Heavy duty seal assembly with enhanced labyrinth

Abstract

A sealing assembly includes an inner housing having an inner axial portion, a radial portion, and an outer axial portion disposed around a shaft. An outer housing includes an outer axial portion coupled to an outer hub, a radial portion extending from the outer axial portion, an inner axial portion extending from the radial portion, and a radial flange extending from the outer axial portion. The inner axial portion of the outer housing is inwardly spaced from the outer axial portion of the inner housing to define a labyrinthine passage. A sealing member is coupled to the inner housing and has a radial sealing lip engaging the outer axial portion of the outer housing and an axial sealing lip defining a labyrinthine clearance with the radial flange of the outer housing. A shielding member includes an axial portion of the inner housing disposed therearound it and a radial portion defining a labyrinthine clearance with the flange of the outer housing.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to seals, and more specifically, to sealing assemblies for removing contaminants from bearings. Background Technology

[0002] Seals for bearings are well known and typically include at least one annular shell that engages with an inner shaft or outer hub or housing, and at least one sealing lip that seals into another annular shell, the shaft, or the hub / housing. In applications where bearings may potentially be exposed to high levels of contamination, such as in agricultural machinery, the sealing assembly is typically configured as a housing comprising an inner shell and an outer shell, and at least one sealing member that is coupled to one shell and has multiple sealing lips that engage with another shell. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In one aspect, the present invention is a sealing assembly for sealing a space adjacent to a bearing having an inner ring disposed around an inner shaft and an outer ring provided by or disposed within a bore of a rotatable outer hub, the hub having an inner circumferential surface defining the bore. The sealing assembly includes an annular inner shell having an inner axial portion configured to be disposed around the inner shaft adjacent to or axially spaced from the bearing inner ring, a radial portion extending radially outward from the inner axial portion, and an outer axial portion extending axially from the radial portion and radially spaced from the inner axial portion. An annular outer shell is disposed around the inner shell and configured to be disposed within a bore of the outer hub adjacent to or axially spaced from the bearing outer ring, and having an outer axial portion having first and second axial ends, a radial portion extending radially inward from the first axial end of the outer axial portion, an inner axial portion extending axially from the radial portion, and a radial flange extending inward from the second axial end of the outer axial portion. The inner axial portion of the outer shell is radially spaced inward from the outer axial portion of the inner shell, thereby defining a circumferential labyrinthine channel. In addition, the annular main sealing member is formed of polymer material and connected to the inner shell. The main sealing member includes at least one annular radial sealing lip that seals with the outer axial portion of the shell and an annular axial sealing lip whose outer end is spaced apart from the radial flange of the shell to define an axial labyrinth gap or seals with the radial flange of the shell.

[0004] On the other hand, the present invention is again a sealing assembly, which is generally as described above and also includes a shielding member having: an axial portion configured to connect with an inner shaft, the axial portion of the inner housing being mounted around the axial portion of the shielding member to connect the inner housing to the shaft; and a radial portion extending radially outward from the axial portion and axially spaced from the radial flange of the outer housing to define an axial labyrinthine clearance. Attached Figure Description

[0005] 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, the currently preferred embodiments are shown in the schematic drawings. However, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and means shown. In the drawings:

[0006] Figure 1 This is an axial sectional view of the sealing assembly according to the invention, showing its installation in a preferred agricultural hub application;

[0007] Figure 2 This is an enlarged axial sectional view of the sealing assembly, showing it installed in an agricultural hub with a separate bearing outer ring;

[0008] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 A more enlarged section;

[0009] Figure 4 It is an axial sectional view of the upper part of the inner shell, main sealing component and auxiliary sealing component;

[0010] Figure 5 It is an axial sectional view of the upper part of the outer casing;

[0011] Figure 6 It is an axial sectional view of the upper part of the shielding component;

[0012] Figure 7 yes Figure 3 The significantly enlarged portion shows the initial part of the labyrinthine path of the sealing assembly; and

[0013] Figure 8 This is another axial sectional view of the sealing assembly, with arrows indicating a labyrinthine path through the sealing assembly. Detailed Implementation

[0014] The use of certain terms in the following description is for convenience only and not restrictive. The terms “inner,” “inward,” and “outer,” “outward,” respectively refer to directions toward and away from the designated centerline or geometric center of the described element, their specific meanings being self-evident from the context of the specification. Furthermore, as used herein, the terms “connection” and “linkage” are each intended to include a direct connection between two components without any other component in between, and an indirect connection between components with one or more other components in between. Terms include those specifically mentioned above, their derivatives, and terms with similar meanings.

