic layer secured to each floating ring.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The floating seal according to claim 2, wherein the elastic layers are each arranged at the entire portion of the contact portion between one floating ring and the corresponding elastic ring.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The floating seal according to claim 1, wherein the tight contact means is a smooth portion formed by making the portion located closer to the sealing side of the floating ring smoother than other portions of the floating ring.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The floating seal according to claim 1, wherein, at the contact portion between each housing and the corresponding elastic ring and at least at the portion of each floating ring that is located closer to the sealing side, additional tight contact means is arranged in the housing, the additional tight contact means maintaining the contact portion in a tight contact state.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The floating seal according to claim 5, wherein the additional tight contact means is an elastic layer secured to each housing.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The floating seal according to claim 6, wherein the elastic layers are each formed on the entire portion of the contact portion of one housing and the corresponding elastic ring.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The floating seal according to claim 5, wherein the additional tight contact means is a smooth portion formed by making the portion located closer to the sealing side of the floating ring smoother than other portions of the floating ring.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The floating seal according to claim 1, wherein the tight contact means is a coating layer that is formed of a rubber material and coated on each elastic ring.