# US 8,770,675 B2 · Sealing assembly and track hinge including the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,770,675 B2 - Document ID: US8770675B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/962,025 - Filed: 2010-12-07 - Published: 2011-06-16 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2009-12-15 - Assignees: Aktiebolaget Skf - Applicants: Hans-Joachim Vom Stein - Inventors: Hans-Joachim Vom Stein - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8770675B2 ## CPC - B62D 55/0887: {Track-articulation sealings against dust, water, mud or the like (sealing of bearings in general F16C33/72; chain bushings in general F16G15/00)} - F16J 15/3456: {without external means for pressing the ring against the face, e.g. slip-ring with a resilient lip} - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) - F16J: PISTONS {(specially adapted for dampers F16F9/32)}; CYLINDERS; SEALINGS ## Abstract A sealing assembly provides a seal between first and second parts that are movable relative to each other. The sealing assembly comprises an elastic ring having an annular sealing lip configured to fixedly and sealingly abut on the first part. A sealing ring includes a sealing edge configured to sealingly abut on a sliding surface of the second part. A supporting ring is fixedly connected with the elastic ring and is inserted between the elastic ring and the sealing ring. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sealing assembly configured to seal a space between first and second parts that are pivotable relative to each other, comprising: an elastic ring having a sealing lip configured to statically and sealingly abut on a portion of the first part, a sealing ring having a sealing edge configured to sealingly abut on a sliding surface of the second part, and a supporting ring interleaved between the elastic ring and the sealing ring, the supporting ring being fixedly connected with the elastic ring, and wherein at least one of: (a) the sealing ring is pivotable relative to the supporting ring, (b) the elastic ring, the supporting ring and the sealing ring are configured such that a pivoting movement of the first part relative to the second part results in a first pivoting movement of the sealing edge relative to the sliding surface and a second pivoting movement of the sealing ring relative to the supporting ring, and (c) the sealing ring slidably abuts on a contact surface of the supporting ring. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A sealing assembly according to claim 1, wherein the sealing ring is pivotable relative to the supporting ring. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A sealing assembly according to claim 2, wherein the elastic ring, the supporting ring and the sealing ring are configured such that a pivoting movement of the first part relative to the second part results in a first pivoting movement of the sealing edge relative to the sliding surface and a second pivoting movement of the sealing ring relative to the supporting ring. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A sealing assembly according to claim 3, wherein the sealing ring slidably abuts on a contact surface of the supporting ring. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A sealing assembly according to claim 4, wherein the elastic ring includes an intermediate sealing lip that slidably abuts on a sealing surface of the sealing ring and the sealing surface of the sealing ring is disposed such that the contact surface between the supporting ring and the sealing ring is sealed to the outside. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A sealing assembly according to claim 5, further comprising means for limiting the second pivoting movement relative to the first pivoting movement, such that wear of at least one of the intermediate lip and the contact surface due to the second pivoting movement is substantially equal to wear of the sealing edge due to the first pivoting movement during operation. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A sealing assembly according to claim 6, wherein the limiting means comprises: at least one axial projection extending from the sealing ring and at least one cantilever projection radially inwardly extending from the supporting ring, wherein the cantilever projection and the axial projection are each formed in a segmented manner in a circumferential direction of the sealing assembly and at least one of: (i) the cantilever projection forms a pivot stop for the axial projection in the circumferential direction and (ii) the axial projection forms a pivot stop for the cantilever projection in the circumferential direction. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A sealing assembly according to claim 7, wherein a plurality of axial projections and cantilever projections are disposed spaced from each other in an alternating and opposing manner with reference to the circumferential direction, the respective axial projections being interleaved between respective cantilever projections in the circumferential direction. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A sealing assembly according to claim 8, wherein an arc length between two adjacent cantilever projections in the circumferential direction is less than an arc length of the axial projection disposed therebetween. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A sealing assembly according to claim 9, wherein the supporting ring is disposed in a recess of the elastic ring and wherein one axial end of the supporting ring includes a radially-outwardly bent segment that is surrounded, at least in parts, by the material of the elastic ring. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A sealing assembly according to claim 1, wherein the elastic ring, the supporting ring and the sealing ring are configured such that a pivoting movement of the first part relative to the second part results in a first pivoting movement of the sealing edge relative to the sliding surface and a second pivoting movement of the sealing ring relative to the supporting ring. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A sealing assembly according to claim 11, further comprising means for limiting the second pivoting movement relative to the first pivoting movement, such that wear of at least one of an intermediate sealing lip of the elastic ring and an axial contact surface of the sealing ring due to the second pivoting movement is substantially equal to wear of the sealing edge due to the first pivoting movement during operation. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A sealing assembly according to claim 1, wherein the sealing ring slidably abuts on a contact surface of the supporting ring. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) A hinge of a track comprising: a first track link, a second track link configured to be at least pivotable relative to the first track link, and the sealing assembly according to claim 10 disposed so as to seal a lubrication chamber defined, in part, by the first and second track links. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A hinge of a track comprising: a first track link, a second track link configured to be at least pivotable relative to the first track link, and the sealing assembly according to claim 1 disposed so as to seal a lubrication chamber defined, in part, by the first and second track links. ### Claim 16 An apparatus configured to seal a lubrication chamber defined, at least partially, by first and second parts that are at least pivotable relative to each other, the seal comprising: a first elastomeric ring having an sealing lip configured to statically abut in a sealing manner on a portion of the first part, a second elastomeric ring having a sealing edge configured to dynamically abut in a sealing manner on a sliding surface of the second part, and a support ring interleaved between the first elastomeric ring and the second elastomeric ring, the support ring being rigidly connected with the first elastomeric ring, such that the support ring does not move relative to the first part when the first part pivots relative to the second pail, and wherein the support ring slidably contacts the second elastomeric part along an axially-extending surface. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the second elastomeric ring is pivotable relative to the support ring. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the first elastomeric ring, the support ring and the second elastomeric ring are configured such that a total range of pivoting movement of the first part relative to the second part is equal to a first range of pivoting movement of the sealing edge relative to the sliding surface plus a second range of pivoting movement of the second elastomeric ring relative to the support ring. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein at least two stops are defined on one of the support ring and the second elastomeric ring and at least one projection is defined on the other of the support ring and the second elastomeric ring, the at least one projection being disposed between the at least two stops, the at least one projection and the at least two stops being sized to permit the second range of pivoting movement of the second elastomeric ring relative to the support ring. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein at least two stops are defined on one of the support ring and the second elastomeric ring and at least one projection is defined on the other of the support ring and the second elastomeric ring, the at least one projection being disposed between the at least two stops, the at least one projection and the at least two stops being sized to permit a limited range of pivoting movement of the second elastomeric ring relative to the support ring, the limited range between about 5-30% of a total range of pivotable movement between the first and second parts.