Seal Member for Joint of Machine and Method of Assembling Same

A joint assembly for a machine, the joint assembly comprising:

• a shaft defining a rotational axis;
• a pivot member, the pivot member mounted with respect to the shaft such that the pivot member is pivotable about the rotational axis with respect to the shaft;
• and
• a seal member, the seal member mounted to the pivot member and pivotable about the rotational axis with respect to the shaft, the seal member including:
• a ring, the ring being adjacent the pivot member, the ring including a distal ring face and a proximal ring face, the distal ring face and the proximal ring face both being annular and being disposed in spaced relationship to each other along the rotational axis, the ring including an inner circumferential ring surface extending along the rotational axis between the distal ring face and the proximal ring face at an inner ring perimeter thereof, the inner ring perimeter defining a ring opening, the shaft extending through the ring opening,
• a flange, the flange disposed in spaced relationship to the ring along the rotational axis, the flange including a pair of flange faces disposed in spaced relationship to each other along the rotational axis, the flange including an outer flange surface extending along the rotational axis between the pair of flange faces at an outer flange perimeter thereof, the flange including an inner circumferential flange surface extending along the rotational axis between pair of flange faces at an inner flange perimeter thereof, the inner circumferential flange surface disposed radially within the outer flange surface, the inner circumferential flange surface defining a flange opening, the shaft extending through the flange opening, the flange fixed relative to the pivot member, and
• an intermediate portion interposed between the ring and the flange along the rotational axis, the intermediate portion being resiliently flexible, the intermediate portion connected to the proximal ring face of the ring and to the inner circumferential flange surface of the flange such that the ring is relatively movable with respect to the flange, the intermediate portion defining an intermediate passage, the shaft extending through the intermediate passage, the shaft and the intermediate portion having an interfering fit therebetween such that at least a portion of the intermediate portion is flexed radially outwardly.

A method of assembling a joint of a machine, the method of assembling comprising:

• mounting a seal member to a shaft, the shaft defining a rotational axis, the seal member including a ring, a flange, and an intermediate portion interposed between the ring and the flange, the ring including an inner circumferential ring surface at an inner ring perimeter defining a ring opening, the shaft extending through the ring opening, the inner circumferential ring surface of the ring being in proximate relationship with the shaft with a slip fit therebetween such that the ring is pivotable about the rotational axis with respect to the shaft, the intermediate portion being resiliently flexible, the intermediate portion defining an intermediate passage, the shaft extending through the intermediate passage, and the flange extending radially from the intermediate portion and circumscribing the shaft;
• mounting a bearing and a pivot member to the shaft, the pivot member having a mounting head defining a mounting passage therethrough, the bearing disposed within the mounting passage, the bearing and the mounting head in circumscribing relationship with the shaft, the pivot member being movable relative to the shaft about the rotational axis;
• abutting the ring of the seal member to an inboard pivot member side of the bearing;
• connecting the flange of the seal member to the pivot member such that the seal member is movable relative to the shaft about the rotational axis.