Radial shaft seal, bellows flange and method of attaching the same

Abstract

To provide an improved radial shaft seal.SOLUTION: A radial shaft seal has a seal ring equipped with a going around notch for storing a ring-shaped fixing clip on the outside. The ring-shaped fixing clip energized outward in a diametrical direction is provided. The fixing clip can be completely stored in the notch so as to introduce the seal ring into a housing at an attaching position, and bulges partially over the notch in the radial direction at an assembling position. The radial shaft seal further has a cylindrical inner surface equipped with at least one flange groove, and a radial shaft seal according to the present invention. The ring-shaped fixing clip can be engaged with the flange groove in the assembling position, thereby fixing the radial shaft seal in an axial direction. An attaching method for attaching the radial shaft seal to a bellows flange is also provided.SELECTED DRAWING: None

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a radial shaft seal for sealing a shaft supported within a housing, the radial shaft seal having a seal ring with a circumferential notch for receiving an outer ring-shaped fixing clip. The present invention further relates to a bellows flange and a method of attaching the same.

Background Art

[0002] In container filling facilities, particularly beverage container filling facilities, in order to be able to fill and close containers under defined ambient conditions, the containers are generally filled and closed inside a clean room. In this way, particularly products sensitive to bacteria can also be container-filled.

[0003] In that case, a closing head for attaching a container stopper, which is arranged in the clean room, is usually sealed via a bellows against the environment outside the clean room. In that case, the use of the bellows enables the closing head to be moved appropriately in order to enable the attachment of the stopper, while at the same time maintaining a hygienically perfect seal against the surroundings.

[0004] In that case, the sealing in the individual bellows is usually carried out using a special radial shaft seal ring in order to seal the rotary passage, the radial shaft seal ring being press-fitted into a metal sleeve so as not to shift together with the ball bearing. The metal sleeve is then inserted through the bellows as a module consisting of a seal and a bearing and fixed from the outside by a union nut.

[0005] In these known seals, since the sleeves have to be inserted through the bellows respectively, their inner diameter cannot be directly adapted to the shaft extending through the bellows. Therefore, the bellows require a relatively large diameter based on the sleeve mounting process.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] Starting from this known prior art, the problem of the present invention is to provide an improved radial shaft seal, an improved bellows flange, and an improved mounting method for this type of bellows flange.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] This problem is solved by a radial shaft seal for sealing a shaft supported in a housing, which has the features of claim 1. Preferred developments are apparent from the dependent claims, the description, and the figures.

[0008] Accordingly, a radial shaft seal for sealing a shaft supported in a housing is proposed, which has a seal ring with a circumferential notch for receiving a ring-shaped fixing clip on the outside. According to the invention, the radial shaft seal has a ring-shaped fixing clip biased radially outwards, which fixing clip can be completely accommodated in the notch for introducing the seal ring into the housing in the mounting position and projects radially beyond the notch partially in the assembled position.

[0009] The ring-shaped fixing clip is biased radially outwards, but in particular can also be compressed radially inwards in order to move it to the mounting position. Thus, the mounting position here is the position where the ring-shaped fixing clip does not project beyond the notch. In this mounting position, the seal can be inserted into the bellows flange together with the fixing clip.

[0010] This can be considered, for example, when a ring-shaped fixing clip is manually compressed, or when a sealing ring is inserted into the housing together with the attached ring-shaped fixing clip and the flange groove of the ring-shaped fixing clip is not facing (the ring-shaped fixing clip can extend into its flange groove beyond the notch due to being biased radially outward).

[0011] Therefore, the installation position here is the position where the ring-shaped fixing clip projects beyond the notch due to being biased radially outward. In that case, at this position, the fixing clip can be inserted into the flange groove, and in this way, the seal can be fixed within the flange.

[0012] This can be considered, for example, when no radial force acts on the biased ring-shaped fixing clip. Nevertheless, this can occur when the ring-shaped fixing clip is inserted into the housing to such an extent that it faces the flange groove (the fixing clip can extend into its flange groove beyond the notch based on being biased radially outward). At this installation position, in order to ensure the non-play positioning of the ring-shaped fixing clip, the remaining biasing force remains within the ring-shaped fixing clip.