[0015] Now refer to the accompanying drawings in detail, in which the same reference numerals are always used to denote the same elements, Figures 1-8The image shows a heavy-duty sealing assembly 10 for sealing the space adjacent to a bearing 1, the bearing 1 having an inner ring 2 disposed around an inner shaft 3 and a rotatable outer hub 5. Figure 1 ) Provided or disposed within the bore 6 of the outer hub 5 ( Figure 2 The shaft 3 has an outer ring 4, and a plurality or a group of rolling elements 7 disposed between the inner ring 2 and the outer ring 4. The shaft 3 has an outer circumferential surface 3a, and the hub 5 has an inner circumferential surface 5a defining a bore 6, through which the shaft 3 extends centrally. The inner ring 2 is rotationally stationary, and the outer ring 4 can revolve around a central axis A together with the hub 5. C Rotation is preferably an integral part of the hub 5. Preferably, the shaft 3 and hub 5 are components of agricultural machinery, and most preferably components of a tillage disc assembly for mounting a rotatable tillage disc (not shown) to the shaft 3 of the tillage assembly 8. However, the sealing assembly 10 can be used in any other agricultural application, in another type of "rough" equipment (e.g., mining or construction vehicles) subjected to exposure to mud, soil, rocks, etc., or in any other suitable application.

[0016] In any case, the sealing assembly 10 essentially comprises an annular inner shell 12, an annular outer shell 14 disposed around the inner shell 12, and an annular sealing member 16 attached to the inner shell 12 and capable of engaging with the outer shell 14, directly engaging or forming one or more labyrinthine gaps, and preferably also includes an annular shielding member 18. As described in detail below, improvements to previously known heavy-duty sealing assemblies include a flange 36 added at the outer end of the outer shell 14, an axial sealing lip 46 of the sealing member 16 forming an axial labyrinthine gap 48 with the flange 36, and an annular groove 55 disposed in the shielding member 18, which forms an additional circumferential labyrinthine gap 58 with the flange 36. These features provide an enhanced labyrinthine or tortuous path through the sealing assembly 10, which significantly improves its sealing efficiency.

[0017] refer to Figure 3 and Figure 4 The inner shell 12 has an inner axial portion 20, a radial portion 22 extending radially outward from the inner axial portion 20, and an outer axial portion 24 extending axially from the radial portion 22 and spaced radially outward from the inner axial portion 20, such that the inner shell 12 is generally C-shaped. The inner axial portion 20 is configured to surround the inner shaft 3 adjacent to or axially spaced from the inner bearing ring 2, and has an inner circumferential surface 21A and an outer circumferential surface 21B, as well as opposing first axial ends 20a and second axial ends 20b. The radial portion 22 has an inner radial end 22a integrally formed with the second axial end 20b, an opposing outer radial end 22b, and opposing first radial surfaces 23A and second radial surfaces 23B, respectively.

[0018] Furthermore, the outer axial portion 24 has a first axial end 24a integrally formed with the outer axial end 22b of the radial portion 22, a free second axial end 24b opposite to it, and an inner circumferential surface 25A and an outer circumferential surface 25B, respectively. Preferably, the inner shell 12 is formed of low carbon steel to allow the main sealing member 16 to be easily joined or molded to the inner shell 12, but it can be formed of any other suitable material, such as aluminum, rigid polymer materials, etc.

[0019] Now for reference Figure 3 and Figure 5 The housing 14 has an outer axial portion 30 having a first axial end 30a and a second axial end 30b, a radial portion 32 extending radially inward from the first axial end 30a of the outer axial portion 30, an inner axial portion 34 extending axially from the radial portion 32, and a radial flange 36 extending radially inward from the second axial end 30b of the outer axial portion 30. The outer axial portion 30 is configured to be disposed in the hole 6 of the outer hub 5 adjacent to or axially spaced from the outer ring 4 of the bearing, and also has an inner circumferential surface 31A and an outer circumferential surface 31B. The radial portion 32 has an outer radial end 32a integrally formed with the first axial end 30a of the axial portion 30, an opposing inner radial end 32b, and opposing first radial surfaces 33A and second radial surfaces 33B.

