Retainer for a unitary seal assembly

Abstract

A seal assembly is for sealing an annular space between a shaft and a seat having a bore and a radially extending end surface outwardly from the bore. The seal assembly includes an outer shell disposable within the bore of the seat configured to support a primary seal member and having a radially outwardly extending flange disposable against the radial surface of the seat defining an annular groove. An inner shell is disposable within the outer shell and disposable on the shaft. An annular retainer formed of a rigid polymeric material has an outer radial end disposable within the groove of the flange, an inner radial end disposable about the shaft, and a radial retention surface. The radial retention surface extends between the inner and outer radial ends and is contactable by the inner shell to retain the inner shell disposable within the outer shell.

Description

[0001] Cross-references

[0002] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62 / 968097, filed on January 30, 2020. Technical Field

[0003] This invention relates to seals, and more particularly to unitary radial lip seal assemblies. Background Technology

[0004] An integrated sealing assembly typically comprises an inner housing and an outer housing, as well as at least one primary radial lip seal, and usually includes additional sealing lips and / or dust lip. The outer housing can be mounted within a bore of a seat and typically carries the primary sealing member, while the inner housing can be mounted on a shaft and provides a circumferential mating surface for the primary seal. To prevent disassembly of the integrated seal during transport or installation, such sealing assemblies may include components to hold the inner housing within the outer housing. Summary of the Invention

[0005] On one hand, the present invention is a retainer for an integral sealing assembly for sealing an annular space between a shaft and a seat, the sealing assembly comprising an outer annular shell having a flange and an inner annular shell disposed within the outer annular shell. The retainer comprises an annular body formed of a rigid polymer material, the annular body having a centerline, an outer radial end connected to the flange of the outer annular shell, and an inner radial end capable of being disposed about the shaft. A radial retaining surface extends between the inner and outer ends and is contactable by the inner annular shell to retain the inner annular shell disposed within the outer annular shell.

[0006] On the other hand, the present invention is a sealing assembly for sealing an annular space between a shaft and a seat, the seat having a bore and a radially extending end surface extending outward from the bore. The sealing assembly includes an outer annular shell disposed within the bore of the seat, configured to support a main sealing member and having a radially extending flange disposed abutting against the radial surface of the seat, the flange defining an annular groove. An inner annular shell is disposed within the outer annular shell and is disposed on the shaft. Furthermore, a retainer includes an annular body having a centerline, an outer radial end disposed within the groove of the flange, an inner radial end disposed about the shaft, and a radial retaining surface extending between the inner and outer ends and contactable by the inner annular shell to retain the inner annular shell disposed within the outer annular shell.

[0007] In another aspect, the present invention is also a sealing assembly for sealing an annular space between a shaft and a seat, the seat having a bore and a radial end surface extending outward from the bore. The sealing assembly includes an outer annular shell disposed within the bore of the seat, and includes an outer axial portion having opposing first and second axial ends, a flange extending outward from the first axial end of the outer axial portion and defining an annular groove, a radial portion extending inward from the second axial end of the outer axial portion, and a seal mounting portion extending axially from the radial portion toward the first axial end. The inner annular shell includes an inner axial portion disposed around an outer surface of the shaft, a radial portion extending radially outward from the inner axial portion, and an outer axial portion extending from the outer end of the radial portion and disposed around the seal mounting portion of the shell. A main sealing member is attached to the seal mounting portion of the outer annular shell and is capable of sealingly engaging with the inner axial portion of the inner annular shell. Furthermore, the retainer includes an annular body having a centerline, an outer radial end disposed in a groove of the flange, an inner radial end disposed about the axis, and a radial retaining surface extending between the inner and outer ends and being contacted by the inner shell to retain the inner shell disposed within the outer shell. Attached Figure Description

[0008] The foregoing description of the invention and its preferred embodiments will be better understood when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, illustrative embodiments that are currently preferred are shown in the drawings. However, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise configurations and means shown. In the drawings:

[0009] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional perspective view of a sealing assembly and retainer, as shown in the invention, mounted about an axis and within a seat;

[0010] Figure 2 It is a three-dimensional axial sectional view of the sealing assembly and retainer;

[0011] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 An enlarged sectional view of the upper part; and

[0012] Figure 4 This is a perspective view showing the retainer separated from the sealing assembly. Detailed Implementation

[0013] The use of certain terms in the following description is for convenience only and not for limitation. The terms “inner,” “inward,” and “outer,” “outward,” respectively refer to directions toward and away from the specified centerline or geometric center of the described element, their specific meanings becoming clear from the context of the specification. Furthermore, as used herein, the terms “connection” and “linkage” are used to refer to both direct connections between two components (without any other component inserted between them) and indirect connections between components (where one or more other components are inserted between them). Terms include those specifically mentioned above, their derivatives, and terms with similar meanings.

