# US 4,392,657 A · Belleville spring loaded seal > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 4,392,657 A - Document ID: US4392657A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 06/151,841 - Filed: 1980-02-19 - Granted: 1983-07-12 - Earliest claimed: 1980-02-19 - Assignees: Caterpillar Tractor Co. - Inventors: Robert D. Roley - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4392657A ## CPC - F16J 15/3456: {without external means for pressing the ring against the face, e.g. slip-ring with a resilient lip} - B62D 55/0887: {Track-articulation sealings against dust, water, mud or the like (sealing of bearings in general F16C33/72; chain bushings in general F16G15/00)} - F16J 15/3208: provided with tension elements, e.g. elastic rings - F16J: PISTONS {(specially adapted for dampers F16F9/32)}; CYLINDERS; SEALINGS - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) ## Abstract Sealing structure (10,110) for a sealing a first joint member (11,111) to a second joint member (12,112) across a variable space therebetween. The sealing structure includes a frustoconical Belleville spring (17,117) and an annular support spring (18,118) defining an arcuate cross section having one end (19,119) connected to the Belleville spring, and an opposite end (20,120) sealingly mounted to the first joint member (11,111). A seal element (21,121) is fixed to the Belleville spring and has a lip portion (22,122) projecting into dynamic sealing engagement with the second joint member (12). ## Claims ### Claim 1 In a joint having a first member (11,111) and a second member (12) variably spaced adjacent said first member, an improved sealing structure (10,110) for sealing said first member to said second member across the movable space therebetween, said sealing structure comprising: a frustoconical Belleville spring (17,117); an annular support spring (18,118) defining an arcuate cross section having an end (19,119) connected to an outer portion of the Belleville spring and an opposite end (20,120) sealingly mounted to said first member (11,111), the spring constants of said Belleville (17,117) and support springs (18,118) being preselected to cumulatively cause a biasing sealing force developed thereby to continuously increase with an increase in deflection of said springs over the range of variable spacing between said members (11,111,12) notwithstanding a decrease in the sealing force developed by the Belleville spring alone over a portion of the range of increasing deflection; and a seal element (21,121) fixed to said Belleville spring and having a lip portion (22,122) urged into dynamic sealing engagement with said second member (12) by said cumulative continuously increasing biasing action of said spring. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The joint of claim 1 wherein the spring constant of said support spring (18,118) is substantially a constant over said range of variable spacing between said members. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The joint of claim 1 wherein said Belleville spring (17,117) passes over center in the range of variable spacing between said members. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The joint of claim 1 wherein said support spring (18,118) is formed unitarily integrally with said Belleville spring. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The joint of claim 1 wherein said Belleville spring (17,117) defines a plurality of through openings (23,123) and said seal element (21,121) extends through said openings. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The joint of claim 1 wherein said seal element (21,121) comprises a body of synthetic resin set in situ about said Belleview spring (17,117). ### Claim 7 In a sealing structure (10,110) comprising: an apertured frustoconical Belleville spring (17,117) having a plurality of through openings (23,123); a body (21,121) of elastic synthetic resin set in situ on said spring (17,117) and having a lip portion (22,122), a retaining portion (24,124), and a connecting portion (25,125) extending through said openings to retain said lip portion fixedly secured to said spring; and means for causing the load deflection characteristics of the sealing structure to provide a continuously increasing sealing force to be provided in said body notwithstanding a decrease in the sealing force produced by the apertured Belleville spring over a range of increasing deflection of the Belleville spring. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The seal of claim 7 wherein said openings (23,123) are spaced equiangularly about the axis of the spring. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The seal of claim 7 wherein said openings define a first, radially inner plurality of openings (23a,123a) spaced about the axis of the spring, and a second, radially outer plurality of openings (23b,123b) spaced about the axis of the spring. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The seal of claim 7 wherein said openings define a first, radially inner plurality of openings (23a,123a) spaced about the axis of the spring, and a second, radially outer plurality of openings (23b,123b) spaced about the axis of the spring and offset angularly relative to said inner openings (23a,123a). ### Claim 11 In a joint having a first member (11,111) provided with a recess (26,126) and a second member (12) variably spaced adjacent said first member, an improved sealing structure (10,110) for sealing said first member to said second member across the movable space therebetween, said sealing structure comprising: a frustoconical Belleville spring (17,117); an annular support spring (18,118) defining an arcuate cross section having one end (19,119) connected to an outer portion of the Belleville spring and an opposite end (20,120) sealingly mounted to said first member (11,111) in said recess (26,126), the spring constants of said Belleville (17,117) and support springs (18,118) being preselected to cumulatively cause a biasing sealing force developed thereby to continuously increase with an increase in deflection of said springs over the range of variable spacing between said members (11,111,12) notwithstanding a decrease in the sealing force developed by the Belleville spring alone over a portion of the range of increasing deflection; and a seal element (21,121) sealingly mounted to said Belleville spring and having a lip portion (22,122) urged into dynamic sealing engagement with said second member (12) by said cumulative continuously increasing biasing action of said spring. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The joint of claim 11 wherein said opposite end (20,120) comprises a right circularly cylindrical portion. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The joint of claim 11 wherein said arcuate cross section (118) extends less than 90.degree. in its free state. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The joint of claim 11 wherein said arcuate cross section (18) extends more than 90.degree. in its free state and includes a first portion (27) joined to the portion in said recess extending arcuately away from the axis of the cross section (18), and a second portion (28) joined to said Belleville spring (17) extending arcuately toward the axis of the spring cross section (18). ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The joint of claim 11 wherein said opposite end (20,120) comprises a right circularly cylindrical portion received substantially fully within said recess (26). ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The joint of claim 11 wherein said opposite end (20,120) comprises a right circularly cylindrical portion having only a distal portion thereof received in said recess (126).