[0013] A ring-shaped fixing clip biased radially outward can be completely accommodated within the notch at the mounting position for introducing the seal ring into the housing, and at the assembly position, by partially protruding radially beyond the notch, the radial shaft seal can be directly mounted from the outside into a sheet integrated within the bellows. Thus, the fixing of the seal ring or the axial fixing of the bearing is effected via the ring-shaped fixing clip. For installing the radial shaft seal within the housing, for example within the bellows flange, neither a metal sleeve nor a union nut is required. Thus, expensive components can be saved and the cost can be significantly reduced. Further, the diameter of the housing, for example the bellows flange, can be made to fit closer to the diameter of the shaft.

[0014] In that case, the ring-shaped fixing clip is embedded within the seal ring. This has the advantage that the ring-shaped fixing clip is not arranged within the clean room. Thus, thereby, a hygienic axial fixing of the radial shaft seal is obtained.

[0015] In the context of the present invention, a ring-shaped fixing clip is a fixing clip having a substantially circular or ring-shaped outer contour. Thus, fixing clips formed as complete rings and ring segments can represent the ring-shaped fixing clip.

[0016] According to a preferred development, at least one form-fit is formed in at least one, preferably both, axial directions between the seal ring and the ring-shaped fixing clip at the incorporation position.

[0017] Based on the shape combination, the positioning of the sealing ring, i.e., the axial fixation of the sealing ring, can be further improved. Preferably, furthermore, the gap between the sealing ring and the ring-shaped fixing clip in the axial direction is thereby avoided, thereby almost eliminating the transfer of foreign matter through these working surface pairs. Thereby, the hygiene of the axial position fixation is improved.

[0018] According to a preferred development, the ring-shaped fixing clip is biased radially outwards so that it can be manually placed on the sealing ring. Therefore, the biasing can be selected to be of a size that allows for thumb operation, for example, as defined in DIN EN 894-3:2000.

[0019] This has the advantage that no other auxiliary means are required for the attachment of the sealing ring and the ring-shaped fixing clip and for the attachment of the radial shaft seal itself. Thereby, the risk of damage to the sealing ring during this attachment is also significantly reduced.

[0020] In another preferred embodiment, the notch has a circumferential sealing ring groove and a radially extending sealing ring opening opening into the sealing ring groove.

[0021] This has the advantage that the ring-shaped fixing clip can extend inwards through the radially extending sealing ring opening opening into the sealing ring groove both in the mounting position and in the incorporated position. Therefore, the ring-shaped fixing clip can be uniquely positioned through the radially extending sealing ring opening opening into the sealing ring groove, and can be looked into or reached either through the inside or the outside of the sealing ring.

[0022] According to a preferred embodiment, the sealing ring has two sealing lips displaced axially, in which case the ring-shaped fixing clip is arranged axially between the two sealing lips. This has the advantage that it thereby always ensures that the ring-shaped fixing clip does not come into contact with the outer boundary of the system located on the opposite side of the seal of the sealing ring, in particular with the clean room present in the surroundings.

[0023] According to a preferred embodiment, the ring-shaped fixing clip has flaps at each end, which flaps can be gripped by an installation tool through the sealing ring opening in order to move the ring-shaped fixing clip against the biasing force from the incorporated position, in which case the flaps preferably have protrusions formed axially.

[0024] In principle, there is a need to omit the holes for gripping the ring-shaped fixing clip, whereby the radial shaft seal can be made more hygienic as a whole.

[0025] Providing the flaps also offers advantages both when installing and when removing the radial shaft seal. With regard to installation, when the ring-shaped fixing clip is in the installed position, it can be guided into the incorporated position, for example by an installation tool, via the flap that projects beyond the inside of the sealing ring.

[0026] With regard to removal, the flaps can be compressed by an installation tool through the sealing ring opening from the inside until the ring-shaped fixing clip is located within and can be withdrawn from the notch that completely encircles the ring-shaped fixing clip against the biasing force directed radially outwards.

[0027] In the context of the present invention, the installation tool is a pliers, particularly a flat nose pliers, a bent flat nose pliers, or any other standard tool suitable for compressing, against the bias towards the outside in the radial direction, the flap of a ring-shaped fixing clip from the inside through the seal ring opening of the seal ring.

