Seal for rolling bearings
AssigneeThe Torrington Company
InventorsDaniel R. McLarty, Salvatore Acampora
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An annular sealing groove is provided at an axial end of one of an outer or inner bearing ring. The seal element comprises an annular ring of an elastomeric material with a plurality of circumferentially periodic radially extending projections integrally formed in an outer periphery or an inner periphery thereof. The projections are configured to provide an interference fit in the radial direction with respect to a bottom wall and outer side wall of the sealing groove to effect a seal. Preferably, the radial interference fit of the seal element biases the seal element axially against an inner side wall of the sealing groove.
Claims12
A seal element for a rolling element bearing having outer and inner bearing rings and a plurality of rolling elements within an annular space therebetween, one of the bearing rings having an annular sealing groove at an axial end of the bearing ring, the sealing groove having a curved bottom wall, substantially radially directed inner side wall and tapered outer side wall, the seal element comprising:
- an annular ring of an elastomeric material, the annular ring having an outer periphery and an inner periphery;
- a plurality of circumferentially periodic radially extending projections integrally formed in one of the outer periphery and the inner periphery of the annular ring, the projections being segments of a radially extending ridge;
- said projections being configured to provide an interference fit in the radial direction with respect to the curved bottom wall and the tapered outer side wall of the sealing groove such that the sealing groove compresses the elastomeric material and thereby imparts an axial force on the seal element to effect a seal between the seal element and the inner side wall of the sealing groove to effect a seal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.