Dry running ball joint mechanical seal

A ball joint seal comprising:

• a spherical element having an exterior surface, a portion of said exterior surface being a spherical portion, in that it is shaped as a portion of a sphere surrounding a spherical center, the spherical element being penetrated by a central passage having a longitudinal axis that passes through said spherical center;
• a housing surrounding the spherical element;
• a pair of support rings axially pressed against opposing sides of the spherical portion of the spherical element, the support rings being radially fixed to and sealed to the housing, at least one of the support rings being axially slidable relative to the housing;
• at least one support spring configured to compress the support rings against the spherical element;
• and
• a substantially annular ball lip seal encircling the spherical portion of the spherical element and surrounding the spherical center of the spherical element, the ball lip seal being located between the pair of support rings and being fixed to and sealed to the housing, the ball lip seal comprising a ball wiper blade that is pressed radially inward by a ball spring against the spherical portion of the spherical element to form a sliding seal therewith.