Shielded seal assembly

The combination according to claim 11 wherein the labyrinth has pumping cavities which open out of the first and second faces, each pumping cavity having a face which is presented oblique to the direction of relative rotation between the labyrinth and the sealing surface and is wider at the second surface than remote from the second surface, so that a lubricant which enters the cavity will be deflected out of it and into the isolated region by reason of the relative rotation between the components.

A seal assembly comprising:

• a shield and a seal which cooperates with the shield to establish a barrier when relative rotation exists between the shield and the seal about an axis of rotation;
• the shield having inner and outer axial portions which are directed generally axially and a generally radial portion which extends between and connects the axial portions, and also having a sealing surface along such portions;
• the seal including a case and a labyrinth, flexible dirt lip and a secondary lip all attached to and carried by the case with the dust lip being located between the labyrinth and the secondary lip, the labyrinth being presented toward, but spaced from the section of the sealing surface that is on the inner axial portion of shield, the dirt lip being oblique to and actually contacting the sealing surface, the secondary lip projecting toward the section of the sealing surface that is along the outer axial portion of the shield.

A rotary seal for establishing a barrier along a sealing surface that extends around an axis of rotation, said seal compressing a rigid seal case;

• a pumping labyrinth attached to the seal case and having a first face presented toward the axis of rotation and a second face located at a substantial angle with respect to the first face, the pumping element further containing wedge shaped pumping cavities, with each cavity opening out of both the first and second faces and being larger at the first face than remote from the first face so that the cavity will impel, generally axially, a lubricant that enters it when relative rotation occurs between the seal and the sealing surface;
• a dirt lip attached to the seal case and projecting generally away from the pumping labyrinth and toward the axis of rotation oblique to that axis, the dirt lip having a free end, the diameter of which is less then the diameter of the first face of the pumping labyrinth;
• and a secondary lip attached to the seal case and projecting generally away from the dirt lip and the axis and being generally oblique to that axis.