Double jointed coolant seal

In an oil film bearing assembly of the type adapted both to rotatably support and to accommodate limited axial movement of a roll neck in a rolling mill, the bearing assembly having a circular stationary component which surrounds the roll neck at a location spaced axially from an end face of the roll, a circular seal for preventing contaminants such as liquid coolant, mill scale, etc. from entering the bearing assembly between the roll end face and the stationary component, said seal comprising:

• a radially extending base flange adapted to be fixed to the stationary component;
• and, a flexible sealing flange integrally joined at one edge to and extending resilient-y from said base flange, said sealing flange terminating at the opposite edge in a lip spaced axially from said base flange at a position to sealingly contact the roll end face, said sealing flange having mutually angularly offset first and second portions interconnected by an intermediate hinge portion, the configuration, flexibility and resilience of said sealing flange being such that axial displacement of said lip in relation to said base flange by said roll end face is accompanied by axial and radial displacement of said hinge portion.