[0028] By the flap preferably having a protrusion formed in the axial direction, it is possible to ensure that, conversely, the ring-shaped fixing clip cannot be mounted on the seal ring by being turned in the reverse direction. Thus, the installation safety is improved thereby.

[0029] According to another form, the ring-shaped fixing clip has an oblique cut in each flap, and the oblique cut is formed such that when introducing the shaft, it is ensured that the ring-shaped fixing clip slides radially outward.

[0030] During the installation of the radial shaft seal, after the ring-shaped fixing clip is manually mounted on the seal ring, it may happen that the ring-shaped fixing clip is within the notch of the seal ring but not fully locked into the seal ring groove provided in the surrounding structure, and thus does not fully occupy the installed position. In this state, the flap of the ring-shaped fixing clip protrudes radially inward from the seal ring.

[0031] Therefore, the advantage of this oblique cut is that when introducing the shaft, through the forward movement of the shaft, it becomes possible for the ring-shaped fixing clip to slide through the oblique cut provided in the flap until the ring-shaped fixing clip is fully fitted. As a result, even if the installation is not very delicate, no loss of function of the radial shaft seal is caused thereby.

[0032] According to a preferred embodiment, the ring-shaped fixing clip is a ring interrupted with an opening angle α, and in that case the opening angle is selected to be small so that the attachment or removal of the ring-shaped fixing clip is still possible in some way.

[0033] The smaller the opening angle, the smaller the radially extending seal ring opening opening into the seal ring groove can be formed. Thereby, the stability of the seal ring is almost completely maintained. The dimensional design of the opening angle depends on the inner diameter and outer diameter of the seal ring, the inner diameter and outer diameter of the ring-shaped fixing clip, and the material properties of the seal ring and the ring-shaped fixing clip. In that case, the minimum opening angle can be found with a little effort for a given frame condition. The minimum opening angle α can exist, for example, at the mounting position when the two ends of the ring-shaped fixing clip come into contact with each other after compressing the ring-shaped fixing clip.

[0034] Another advantage of the smallest possible opening angle is that a uniform stress situation exists both within the ring-shaped fixing clip and within the surrounding components during attachment and removal.

[0035] According to another form, the seal ring has a plastic material and / or the ring-shaped fixing clip has a metal material.

[0036] Using plastic as the material or material component of the seal ring, the sufficient flexibility or elasticity of the seal ring can be ensured so that the sealing function of the seal ring is obtained purely through the material properties of the plastic. Nevertheless, using the metal material of the ring-shaped fixing clip, an appropriate radially outward biasing of the ring-shaped fixing clip can be obtained.

[0037] According to a preferred embodiment, the sealing ring is formed by a 3D printing method. This has the advantage that the geometric arrangement of the sealing ring can be adapted particularly flexibly without having to consider the form-giving inherent to manufacturing, as is known, for example, from injection molding technology.

[0038] The problem set above is further solved by the bellows flange. The preferred deployment of the bellows flange is apparent from the dependent claims and this specification and the drawings.

[0039] Accordingly, a bellows flange is proposed which has a cylindrical inner surface with at least one flange groove and the radial shaft seal disclosed above.

[0040] According to the invention, in the bellows flange, a ring-shaped fixing clip can engage with the flange groove in the installed position, thereby enabling axial fixing of the radial shaft seal.

[0041] By axially fixing the radial shaft seal via a ring-shaped fixing clip in which the radial shaft seal is already integrated, additional components for axial fixing, such as sleeves or union nuts, are no longer required, thereby significantly reducing costs. Furthermore, damage to the sealing ring that usually occurs when attaching sleeves or union nuts can be avoided. Furthermore, the installation is made easier, with fewer parts to be installed and they can be installed more simply. Furthermore, it is an advantage that the bellows diameter can be made much smaller. This is because the seal can have dimensions that are much smaller in the radial direction compared to conventional technologies.

[0042] According to another form, within the bellows flange, a radial bearing adjacent to the stopper of the bellows flange, at least one O-ring associated with the radial bearing, and at least one O-ring associated with the seal ring are further provided.