[0014] Now refer to the accompanying drawings for details, in which the same numbers are always used to indicate the same elements. Figures 1 to 4 The image shows a retainer 10 for an integrated seal assembly 12, which seals the annular space SA between the shaft 1 and housing 2 of a machine or machine assembly M, specifically preventing flow between the air side AS and the oil side OS of the machine / machine assembly M. Figure 1 As shown in the diagram. Shaft 1 can rotate around the central axis A. C The seat 2 is rotatable and has an outer surface 1a, and has a hole 3 and a radial end surface 4 extending outward from the axial end 3a of the hole 3. As described in further detail below, the sealing assembly 12 includes a housing 14 and an inner housing 18. The housing 14 is disposed within the hole 3 of the seat and includes a radially outwardly extending flange 16 having an annular groove 17. The inner housing 18 is disposed within the housing 14 and is disposed about an axis 1. The retainer 10 includes a centerline L. C The annular body 20, when the retainer 10 is about the axis A of the shaft. C During installation, the centerline L C Preferably, it is at least approximately aligned with the axis A of the shaft. C The retainer 10 is coaxial and is formed of a rigid polymer material, preferably PA66 with glass fiber, but can be any other suitable rigid polymer, such as nylon, Delrin, acetal, etc. The annular body 20 of the retainer has an outer radial end 21A that connects to the flange 16 of the housing 14, is arable about the axis 1, and defines an inner diameter ID. R The center hole 23 has an inner radial end 21B, and opposite first axial end 20a and second axial end 20b. The outer radial end 21A of the annular body 20 of the retainer is arranged in the annular groove 17 of the flange 16 of the housing, and the inner end 21B is arranged around the shaft 1 and radially spaced outward from the shaft 1.

[0015] Furthermore, the main body 20 of the retainer has a radial retaining surface 22, which is disposed on the first axial end 21a and extends between the inner radial end 21A and the outer radial end 21B of the main body. The retaining surface 22 can contact the inner annular shell 18 to retain the inner shell 18 disposed within the outer annular shell 14. In other words, the retainer 10 can engage with the inner annular shell 18 to prevent the shell 18 from moving along the centerline L. C First direction D1 ( Figure 1 Axial displacement (or axial shift) on the retainer. Specifically, the diameter dimension of the retainer 10 is such that the inner diameter ID of the retainer... R The value is less than the outer diameter OD of the inner annular shell 18. C The value, such as Figure 3 As shown, at least a portion of the radially retaining surface 22 extends radially inward compared to the inner annular shell 18.

[0016] Therefore, the retainer 10 prevents the components of the integrated sealing assembly 12 from detaching during transport, installation, disassembly, etc., and also acts as a shroud or shield during the use of the sealing assembly 12 to prevent solid or semi-solid particles (e.g., mud) from entering and to minimize the fluid flow from the air side AS into the housings 14, 16 of the seal. However, since the retainer 10 is only used as a very simple shroud or labyrinth seal, the body 20 of the retainer preferably also includes a plurality of discharge channels 29 extending axially between the first axial end 20a and the second axial end 20b of the annular body 20 and around the centerline L. C They are spaced apart circumferentially. Therefore, any fluid (and / or solid) that enters the sealing assembly 12 through the hole 23 of the retainer can be discharged from the sealing assembly 12 through the channel 29.

[0017] Reference Figure 2 and Figure 3The outer annular shell 14 of the sealing assembly 12 is configured to support the main sealing member 24, and when installed within the bore 3, the flange 16 of the shell 14 is arranged to abut against the radial surface 4 of the seat to position the sealing assembly 12 at a desired location within the seat 2. More specifically, the shell 14 preferably includes an outer axial portion 30 having opposing first axial ends 30a and second axial ends 30b, a flange 16 extending outward from the first end 30a, an outer circumferential surface 31A capable of frictionally engaging with the bore 3 of the seat, and opposing inner circumferential surfaces 31B. The radial portion 32 of the outer annular shell 14 extends inward from the second axial end 30b of the outer axial portion 30, and the sealing mounting portion 34 extends axially from the radial portion 32 and axially toward the first axial end 30a. Preferably, the seal mounting portion 34 has a radial end portion 36 adapted to receive the main seal 24, which is preferably a standard generally wedge-shaped radial lip seal 25 having an inner end 25a attached to the end portion 36 and an outer free end 25b providing an inner circumferential sealing edge or surface 26.

