# US 2017/0284470 A1 · Low-friction sealing device and rolling bearing equipped therewith > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0284470 A1 - Document ID: US20170284470A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/470,399 - Filed: 2017-03-27 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2016-04-05 - Assignees: Aktiebolaget Skf - Applicants: Aktiebolaget SKF - Inventors: Janek Wollert; Julian Veeh - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170284470A1 ## CPC - F16C 33/7886: {mounted outside the gap between the inner and outer races, e.g. sealing rings mounted to an end face or outer surface of a race} - F16C 33/7889: {mounted to an inner race and extending toward the outer race} - F16C 33/805: {in addition to other sealings, e.g. dirt guards to protect sealings with sealing lips} - F16J 15/3264: the elements being separable from each other - G01N 3/42: by performing impressions under a steady load by indentors, e.g. sphere, pyramid (G01N3/54 takes precedence) - F16C 19/186: {with three raceways provided integrally on parts other than race rings, e.g. third generation hubs} - F16C 2326/02: Wheel hubs or castors - G01N 25/04: of melting point; of freezing point; of softening point - G01N 2203/02: Details not specific for a particular testing method - G01N 2203/0202: Control of the test - G01N 2203/0226: High temperature; Heating means - F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS - F16J: PISTONS {(specially adapted for dampers F16F9/32)}; CYLINDERS; SEALINGS - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract A sealing device for insertion between a first and a second bearing part. The device including a rotating first shield, a stationary second shield, and an elastomeric sealing element having a first and a second sealing lip. The first shield includes a peripheral section having a first and a second axially extending sleeve portion connected by a first radially extending flange portion. The second shield including a support section for the lips, having an intermediate frustoconical portion that connects a second flange portion of the peripheral section to a mounting section of the second shield. The intermediate portion is positioned axially at a step formed by the first flange portion and by the first sleeve portion. The mounting section is arranged partially inside the second sleeve portion to form an axially directed labyrinth seal that is in metal-to-metal contact with the second bearing. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sealing device for sealing a rolling bearing between a first and a second bearing part that form a wheel hub assembly, the first and second bearing parts being rotatable relative to each other around an axis of symmetry (A) of the sealing device, the sealing device comprising: a first annular shield having a first mounting section for attachment to the first bearing part, the first annular shield rotating around the symmetry axis (A); a second annular shield coaxial with the first shield and having a second mounting section for attachment to the second bearing part, the second annular shield being stationary; and an annular sealing element made of an elastomeric material and integrally supported by second annular shield, the annular sealing element having at least a first and a second annular sealing lip axially and radially projecting from the second shield toward the first shield; wherein the first annular shield provides a peripheral section radially opposite to the first mounting section and having first and second axially extending sleeve portions connected to each other by a radially extending first flange portion, the first sleeve portion radially closer to the first mounting section than the second sleeve portion and the first flange portion forming with the first sleeve portion a step arranged radially inside the first annular shield and facing the second annular shield and the annular sealing element, which is supported by the second shield on a first side thereof facing the first shield; the second annular shield provides a carrier section radially opposite to the second mounting section, the carrier section comprising a second flange portion radially extending towards the first mounting section and carrying the first and second annular sealing lip and a conically truncated intermediate portion connecting the second flange portion to the second mounting portion and radially and axially projecting from the second mounting portion towards the first mounting portion, the intermediate portion being arranged partially radially inside of the first sleeve portion, directed radially inwards and axially positioned at the step formed by the first flange portion and the first sleeve portion, arranged radially between the step and the second flange portion; and the second mounting section being arranged radially on the inside of the second sleeve portion and partly within the second sleeve portion, the second mounting section comprising a third flange portion extending radially from the intermediate portion and a third sleeve portion extending axially from the third flange portion on the side opposite to the first shield and arranged radially adjacent to the second sleeve portion; a corresponding sleeve portion of the annular sealing element completely covering the third sleeve portion on the side facing the first shield and forming with the second sleeve portion a radial gap defining along the whole length of axially superimposed stretches of the second and third sleeve portion an axially oriented labyrinth seal. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The sealing device according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve portion of the annular sealing element axially extends beyond the third sleeve portion on the side opposite to the first flange portion forming an end section of the annular sealing element projecting free of support from an end edge of the third sleeve portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The sealing device according to claim 2, wherein the sleeve portion of the annular sealing element includes a radially outstanding annular spur arranged at the end edge of the third sleeve portion and flanking the axially extending labyrinth seal; the annular spur projecting radially from the sleeve portion of the annular sealing element beyond the second sleeve portion and being arranged adjacent to an end edge of the second sleeve portion to form therewith a radially directed labyrinth seal. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The sealing device according to claim 3, wherein a root portion of the annular spur axially extends at least in part over a root portion of the end section of the annular sealing element and constitutes a stiffening thickening thereof. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The sealing device according to claim 1, further comprising a second side of the second shield, opposite to the first side, is at least at the second mounting section completely free of the annular sealing element and configured to couple with a radially outer stretch of the second bearing part, in direct contact therewith and radially on the outside thereof; the third flange portion delimiting on the second side a shoulder surface designed to make axial contact with a frontal surface of the second bearing part. