Zero Torque Membrane Seal
AssigneeFreudenberg-NOK General Partnership
InventorsAlexander Berdichevsky, David Sakata, Jianbin Jiang
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A low friction seal for sealing between a shaft and a bore and includes an inner case adapted to be mounted on the shaft. An outer case is adapted to be mounted within the bore. A seal element is mounted to the inner case and includes a base portion attached to the inner case. A membrane extends from the base portion and an axially extending leg extends from the membrane. A seal lip extends from the axially extending leg and sealingly engages a radially extending portion of the outer case. As the shaft rotates, the centrifugal forces tend to cause the membrane to flex and the torque loads applied by the dynamic seal are reduced to the point that the seal lip can lift off and apply zero torque load.
Claims20
A low friction seal for sealing between a shaft and a bore, comprising:
- an inner case adapted to be mounted on the shaft;
- an outer case adapted to be mounted within the bore;
- a seal element mounted to said inner case and including a base portion attached to said inner case, a membrane extending from said base portion, an axially extending leg extending from said membrane and a seal lip extending radially outwardly from said axially extending leg and engaging a radially extending portion of said outer case.
A low friction seal for sealing between a shaft and a bore, comprising:
- an inner case adapted to be mounted on the shaft;
- an outer case adapted to be mounted within the bore;
- a seal element mounted to said inner case and including a base portion attached to said inner case, a membrane extending from said base portion, a mass portion extending axially from said membrane and having a greater thickness than said membrane and a seal lip extending from said mass portion and engaging said outer case.
A low friction seal for sealing between a shaft and a bore, comprising:
- an inner case adapted to be mounted on the shaft;
- an outer case adapted to be mounted within the bore and including a radially inwardly extending portion;
- a seal element mounted to said inner case and including a base portion attached to said inner case, a membrane extending from said base portion, a mass portion extending axially from said membrane and having a thickness greater than said membrane and a seal lip extending from said mass portion and engaging said radially inwardly extending portion of said outer case;
- wherein said outer case includes a hook portion extending radially outwardly from an inner end of said radially inwardly extending portion and toward said seal element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.