[0018] Furthermore, the inner annular shell 18 preferably includes an inner axial portion 40 that can be arranged around the outer surface 1a of the shaft, and has opposing first axial ends 40a and second axial ends 40b, an inner circumferential surface 41A defining a hole 43 and capable of frictionally engaging with the shaft 1, and an outer circumferential "seal engagement" surface 41B. The inner annular shell 18 is positioned within the outer annular shell 14 such that the sealing surface 26 of the main seal 24 can sealably engage with the seal engagement surface 41B of the inner axial portion 40. A radial portion 42 extends radially outward from the first end 40a of the inner axial portion 40, and an outer axial portion 44 extends from the outer end 42a of the radial portion 42. When the outer shell 14 and the inner shell 18 are assembled together, the outer axial portion 44 of the inner shell 18 is arranged around the seal mounting portion 34 of the outer shell 14 and is radially spaced outward from the seal mounting portion 34 of the outer shell 14. Preferably, at least one secondary sealing lip 28 (most preferably two secondary sealing lips 28) is each connected to the outer axial portion 44 of the inner shell 18, and each is capable of sealingly engaging with the inner circumferential surface 31B of the outer axial portion 30 of the outer shell 14.

[0019] Special reference Figure 3 The flange 16 of the outer casing 14 is preferably formed having a first radial portion 50 connected to the remainder of the outer annular casing 14, a second radial portion 52 axially spaced from the first radial portion 50, and a curved radially outermost central portion 54 extending between and connecting the first radial portion 50 and the second radial portion 52. A groove 17 of the flange is defined between the first radial portion 50 and the second radial portion 52 and has a generally center-line L. CThe open inner radial end 17a of the groove 17, and the annular body 20 of the retainer extends radially inward from the inner end 17a of the groove 17. Furthermore, the groove 17 of the flange 16 has an axial width w defined between the first radial portion 50 and the second radial portion 52 of the flange. A And the retaining member 10 has an axial thickness t A Preferably, the retainer 10 is sized such that the thickness t of the retainer is... A Width greater than the flange A Therefore, the two radial portions 50, 52 of the flange preferably engage frictionally with the retainer 10 to secure the retainer 10 within the groove 17.

[0020] Now refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3 The sealing assembly 12 preferably further includes a gasket 60, which is arranged about the outer circumferential surface 31A of the axial portion 30 of the housing and adjacent to the flange 16. Specifically, the gasket 60 is preferably a "flow on gasket" ("FOG") and is positioned to seal the end chamfer 5 of the bore 3 in the seat. Figure 1 The inner housing 18 is located between the flange 16 of the housing 14 and the outer housing 14. With the flange 16 extending completely circumferentially around the housing 14, the flange 16 prevents any outward extrusion of the gasket 60 from the hole 3 of the seat. Furthermore, the inner housing 18 preferably has an annular elastomeric layer 64 disposed on the inner circumferential surface 41A of the inner axial portion 40. The layer 64 serves to increase the frictional engagement between the shaft 1 and the housing 18 and to provide a seal between the inner surface 41A of the housing and the outer surface 1a of the shaft.

[0021] The sealing assembly 12 of the present invention has many advantages over previously known one-piece sealing assemblies. The manufacturing cost of the retainer 10, formed of a rigid polymer material, is significantly lower than that of known retainers formed of metal materials, and the polymer retainer 10 does not corrode or rust. Furthermore, by inserting the radially outer end 21A of the retainer into the groove 17 of the flange to connect the retainer 10 to the housing 14, the chance of the retainer 10 being dislodged from the sealing assembly 12 is substantially less than in cases where the retainer bends on or around the flange as in some known retainer devices. Moreover, by providing the discharge channel 29, any fluid entering the sealing assembly 12 from the air side AS of the machine can flow back out of the sealing assembly 12 through the retainer 10. Finally, by providing a separate retainer 10 instead of an inwardly bent portion of the flange as in some prior art sealing assemblies, extrusion of the preferred gasket 60 is prevented.

