Spherical bearing with sealing member member

A sealed spherical bearing comprising:

• a race defining an inner surface, a first annular groove, the first annular groove being open in an axial direction and having a first groove radially inward facing surface and a first groove axially outward facing surface;
• a ball defining an outer surface configured to engage the race inner surface, a second annular groove, the ball disposed in the race, the ball and the race being rotatable relative to each other;
• a first area of engagement defined by a contoured portion of the ball outer surface and a correspondingly contoured portion of the race inner surface;
• an annular seal extending between the race and the ball, the annular seal having a first end, a second end, and a midsection, wherein:
• the seal first end defines a seal first leg extending radially outwardly from the midsection a first distance and defining a seal first leg axially outward facing surface, a seal first leg axially inward facing surface and a seal first leg radially outward facing surface, and
• the seal second end defines a bulbous protrusion configured to engage the second annular groove;
• a retainer having a tapered configuration, a retainer first leg, a retainer transition portion, and a retainer second leg, wherein:
• the retainer first leg extends radially inward from the retainer transition portion a second distance and defines a retainer first leg axially inward facing surface and a retainer first leg axially outward facing surface,
• the retainer second leg extends axially outwardly and radially outwardly from the retainer transition portion and defines a retainer second leg radially outward facing surface and a retainer second leg radially inward facing surface, and
• the retainer second leg radially outward facing surface defining a taper angle of up to 15° relative to the retainer second leg radially inward facing surface;
• the retainer is selectively fabricated from a material having a hardness greater than a hardness of the material from which the seal is selectively fabricated;
• the retainer first leg axially outward facing surface is secured to the seal first leg axially inward facing surface by one of press fitting and bonding;
• the retainer second leg radially inward facing surface is secured to the seal first leg radially outward facing surface by one of press fitting and bonding;
• and
• the retainer is press-fit into the first annular groove such that the first groove radially inward facing surface engages the retainer second leg radially outward facing surface press-fit therein, the first groove axially outward facing surface engages the retainer first leg axially inward facing surface, and the retainer is fixed relative to the race.