# US 5,350,181 A · Pumping feature on wear sleeve for unitized seal

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- Number: US 5,350,181 A
- Document ID: US5350181A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/064,742
- Filed: 1993-05-19
- Granted: 1994-09-27
- Earliest claimed: 1991-09-30
- Assignees: SKF USA Inc.
- Inventors: Leslie A. Horve
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5350181A

## CPC

- F16J 15/3244: with hydrodynamic pumping action
- F16J 15/3264: the elements being separable from each other
- F16J: PISTONS {(specially adapted for dampers F16F9/32)}; CYLINDERS; SEALINGS

## Abstract

A fluid seal assembly with a primary seal element and a wear sleeve element. The primary seal includes a casing and a seal element that contacts a sealing surface on the wear sleeve. The wear sleeve has a cylindrical portion that overlies a portion of the sealed mechanism, and the cylindrical portion has a surface pattern thereon formed by metal cold flow, preferably by drawing and ironing. The surface pattern includes at least one hydrodynamic pumping element having a contoured portion that is radially offset from the remainder of the cylindrical portion of the sleeve.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A seal assembly for use with two relatively movable elements to be sealed, said assembly comprising a primary seal unit and an associated sheet metal wear sleeve, said primary seal unit including a casing for mounting relative to one of said two relatively moveable elements and a seal element including a circumferentially continuous elastomeric body having a portion bonded to said casing and another portion biased by its own innate resiliency toward said wear sleeve whereby snug, fluid-tight sealing contact may be made between a portion of said seal element and a mating surface of an associated wear sleeve, said associated wear sleeve having a radial flange and a generally cylindrical portion adapted to be fixed in fluid-tight relation to the second of said relatively movable elements, said cylindrical portion being of reduced thickness relative to the thickness of said radial flange and having thereon a surface pattern formed by metal cold flow during sleeve thickness reduction, said pattern including at least one hydrodynamic pumping element having a contoured portion radially offset from the remainder of said cylindrical portion.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A seal assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said at least one hydrodynamic element is a continuous helical element said element being offset from the remainder of said cylindrical surface by not more than 0.003".

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A seal assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said at least one hydrodynamic element comprises a plurality of individual elements arranged in a helical pattern.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A seal assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said at least one hydrodynamic element comprises a plurality of helically arranged elements, each element being in the form of a groove or slot of a depth not exceeding 0.003", each of said slots being formed in a radially outwardly directed surface of said cylindrical portion.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A seal assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said at least one hydrodynamic element comprises a plurality of helically arranged elements each element being in the form of a groove or slot of a depth of from about 0.0005" to about 0.001" said slot being formed in a radially outwardly directed surface of said cylindrical portion.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A seal assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said at least one hydrodynamic element comprises a plurality of helically arranged elements each element being in the form of a rib or vane of a height not exceeding 0.003" said rib or vane slot being formed on a radially outwardly directed surface of said cylindrical portion.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A seal assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said at least one hydrodynamic element comprises a plurality of helically arranged elements, each element being in the form of a rib or vane of a depth of from about 0.0005" to about 0.001", each of said ribs or vanes extending radially outwardly from said surface of said cylindrical portion.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

A seal assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said seal element further includes a surface contact element comprises of a polymeric fluorocarbon material.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

A seal assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said seal element is a body made entirely from an elastomeric material.