[0022] Representative, non-limiting examples of the invention have been described in detail above with reference to the accompanying drawings. This detailed description is intended only to teach those skilled in the art further details for practicing the preferred aspects of this teaching, and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

[0023] Furthermore, the combinations of features and steps disclosed in the above detailed description may not be necessary for practicing the invention in the broadest sense, but are only taught to specifically describe representative examples of the invention. In addition, the various features of the above representative examples, as well as the various independent and dependent claims below, can be combined in ways not specifically and explicitly enumerated to provide additional useful implementations of this teaching.

[0024] For the purposes of the original written disclosure and for the purpose of limiting the claimed subject matter, all features disclosed in the specification and / or claims are intended to be disclosed individually and independently of each other, independent of the composition of the features in the embodiments and / or claims. Furthermore, for the purposes of the original written disclosure and for the purpose of limiting the claimed subject matter, all value ranges or indications for entity groups are intended to disclose every possible intermediate value or intermediate entity. The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and may vary within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A sealing assembly for sealing an annular space between a shaft and a seat, the seat having a bore and a radial end surface extending outward from the bore, the sealing assembly comprising: An outer annular shell is disposed within a bore of the seat. The outer annular shell is configured to support the main sealing member and has a radially outwardly extending flange disposed on a radial surface of the seat, the flange defining an annular groove. An inner annular shell is arranged inside the outer annular shell and can be arranged on the shaft; as well as A retainer includes an annular body formed of a rigid polymer material and having a centerline, an outer radial end disposed within a groove of the flange, an inner radial end arrangable about the axis, and a radial retaining surface extending between the inner and outer radial ends and contactable by the inner annular shell, thereby retaining the inner annular shell disposed within the outer annular shell. The annular body of the retainer has opposing first and second axial ends and a plurality of discharge channels. The retaining surface is disposed on the first axial end, and the plurality of discharge channels extend axially between the first and second axial ends and are circumferentially spaced around the center line of the retainer.

2. The sealing assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The retainer has a central hole with an inner diameter, and the outer diameter of the inner annular shell is larger than the inner diameter of the retainer, such that at least a portion of the radial retaining surface extends radially inward beyond the inner annular shell.

3. The sealing assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The outer annular shell has a centerline, and the retainer is capable of engaging with the inner annular shell to prevent axial displacement of the inner annular shell in a first direction along the centerline of the outer annular shell.

4. The sealing assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The flange of the outer annular shell has a first radial portion connected to the rest of the outer annular shell, a second radial portion spaced axially from the first radial portion, and a radially outermost central portion extending between and connecting the first and second radial portions. The groove is defined between the first and second radial portions and has an open inner radial end. The annular body of the retainer extends radially inward from the inner radial end of the flange.

5. The sealing assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that, The groove of the flange has an axial width defined between a first radial portion and a second radial portion of the flange, and the annular body of the retainer has an axial thickness greater than the width of the flange, such that the two radial portions of the flange frictionally engage the retainer.

6. The sealing assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The outer annular shell has an outer axial portion, the outer axial portion has an outer circumferential surface, and the sealing assembly further includes a gasket arranged around the outer circumferential surface of the outer annular shell and axially adjacent to the flange.

7. The sealing assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: The outer annular shell includes an outer axial portion having opposing first and second axial ends, a flange extending radially outward from the first axial end of the outer axial portion, a radial portion extending radially inward from the second axial end of the outer axial portion, and a sealing mounting portion extending axially from the radial portion toward the first axial end. The inner annular shell includes an inner axial portion that can be arranged around the outer surface of the shaft, a radial portion extending radially outward from the inner axial portion, and an outer axial portion. The outer axial portion extends from the outer end of the radial portion, is arranged around the sealing mounting portion of the outer annular shell, and is radially spaced outward from the sealing mounting portion of the outer annular shell.

8. The sealing assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that, The sealing assembly further includes: The main sealing member is connected to the sealing mounting portion of the outer annular shell and is capable of sealingly engaging with the outer circumferential surface of the inner axial portion of the inner annular shell; and At least one auxiliary sealing lip is connected to the outer axial portion of the inner annular shell and is capable of sealingly engaging with the inner circumferential surface of the outer axial portion of the outer annular shell.

9. The sealing assembly according to claim 8, characterized in that, The outer circumferential surface of the outer axial portion of the outer annular shell can frictionally engage with the hole of the seat, and the inner circumferential surface of the inner axial portion of the inner annular shell can frictionally engage with the shaft.

Images