# US 2014/0197675 A1 · Self-lubricating and Cooling Metal Face Seal > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0197675 A1 - Document ID: US20140197675A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/739,048 - Filed: 2013-01-11 - Published: 2014-07-17 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-11 - Assignees: Siemens Industry, Inc. - Inventors: Todd R. Morman; Stephen Tressel; Matthew Douville - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140197675A1 ## CPC - F16J 15/3404: {and characterised by parts or details relating to lubrication, cooling or venting of the seal} - F16J: PISTONS {(specially adapted for dampers F16F9/32)}; CYLINDERS; SEALINGS ## Abstract A self-lubricating and cooling metal face seal includes a rotating seal half and a stationary seal half. The seal halves include complimentary textures configured to move and retain lubricant. The rotating seal half has a texture comprising an alternating series of plows and troughs circumferentially spaced around an inner diameter of the rotating seal half. The stationary seal half has a texture comprising collection and distribution grooves circumferentially spaced around an inner diameter of the stationary seal half. A drive axle includes a spindle and a wheel hub rotatably connected to the spindle. A metal face seal is located at an interface between the spindle and the wheel hub. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A metal face seal comprising: a rotating seal half; a stationary seal half; wherein the rotating seal half and the stationary seal half have complimentary textures, the complimentary textures configured to move and retain lubricant. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The seal of claim 1 wherein a texture of the rotating seal half is configured to lift lubricant from a lubricant reservoir as the rotating seal half is moved through the lubricant reservoir. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The seal of claim 1 wherein a texture of the rotating seal half comprises an alternating series of plows and troughs circumferentially spaced around an inner diameter of the rotating seal half. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The seal of claim 3 wherein the troughs are configured to lift lubricant from a lubricant reservoir and the plows are configured to move lubricant from the troughs to the stationary seal half. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The seal of claim 1 wherein a texture of the stationary seal half comprises lubrication collection and distribution grooves circumferentially spaced around an inner diameter of the stationary seal half. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The seal of claim 5 wherein the texture of the stationary seal half is configured to receive lubricant from the rotating seal half. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The seal of claim 3 wherein each plow of the alternating series of plows and troughs comprises a raised triangle having a rounded tip which points in a direction of the stationary seal half. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The seal of claim 3 wherein each trough of the alternating series of plows and troughs comprises a triangular depression having a rounded tip which points in a direction away from the stationary seal half. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The seal of claim 5 wherein the collection and lubrication grooves are X-shaped and each groove of the lubrication collection and distribution grooves is in fluid communication with an adjacent groove. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The seal of claim 1 wherein a texture of the rotating seal half is configured to lift lubricant from a lubricant reservoir as the rotating seal half is moved through the lubricant reservoir and a texture of the stationary seal half is configured to receive lubricant from the rotating seal half. ### Claim 11 A drive axle comprising: a spindle; a wheel hub rotatably connected to the spindle; a lubricant reservoir; and a metal face seal located at an interface between the spindle and the wheel hub, the metal face seal comprising: a rotating seal half; and a stationary seal half; wherein the rotating seal half and the stationary seal half have complimentary textures, the complimentary textures configured to move and retain lubricant from the lubricant reservoir. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The drive axle of claim 11 wherein a texture of the rotating seal half is configured to lift lubricant from the lubricant reservoir as the rotating seal half is moved through the lubricant reservoir. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The drive axle of claim 11 wherein a texture of the rotating seal half comprises an alternating series of plows and troughs circumferentially spaced around an inner diameter of the rotating seal half. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The drive axle of claim 13 wherein the troughs are configured to lift lubricant from the lubricant reservoir and the plows are configured to move lubricant from the troughs to the stationary seal half. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The drive axle of claim 11 wherein a texture of the stationary seal half comprises lubrication collection and distribution grooves circumferentially spaced around an inner diameter of the stationary seal half. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The drive axle of claim 15 wherein the texture of the stationary seal half is configured to receive lubricant from the rotating seal half. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The drive axle of claim 13 wherein each plow of the alternating series of plows and troughs comprises a raised triangle having a rounded tip which points in a direction of the stationary seal half. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The drive axle of claim 13 wherein each trough of the alternating series of plows and troughs comprises a triangular depression having a rounded tip which points in a direction away from the stationary seal half. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The drive axle of claim 15 wherein the collection and lubrication grooves are X-shaped and each groove of the lubrication collection and distribution grooves is in fluid communication with an adjacent groove. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The drive axle of claim 11 wherein a texture of the rotating seal half is configured to lift lubricant from a lubricant reservoir as the rotating seal half is moved through the lubricant reservoir and a texture of the stationary seal half is configured to receive lubricant from the rotating seal half.