[0043] In that case, preferably, the entire bearing including the radial shaft seal can be manually and directly attached from the outside to the seat integrated into the bellows flange, and can be removed by a mounting tool. By integrating the bearing seat into the bellows flange, the sleeve and the union nut are no longer required, thereby significantly reducing the cost.

[0044] The stopper of the bellows flange can be, for example, a shaft shoulder, a fixing ring, or a stopper consisting of adjacent components such as a cover attached to the bellows flange seal.

[0045] The problem set above is further solved by an attachment method for attaching the radial shaft seal disclosed above, which has the features of claim 13. Preferred developments of the method are apparent from this specification and the figures.

[0046] Therefore, an attachment method for attaching the radial shaft seal disclosed above into the bellows flange disclosed above is proposed.

[0047] According to the present invention, the attachment method has the following steps: - Compress the ring-shaped fixing clip of the radial shaft seal to the attachment position; - Partially introduce the radial shaft seal into the bellows flange; - Introduce the shaft into the seal ring of the radial shaft seal so that the radial shaft seal slides and the ring-shaped fixing clip fits into the flange groove and reaches the incorporation position; - Preferably, further introduce the shaft into a predetermined working position.

[0048] In that case, preferably, the attachment can be carried out without tools. Therefore, costs can be saved, and the forces that may cause damage to the radial shaft seal can be almost avoided. Since the radial shaft seal requires neither a sleeve nor a union nut, the complexity is much less, thereby reducing the time and effort required for attachment. Thereby, furthermore, attachment errors can be more effectively avoided.

[0049] Other preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail using the following description of the drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0050]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0051] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. In that case, members having the same, similar or the same functions in various drawings are provided with the same reference numerals, and in order to avoid redundancy, the description of these members is partially omitted from being repeated.

[0052] Figure 1 schematically shows a radial shaft seal 10 in a perspective view. The radial shaft seal 10 has a seal ring 14 with an attached ring-shaped fixing clip 16. The ring-shaped fixing clip 16 is disposed within a notch 15 that encircles the outside of the seal ring 4. The circumferential notch 15 has a seal ring groove 17 covered by the ring-shaped fixing clip 16 and a radially extending seal ring opening 18 that opens into the seal ring groove 17. The ring-shaped fixing clip 16 projects partially beyond the notch 15 and is in the installed position.

[0053] The ring-shaped fixing clip 16 is formed as a ring interrupted with an opening angle α and is axially disposed between two seal lips 23 and 23' of the seal ring 14 formed inside the seal ring 14. Outside the seal ring 14, the ring-shaped fixing clip 16 is disposed between two receiving portions 24 or 24' for O-rings (not shown) respectively associated with the seal ring.

[0054] Furthermore, the ring-shaped fixing clip 16 has flaps 19 or 19' at both of its ends 20 or 20' respectively, which have axially formed protrusions 21 or 21' and further project radially inward. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the seal ring 14 is formed by a 3D printing method and has a plastic material. The ring-shaped fixing clip 16 has a metallic material.

[0055] Figure 2 schematically shows a cross-section of the seal ring 14 in the cutting plane A-A' in the line-of-sight direction suggested by Figure 1. The circumferential notch 15 has, on the one hand, a circumferential seal ring groove 17 and, on the other hand, a radially extending seal ring opening 18 that opens into the seal ring groove 17. The circumferential notch 15 extends axially between two seal lips 23 or 23' arranged inside the seal ring 14. Nevertheless, the seal ring 14 extends axially between two receiving portions 24 or 24' for O-rings (not shown) arranged outside the seal ring 14 and each associated with the seal ring.

[0056] Figure 3 schematically shows the ring-shaped fixing clip 16 in a perspective view. The ring-shaped fixing clip 16 is formed as a ring interrupted with an opening angle α. In that case, the opening angle α is selected to be small so that the ring-shaped fixing clip 16 can still be somehow attached or removed. This means that after the ring-shaped fixing clip 16 has been pressed and compressed - so as to enter the mounting position - the two ends 20 or 20' of the ring-shaped fixing clip 16 come into contact with each other. This means that the two ends 20 or 20' of the ring-shaped fixing clip 16 come into contact with each other.