[0020] Furthermore, the inner axial portion 34 has a first axial end 34a integrally formed with the inner radial end 32b of the radial portion 32, an opposing second axial end 34b, and an inner circumferential surface 35A and an outer circumferential surface 35B. Additionally, the radial flange 36 has an outer radial end 36a integrally formed with the second axial end 30b of the inner axial portion 30, an inner radial end 36b, and opposing first circumferential surfaces 37A and 37B, respectively. Preferably, the housing 14 is made of stainless steel, such that the "sliding surface" of the housing 14, for example, the inner circumferential surface 31A of the axially outer portion 30 as described below, has reduced frictional engagement with the sealing lip of the sealing member as described below. However, the housing 14 can be formed of any other suitable material, such as low-carbon steel, aluminum, etc.

[0021] When the inner shell 12 and the outer shell 14 are assembled together, the shells 12 and 14 are arranged such that the outer shell 14 is disposed substantially around the inner shell 12, wherein the two shells 12 and 14 are substantially facing each other and connected to each other. Specifically, the radial portion 32 of the outer shell 14 is axially spaced from the radial portion 22 of the inner shell 12, the inner axial portion 20 of the inner shell 12 is radially nested within the inner axial portion 34 of the outer shell 14, and the outer axial portion 24 of the inner shell 12 is radially nested within the outer axial portion 30 of the outer shell 14. Furthermore, the inner axial portion 34 of the outer shell 14 is radially spaced inward from the outer axial portion 24 of the inner shell to define a circumferential labyrinthine channel 38. Specifically, the labyrinthine channel 38 is defined between the inner circumferential surface 25A of the outer axial portion 24 of the inner shell and the outer circumferential surface 35B of the inner axial portion 34 of the outer shell. Furthermore, the two shell axial portions 24 and 34 are preferably spaced apart by a relatively minimal radial distance to substantially prevent any foreign objects from passing through the channel 38 without impeding the relative angular displacement between the rotating outer shell 14 and the static inner shell 12.

[0022] Refer again Figure 3 and Figure 4 The main sealing member 16 includes an annular body 40 and is formed of a polymer material, preferably an elastomer, such as natural or synthetic rubber, or a thermoplastic, such as nylon, polytetrafluoroethylene, etc. The sealing member 16 is coupled to the inner shell 12, preferably in a molding operation, but can be formed separately and attached by adhesives or fasteners. The annular body 40 preferably includes three integral portions 42, 43, and 44 extending around the inner shell 12. Specifically, the outer portion 42 is disposed on the outer circumferential surface 25B of the outer axial portion 24 of the inner shell 12, the radial portion 43 is disposed on the outer radial surface 23B of the radial portion 22 of the inner shell 12, and the inner portion 44 is disposed on the inner circumferential surface 21A of the inner axial portion 20 of the inner shell 12. However, the main sealing member 16 can be formed to include only the outer portion 42 or only the outer portion 42 and the radial portion 43.

[0023] In any case, the main sealing member 16 includes at least one, and preferably multiple, annular radial sealing lips 45, which are axially spaced and extend generally radially outward from the sealing exterior 42. Each of the multiple radial sealing lips 45 sealably engages with the inner circumferential surface 31A of the outer axial portion 30 of the housing 14. As described above, the main sealing member 16 includes an annular axial sealing lip 46, which includes an inner end 46a and an outer end 46b integral with the sealing exterior 40. The outer end 46b is preferably spaced from the radial flange 36 of the housing 14 to define an axial labyrinthine clearance 48, but in some applications, its dimensions may be designed to sealably engage with the radial flange 36 of the housing. Furthermore, the main sealing member 16 preferably also includes a circumferential buffer 49, which extends axially from the remainder of the main sealing member 16 (particularly the sealing exterior 42) and has an outer end 49a that engages with (particularly the inner radial surface 32B) of the housing 14 (as shown) or is axially spaced.

[0024] refer to Figure 3 and Figure 6 The shielding member 18 is preferably L-shaped and includes an axial portion 50 configured to connect with the inner shaft 3 and a radial portion 52 extending radially outward from the axial portion 50. More specifically, the axial portion 50 of the shield 18 has a first axial end 50a and a second axial end 50b, as well as an inner circumferential surface 51A and an outer circumferential surface 51B. The inner surface 51A forms a central hole (not shown) for receiving a portion of the shaft 3 and is frictionally engaged therewith. Using the shielding member 18, the axial portion 20 of the inner housing 12 is preferably mounted around the axial portion 50 of the shielding member 18 and is preferably frictionally engaged therewith, thereby connecting the inner housing 12 to the shaft 3. However, in applications where the sealing assembly 10 does not have a shielding member, the inner axial portion 20 of the inner housing 12 can be directly mounted to the shaft 3 or mounted around an intermediate sleeve (not shown). Furthermore, the inner first axial end 50a of the axial portion 50 abuts against the inner bearing ring 2, and the shielding member 18 is configured to axially hold the inner bearing ring 2 on the shaft 3, i.e., relative to the central axis A. C .