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The sealing device according to claim 1, wherein the axially oriented labyrinth seal is arranged radially on the outside of the first and second annular sealing lips to protect them from outer contaminants, the first and second sealing lips being arranged inside the first sleeve portion radially between the latter and the first mounting section. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The sealing device according to claim 1, wherein the annular sealing element covers the second shield on the first side; the first annular sealing lip extending radially outwards from the second flange portion at a junction between the intermediate portion and the second flange portion of the carrier section, with an inclination with respect to the symmetry axis (A) opposite to that one of the intermediate, conical truncated portion; the first annular sealing lip forming in radial section a V with the intermediate portion and a portion of the sealing element covering the intermediate portion, the vertex of the V being arranged substantially at the step formed by the first flange portion and the first sleeve portion or axially slightly inward the first sleeve portion; the first sealing lip being a non-contacting lip forming a labyrinth seal with the first shield; the second sealing lip being a contacting lip forming a sliding dynamic seal with the first mounting section. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The sealing device according to claim 7, wherein the first mounting section provides a fourth sleeve portion configured to couple radially on the outside of the first bearing part, a fourth flange portion facing the second flange portion and joining at an angle, preferably at a right angle, the first sleeve portion, and an inclined, conical truncated shaped connecting portion joining the fourth flange portion with the fourth sleeve portion; the first sealing lip forming a dual, radial-axial labyrinth seal with the first shield at the angle between the first sleeve portion and the fourth flange portion and the second sealing lip cooperating in sliding manner with the inclined connecting portion of the mounting section; a third sealing lip being optionally provided on the sealing element to cooperate in a non-contacting manner with the fourth sleeve portion. ### Claim 9 A rolling bearing having a sealing device between a first and a second bearing part for forming a wheel hub assembly, the bearing parts being rotatable relative to each other around an axis of symmetry (A) of the sealing device and forming therebetween both an axial space and a radial space with respect to the axis of symmetry, the sealing device comprising: a first annular shield having a first mounting section for attachment to the first bearing part, the first annular shield rotating around the symmetry axis; a second annular shield coaxial with the first shield and having a second mounting section for attachment to the second bearing part, the second annular shield being stationary; and an annular sealing element made of an elastomeric material and integrally carried by second annular shield, the annular sealing element having at least a first and a second annular sealing lip axially and radially projecting from the second shield toward the first shield; wherein the first annular shield provides a peripheral section radially opposite to the first mounting section and having a first and a second axially extending sleeve portions connected to each other by a radially extending first flange portion, the first sleeve portion being radially closer to the first mounting section than the second sleeve portion and the first flange portion forming with the first sleeve portion a step arranged radially inside the first annular shield and facing the second annular shield and the annular sealing element, which is supported by the second shield on a first side thereof facing the first shield; the first sleeve portion is housed within the axial space while the second sleeve portion extends radially on the outside of the second bearing part; the second annular shield provides a carrier section radially opposite to the second mounting section, the carrier section comprising a second flange portion radially extending towards the first mounting section and carrying the first and second annular sealing lip and a conically truncated intermediate portion connecting the second flange portion to the second mounting portion and radially and axially projecting from the second mounting portion towards the first mounting portion within the axial space, the intermediate portion being arranged partially radially inside of the first sleeve portion, directed radially inwards and axially positioned at the step formed by the first flange portion and the first sleeve portion, arranged radially between the step and the second flange portion; and the second mounting section being arranged radially on the inside of the second sleeve portion and partly within the second sleeve portion, the second mounting section comprising a third flange portion extending radially from the intermediate portion and a third sleeve portion extending axially from the third flange portion on the side opposite to the first shield and arranged radially adjacent to the second sleeve portion; a corresponding sleeve portion of the annular sealing element covering the third sleeve portion on the side facing the first shield and forming with the second sleeve portion a radial gap defining along the whole length of axially superimposed stretches of the second and third sleeve portion an axially oriented labyrinth seal. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The sealing device according to claim 9, wherein the sleeve portion of the annular sealing element axially extends beyond the third sleeve portion on the side opposite to the first flange portion forming an end section of the annular sealing element projecting free of support from an end edge of the third sleeve portion and arranged flush with a lateral inner surface of the third sleeve portion; the sleeve portion of the annular sealing element including a radially outstanding annular spur arranged at the end edge of the third sleeve portion and flanking the axially extending labyrinth seal (28); the annular spur projecting radially from the sleeve portion of the annular sealing element and being arranged adjacent to an end edge of the second sleeve portion to form therewith a radially directed labyrinth seal. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The sealing device according to claim 10, further comprising a second side of the second shield, opposite to the first side, is at least at the second mounting section completely free of the annular sealing element and couples with a metal to metal contact with a radially outer stretch of the second bearing part radially on the outside thereof; the third flange portion delimiting on the second side a shoulder surface in axial metal to metal contact with a frontal surface of the second bearing part; the radially outer stretch of the second bearing part being formed as an annular shallow recess on an outer lateral surface of the second bearing part, the shallow recess also receiving the end section of the annular sealing element that is flush with the outer lateral surface of the second bearing part.