[0057] Flaps 19 or 19' are arranged on the two ends 20 or 20' of the ring-shaped fixing clip 16 described above, and they each have a projection 21 or 21' formed axially. Through this projection 21 or 21', the ring-shaped fixing clip 16 can be moved from the assembly position against the biasing force by an assembly tool. In the reverse case, for example, in order to be able to move from the mounting position to the assembly position by sliding radially outward through the shaft 12, the ring-shaped fixing clip 16 has an oblique cut 22 or 22' on the projection 21 or 21' of each flap 19 or 19'.

[0058] Figure 4 shows a schematic cross-section of the bellows flange 100 along the cutting line B-B' in the line-of-sight direction suggested by Figure 1, together with the attached radial shaft seal 10. The radial shaft seal 10 is shown between the housing 12 and the shaft 13 supported therein in a fully attached arrangement. Thus, the seal ring 14 is in an axially defined position, which is fixed by the ring-shaped fixing clip 16 projecting radially beyond the notch 15 at the incorporation position and engaging with the flange groove 102 by the projecting portion thereof.

[0059] This state is maintained until the ring-shaped fixing clip 16 reaches the attachment position via the flap 19 by the attachment tool, i.e., until it is completely compressed and received within the notch 15, based on the ring-shaped fixing clip 16 being biased radially outward, and the seal ring 14 is pulled out from the bellows flange 100 together with the ring-shaped fixing clip 16. For this purpose, the notch has a seal ring groove 17 that encircles, and the seal ring groove is formed radially to a depth at which the ring-shaped fixing clip 16 can reach the attachment position. Further, the notch 15 has a radially extending seal ring opening 18 that opens into the seal ring groove 17 for this purpose.

[0060] In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, removal of the radial shaft seal 10 first requires removal of the inner shaft 13. This is done first by removing the stopper 104, the shaft shoulder 106, and by removing the radial bearing 103 together with the O-ring 105 associated with the radial bearing. Alternatively, the radial bearing 103 can remain incorporated and the shaft 13 can be pulled downward after removal of the shaft shoulder 106, thereby exposing the radial shaft seal 10 and allowing the ring-shaped fixing clip 16 to be compressed through the seal ring opening 18 using an assembly tool.

[0061] In that case, the compression of the ring-shaped retaining clip 16 can be effected via a bent flat-nose pliers which is simply applied to the flap 19 and compressed against the biasing of the ring-shaped retaining clip 16. As soon as this retaining clip is completely received within the notch 15, the radial shaft seal 10 is no longer fixed axially. The O-ring 25 or 25' associated with the seal ring 14 is used only for sealing the seal ring against the cylindrical inner side 101 of the bellows flange 100.

[0062] Figure 5 schematically shows in cross-section a bellows flange 100 with a radial shaft seal 10 along a cutting plane B-B' based on the line of sight suggested in Figure 1, together with the partially inserted shaft 13.

[0063] In principle, the radial shaft seal 10 is already in a predefined position, i.e., the seal ring 14 has already been inserted into the housing 12 such that the circumferential seal ring groove 17 exactly faces the flange groove 102. Thus, in the view shown in Figure 5, the ring-shaped retaining clip 16, which is still in the mounting position, will move into the installation position based on the fact that it is already biased radially outwards. Thus, the case shown corresponds to a situation where the ring-shaped retaining clip 16 is inadvertently fixed obliquely with respect to the flange groove 102 or the housing 12.

[0064] At the attachment position of the ring-shaped fixing clip 16, its protrusion 21 projects radially inward through the seal ring opening 18, so that when the shaft 12 is introduced, contact is formed between the shaft 12 and the protrusion 21. Through the inclined cut 22 formed on the protrusion 21, the forward movement of the shaft 12 upward as shown in FIG. 5 generates a force directed radially outward, and this force pushes the ring-shaped fixing clip 16 into the assembly position. After the ring-shaped fixing clip 16 is locked into the flange groove 102, the cross-section of the inner ring 14 becomes free, and the shaft is further inserted to form a sealing contact with the seal lip 23 or 23'. When this is achieved, the radial shaft seal 10 is axially fixed and sealed.