[0025] Furthermore, the radial portion 52 of the shielding member 18 has an inner radial end 52a, an outer radial end 52b, a first inner radial surface 53A, and an opposing second outer radial surface 53B, all integrally formed with the second axial end 50b of the axial portion 50. The radial portion 52 of the shielding member 18 is axially spaced from the radial flange 36 of the housing 14 to define an axial labyrinthine gap 54. Preferably, the shielding member 18 has a groove 55 formed in the radial portion 52, which is defined by a radial surface 56 extending radially inward from the outer radial end 52b and an outer circumferential surface 57 extending axially inward from the inner radial surface 53A to the groove 55. With the groove 55, the axial labyrinthine gap 54 is defined between the radial surface 56 of the groove 55 and the radial surface 36B of the radial flange 36, and the circumferential labyrinthine gap 58 is defined between the outer circumferential surface 57 of the groove 55 and the inner circumferential surface 39 of the housing radial flange 36. Furthermore, the radially outer end 52b of the radial portion 52 of the shielding member is configured (e.g., formed, sized, etc.) to be radially spaced inward from the inner circumferential surface 5a of the hub 5, so as to define a circumferential labyrinth gap 59.

[0026] Refer again Figure 3 and Figure 4The sealing assembly 10 preferably further includes an auxiliary sealing member 60, which is connected to the inner axial portion 20 of the inner housing 12 and has at least one radial sealing lip 62 that sealably engages with the inner axial portion 34 of the outer housing 14. Specifically, the auxiliary sealing member 60 preferably includes an annular edge 64 and an elastomer 66 molded or bonded to the annular edge 64. The elastomer 66 preferably includes a plurality of axially spaced radial sealing lips 62, each radial sealing lip 62 having an outer end 62a that sealably engages with the inner circumferential surface 35A of the axial portion 34 of the outer housing. Furthermore, the annular edge 66 is preferably formed of a metallic material (e.g., low-carbon steel, aluminum, etc.) and frictionally engages with the outer circumferential surface 21B of the inner axial portion 20 of the inner housing 12, thereby connecting the auxiliary sealing member 60 to the inner housing 12.

[0027] Now for reference Figure 7 and 8 The sealing assembly 10 of the present invention provides a tortuous path P that substantially prevents any contaminants or substances (i.e., solid or liquid particles) from reaching the bearing 1 through the sealing assembly 10. Specifically, as Figure 8 As indicated by the arrows, any substance must traverse path P, which begins at the circumferential labyrinthine gap 59 between the shielding radial portion 52 and the hub 5, passes through the axial labyrinthine gap 54 and the circumferential labyrinthine gap 59 between the housing radial flange 36 and the shielding member 18, and passes through the axial labyrinthine gap 48 between the axial sealing lip 48 and the housing radial flange 36, and reaches one or more radial sealing lips 45. If any substance can pass through the sealing interface between each radial sealing lip 45 and the outer axial portion 30 of the housing, then it must pass between the circumferential buffer 49 and the housing radial portion 32, and then through the elongated circumferential labyrinthine channel 38 between the inner axial portion 34 of the housing and the outer axial portion 24 of the inner housing, to reach the plurality of sealing lips 62 of the inner sealing member 60. Thereafter, any substance will have to pass through the interface between each sealing lip 62 and the inner axial portion 34 of the housing to reach the bearing 1. Even if the radial sealing lips 45, 62 are worn to the extent that such lips 45, 62 are essentially used to provide a labyrinthine clearance, it is unlikely that any substance will pass through the sealing assembly 10 and reach the bearing 1 via this tortuous path P.

[0028] The foregoing detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings illustrates representative, non-limiting examples of the invention. This detailed description is intended only to teach those skilled in the art to further practice the preferred aspects of this teaching and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

[0029] Furthermore, the combinations of features and steps disclosed in the detailed description above may not be necessary for practicing the invention in the broadest sense, but are merely taught to specifically describe representative examples of the invention. Moreover, the various features of the above representative examples, along with the various independent and dependent claims below, can be combined in ways not specifically and expressly enumerated to provide further useful embodiments of this teaching.

