Compensating bearing seals

Abstract

A bearing assembly may include first and second rings and a seal assembly therebetween. A stiff element may be coupled to a radial surface of the first ring and a flinger coupled to a radial surface of the second ring. The flinger may include an axially extending portion that contacts the radial surface of the second ring and a radially extending portion. The radially extending portion may be curved in a radial direction, having portions that extend axially inward and outward. A flexible element may be attached to the stiff element and include an axial lip that is configured to seal with the radially extending portion of the flinger. The flinger may be configured such that a misalignment between the flinger and the stiff element, compared to a neutral position, results in a substantially similar interference area between the axial lip and the radially extending portion of the flinger.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.