Floating lip seal assembly with convoluted flexible section

Abstract

An annular shaft seal of the type including a continuous lip seal element for sealing against oil flow through and between a bore and a shaft extending therethrough includes a convoluted elastomeric flexible section which connects the sealing element with a rigid case support. The flexible section is defined by a plurality of annuli, wherein the first annuli contains the sealing element which is supported from a rear body portion, both sealing element and rear body portions being integral to the first annuli. A second annulus integrally coupled to the first annulus through a reverse bend has a radial thickness less than the thickness of the first annulus. In the preferred form, the rear body portion contains an annular groove in which is supported a circumferentially extending garter spring. A pair of spaced projections extends partially circumferentially about the coil dimension of the garter spring so as to enclose at least 200.degree. to 270.degree. of the garter spring coil circumference. The resultant radially floating shaft lip seal will accommodate eccentricities substantially greater than shaft lip seals of the prior art and will enhance garter spring retention under the dynamics associated with extreme eccentricities.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.