[0030] All features disclosed in the specification and / or claims are intended to be disclosed separately and independently of each other for the purposes of the original written disclosure and for the purpose of limiting the claimed subject matter, and are unrelated to 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 of 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 a space adjacent to a bearing, the bearing having an inner ring disposed around an inner shaft and an outer ring provided by or disposed within a bore of a rotatable outer hub, the hub having an inner circumferential surface defining the bore, the sealing assembly comprising: An annular inner housing having an inner axial portion configured to be adjacent to or axially spaced from the inner ring of a bearing and arranged around an inner axis, a radial portion extending radially outward from the inner axial portion, and an outer axial portion extending axially from the radial portion and spaced radially outward from the inner axial portion. An annular housing having an outer axial portion configured to be axially spaced from or adjacent to the outer ring of a bearing within a bore of an outer hub and having first and second axial ends, a radial portion extending radially inward from the first axial end of the outer axial portion, an inner axial portion extending axially from the radial portion, and a radial flange extending inward from the second axial end of the outer axial portion; the inner axial portion of the housing is radially spaced inward from the outer axial portion of the inner housing, thereby defining a circumferential labyrinthine passage; and An annular main sealing member, formed of a polymer material and connected to an inner shell, includes at least one annular radial sealing lip that seals with the outer axial portion of the shell and an annular axial sealing lip whose outer end is spaced apart from the radial flange of the shell to define an axial labyrinthine clearance or seals with the radial flange of the shell.

2. The sealing assembly of claim 1, further comprising a shielding member having: an axial portion configured to connect with the inner shaft, the axial portion of the inner housing mounted around the axial portion of the shielding member to connect the inner housing to the shaft; and a radial portion extending radially outward from the axial portion and axially spaced from a radial flange of the outer housing to define an axial labyrinthine clearance.

3. The sealing assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein: The radial flange of the housing has an outer axial end with a radial surface and an inner radial end with an inner circumferential surface; and The radial portion of the shielding member has an inner axial end, an outer radial end, and an annular groove that are axially spaced apart from the outer axial end of the outer radial flange. The annular groove has a radial surface extending radially inward from the outer radial end and an outer circumferential surface extending radially inward from the inner axial end to the groove. The axial labyrinth gap is defined between the radial surface of the groove and the radial surface of the radial flange, and the circumferential labyrinth gap is defined between the outer circumferential surface of the groove and the inner circumferential surface of the radial flange.

4. The sealing assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein, The radial portion of the shielding member has a radially outer end, which is configured to be radially spaced inward from the inner circumferential surface in order to define a circumferential labyrinthine gap.

5. The sealing assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein, The axial portion of the shield has an inner axial end that abuts against the inner ring of the bearing, and the shield is configured to axially retain the inner ring of the bearing.

6. The sealing assembly of claim 1 further comprises an auxiliary sealing member, which is connected to the inner axial portion of the inner housing and has at least one annular radial sealing lip that sealably engages with the inner axial portion of the outer housing.

7. The sealing assembly of claim 6, wherein, The auxiliary sealing member includes an annular edge and an elastomer, the elastomer being coupled to the annular edge and providing the at least one radial sealing lip, the annular edge being frictionally engaged with the outer circumferential surface of the inner axial portion of the inner shell.

8. The sealing assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein, At least one annular radial sealing lip of the main sealing member includes a plurality of annular radial sealing lips spaced apart axially, each of the plurality of radial sealing lips sealingly engaging with the outer axial portion of the housing.

9. The sealing assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein, The main sealing member also includes a circumferential buffer that extends axially from the rest of the main sealing member and has an outer end that engages with or is axially spaced from the radial portion of the housing.

10. The sealing assembly of claim 1, wherein, At least one of the following: The main sealing member includes an outer portion disposed on the outer circumferential surface of the outer axial portion of the inner shell, a radial portion disposed on the radial surface of the radial portion of the inner shell, and an inner portion disposed on the inner circumferential surface of the inner axial portion of the inner shell; and Each of the inner shell and the outer shell is C-shaped, and the inner shell and the outer shell are arranged such that the radial portion of the outer shell is axially spaced from the radial portion of the inner shell, the inner axial portion of the inner shell is radially nested within the inner axial portion of the outer shell, and the outer axial portion of the inner shell is radially nested within the outer axial portion of the outer shell.

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