# US 9,751,361 B2 · Seal device for a wheel bearing

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- Number: US 9,751,361 B2
- Document ID: US9751361B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/513,039
- Filed: 2014-10-13
- Published: 2015-01-29
- Granted: 2017-09-05
- Earliest claimed: 2012-04-13
- Assignees: Ntn Corporation
- Applicants: NTN Corporation
- Inventors: Makoto Seki; Tomoko Baba
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9751361B2

## CPC

- B60B 27/0073: {characterised by sealing means}
- F16C 33/7813: {for tapered roller bearings}
- F16C 33/7823: {of sealing lips}
- F16C 33/7883: {mounted to the inner race and of generally L-shape, the two sealing rings defining a sealing with box-shaped cross-section}
- F16C 41/007: {Encoders, e.g. parts with a plurality of alternating magnetic poles}
- F16J 15/164: {the sealing action depending on movements; pressure difference, temperature or presence of leaking fluid}
- F16J 15/3212: with metal springs
- F16J 15/3264: the elements being separable from each other
- B60B 27/001: {with roller-bearings}
- F16C 19/386: {in O-arrangement}
- F16C 2240/12: Force, load, stress, pressure
- F16C 2240/46: Gap sizes or clearances
- F16C 2326/02: Wheel hubs or castors
- B60B: VEHICLE WHEELS (making wheels or wheel parts by rolling B21H1/00, by forging, hammering or pressing B21K1/28); CASTORS; AXLES FOR WHEELS OR CASTORS; INCREASING WHEEL ADHESION
- F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
- F16J: PISTONS {(specially adapted for dampers F16F9/32)}; CYLINDERS; SEALINGS

## Abstract

A wheel bearing has a seal device formed as a pack seal with an annular sealing plate and slinger. The sealing plate has a metal core and an integrally adhered sealing member. The sealing member has a base portion, side lip and radial lip. The base portion covers an inner circumferential surface of the metal core. The radial lip slidingly contacts the cylindrical portion of the slinger. A garter spring is mounted on the radial lip. A tightening force of the garter spring is set to 50% or more of a total tightening force of the radial lip. The tightening force of the radial lip without the garter spring is set to 3N or more.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A wheel bearing and seal device comprising:
an outer member formed with double row outer raceway surfaces on an inner circumference of the outer member, an inner member including a wheel hub and at least one inner ring or an outer member of a constant velocity universal joint fit with a cylindrical portion of the wheel hub, the wheel hub is integrally formed, on one end, with a wheel mounting flange, a cylindrical portion axially extends from the wheel mounting flange, the inner member is formed with double row inner raceway surfaces on its outer circumference that opposes the double row outer raceway surfaces, double row rolling elements are rollably contained between the inner and outer raceway surfaces, the seal device is mounted on the wheel bearing to seal an annular opening space formed between the outer member and inner member;
the seal device is formed as a pack seal comprising an annular sealing plate and an annular slinger, the annular sealing plate and annular slinger have a substantially “L” shaped cross-section and are arranged opposite toward each other, the sealing plate comprises a metal core and a sealing member integrally adhered to the metal core, via galvanized adhesion, the metal core is press-formed from steel sheet and includes a cylindrical fitting portion and a radially inner portion, the cylindrical fitting portion is adapted to be press-fit into an inner circumference of the end of the outer member, via a predetermined interference, the radially inner portion extends radially inward from one end of the fitting portion, the slinger comprising a cylindrical portion and a standing portion, the cylindrical portion is adapted to be press-fit onto an outer circumference of the inner member, the standing portion extends radially outward from the cylindrical portion, the sealing member comprising a base portion, a side lip and a radial lip, the base portion covers an inner circumferential surface of the metal core, the side lip inclines radially outward from the base portion and slidingly contacts the standing portion of the slinger via a predetermined axial interference, the radial lip inclines radially inward from the side lip and slidingly contacts the cylindrical portion of the slinger, via a predetermined radial interference; and
a garter spring is mounted on the radial lip, a tightening force of the garter spring (Pg) is set to 50% or more of a total tightening force of the radial lip (Pa), and the tightening force of the radial lip (Pb) without the garter spring is set to 3N or more.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The wheel bearing and seal device of claim 1, wherein the total tightening force of the radial lip at normal temperature (20° C.) is set to 12N or more.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The wheel bearing and seal device of claim 1, wherein the total tightening force of the radial lip at low temperature (−20° C.) is set to 10N or more.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The wheel bearing and seal device of claim 1, wherein TR 10 of the sealing member is set to −35° C. or less.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The wheel bearing and seal device of claim 1, wherein the garter spring is formed from stainless steel.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The wheel bearing and seal device of claim 1, wherein a tip end of the fitting portion of the metal core is thinned and the sealing member is adhered to the tip end so that it wraps up the tip end to form a “half metal structure”.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The wheel bearing and seal device of claim 1, wherein the base portion of the sealing member inclines toward the tip end of the fitting portion of the metal core, and an outer peripheral edge of the standing portion of the slinger opposes the tip end of the sealing member via a slight radial gap (C) to form a labyrinth seal therebetween and the radial gap (C) is set to 0.75 mm or less.

### Claim 8

A seal device comprising:
a pack seal comprising an annular sealing plate and an annular slinger, the annular sealing plate and annular slinger have a substantially “L” shaped cross-section and are arranged opposite toward each other, the sealing plate comprises a metal core and a sealing member integrally adhered to the metal core, via galvanized adhesion, the metal core is press-formed from steel sheet and includes a cylindrical fitting portion and a radially inner portion, the cylindrical fitting portion is adapted to be press-fit into an inner circumference of an end of an outer member, via a predetermined interference, the radially inner portion extends radially inward from one end of the fitting portion, the slinger comprising a cylindrical portion and a standing portion, the cylindrical portion is adapted to be press-fit onto an outer circumference of an inner member, the standing portion extends radially outward from the cylindrical portion, the sealing member comprising a base portion, a side lip and a radial lip, the base portion covers an inner circumferential surface of the metal core, the side lip inclines radially outward from the base portion and slidingly contacts the standing portion of the slinger via a predetermined axial interference, the radial lip inclines radially inward from the side lip and slidingly contacts the cylindrical portion of the slinger, via a predetermined radial interference; and
a garter spring is mounted on the radial lip, a tightening force of the garter spring is set to 50% or more of a total tightening force of the radial lip, and the tightening force of the radial lip without the garter spring is set to 3N or more.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The seal device of claim 8, wherein the tightening force of the radial lip at normal temperature (20° C.) is set to 12N or more.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The seal device of claim 8, wherein the tightening force of the radial lip at low temperature (−20° C.) is set to 10N or more.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The seal device of claim 8, wherein TR 10 of the sealing member is set to −35° C. or less.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The seal device of claim 8, wherein the garter spring is formed from stainless steel.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The seal device of claim 8, wherein a tip end of the fitting portion of the metal core is thinned and the sealing member is adhered to the tip end so that it wraps up the tip end to form a “half metal structure”.

### Claim 14 (depends on 8)

The seal device of claim 8, wherein the base portion of the sealing member inclines toward the tip end of the fitting portion of the metal core, and an outer peripheral edge of the standing portion of the slinger opposes the tip end of the sealing member via a slight radial gap (C) to form a labyrinth seal therebetween and the radial gap (C) is set to 0.75 mm or less.