[0065] As far as applicable, all individual features shown in the plurality of embodiments can be combined with each other and / or exchanged without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0066] α Opening angle 10 Radial shaft seal 12 Housing 13 Shaft 14 Seal ring 15 Circumferential notch 16 Ring-shaped fixing clip 17 Seal ring groove 18 Seal ring opening 19, 19' Flap of the ring-shaped fixing clip 20, 20' End of the ring-shaped fixing clip 21, 21' Protrusion of the flap 22, 22' Inclined cut of the flap 23, 23' Seal lip 24, 24' Accommodating portion for the O-ring corresponding to the seal ring 25, 25' O-ring corresponding to the seal ring 100 Bellows flange 101 Cylindrical inner surface 102 Flange groove 103 Radial bearing 104 Stopper 105 O-ring associated with the radial bearing 106 Axial shoulder

Claims

1. A radial shaft seal (10) for sealing a shaft (13) supported within a housing (12), the radial shaft seal having a seal ring (14) provided with a notch (15) that circumscribes the outside for receiving a ring-shaped fixing clip (16), having a ring-shaped fixing clip (16) biased radially outward, the fixing clip being completely receivable within the notch (15) for introducing the seal ring (14) into the housing (12) at the mounting position, and projecting radially beyond the notch (15) partially at its incorporated position, the notch (15) having a circumferential seal ring groove (17) and a radially extending seal ring opening (18) opening into the seal ring groove (17), a radial shaft seal characterized by this.

2. At the incorporated position, a form fit is formed at least in one axial direction, preferably in both axial directions, between the seal ring (14) and the ring-shaped fixing clip (16), the radial shaft seal (10) according to claim 1, characterized by this.

3. The ring-shaped fixing clip (16) is biased radially outward so that it can be manually placed on the seal ring (14), the radial shaft seal (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by this.

4. The seal ring (14) has two seal lips (23, 23') displaced axially, in which case the ring-shaped fixing clip (16) is arranged axially between the two seal lips (23, 23'), the radial shaft seal (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by this.

5. The ring-shaped fixing clip (16) has flaps (19, 19') at each end (20, 20'), and the flaps can be gripped by an attachment tool through the seal ring opening (18) in order to move the ring-shaped fixing clip (16) against biasing force from the incorporated position, in which case the flaps (19, 19') preferably have axially formed protrusions (21, 21'), the radial shaft seal (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that.

6. The ring-shaped fixing clip (16) has oblique cuts (22, 22') in the flaps (19, 19'), and the oblique cuts are formed so as to ensure the sliding movement of the ring-shaped fixing clip (16) radially outward when introducing the shaft (13), the radial shaft seal (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that.

7. The ring-shaped fixing clip (16) is a ring interrupted with an interruption angle (α), and the interruption angle is selected to be small enough so that the ring-shaped fixing clip (16) can be attached or removed, the radial shaft seal (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that.

8. The seal ring (14) has plastic and / or the ring-shaped fixing clip (16) has a metallic material, the radial shaft seal (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that.

9. The seal ring (14) is formed by a 3D printing method, the radial shaft seal (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that.

10. In a bellows flange (100) having a cylindrical inner surface (101) provided with at least one flange groove (102) and the radial shaft seal (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, The bellows flange is characterized in that the ring-shaped fixing clip (16) can be engaged with the flange groove (102) at the installation position, thereby enabling axial fixation of the radial shaft seal (10).

11. Furthermore, a radial bearing (103) is provided, the radial bearing is adjacent to the stopper (104) of the bellows flange (100), and at least one O-ring (105) associated with the radial bearing (103) and at least one O-ring (25, 25') associated with the seal ring (14) are provided. The bellows flange (100) according to claim 10, characterized by this.

12. In an attachment method for attaching the radial shaft seal (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 9 to the bellows flange (100) according to any one of claims 10 and 11, The following steps - Compress the ring-shaped fixing clip (16) of the radial shaft seal (10) to the attachment position; - Partially introduce the radial shaft seal (10) into the bellows flange; - Introduce the shaft (13) into the seal ring (14) of the radial shaft seal (10) as follows, that is, until the ring-shaped fixing clip (16) is locked in the flange groove (102) and reaches the installation position, so that the radial shaft seal (10) can slide; - Preferably, further introduce the shaft (13) to a predetermined working position. A method characterized by this.

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