Two part seal assembly for a track roller bearing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10443650-B2
Application number	US-201815952897-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 13, 2018
Priority date	Apr 13, 2017
Publication date	Oct 15, 2019
Grant date	Oct 15, 2019

Abstract

A seal assembly for a bearing includes an inner seal member that has an annular ring with a first lobe extending therefrom and a seal receiving surface on a leg extending axially from the annular ring. The seal receiving surface has two seating areas. The seal assembly includes an outer seal member positioned radially inward from the leg and axially outward from the annular ring. The outer seal member has a pivot member which has a second lobe extending outwardly therefrom. The seal assembly includes a retaining ring that has a circumferential groove formed therein. The pivot member is pivotally seated in the groove so that the second lobe is moveable between the two first seating areas.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A seal assembly for a bearing, the seal assembly comprising:
an inner seal member comprising an annular ring having an axially inward facing surface and an axially outward facing surface, the annular ring having a first lobe extending outwardly from a radially outermost portion of the annular ring, the annular ring having a leg extending axially outward from the axially outward facing surface, proximate the first lobe, a seal receiving surface extending along a portion of the axially outward facing surface and along a radially inward facing surface of the leg, the seal receiving surface having a first seating area and a second seating area;
an outer seal member positioned radially inward from the leg and axially outward from the axially outward facing surface of the annular ring, the outer seal member comprising a pivot member having a second lobe extending outwardly therefrom;
a retaining ring having a circumferential groove formed therein, the retaining ring being positioned axially outward of the annular ring and radially inward from the leg; and
the pivot member being pivotally seated in the groove so that the second lobe is moveable between the first seating area and the second seating area.

2. The seal assembly of claim 1 , wherein the seal receiving surface comprises an arcuate segment.

3. The seal assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first lobe comprises a biasing property that is configured to align the annular ring in the bearing.

4. The seal assembly of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the retaining ring and a portion of the axially outward facing surface are in rotational sliding engagement with one another.

5. The seal assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second lobe is in rotational sliding engagement with a portion of the seal receiving surface.

6. The seal assembly of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the pivot member is in rotational sliding engagement with the groove.

7. The seal assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the inner seal member and the outer seal member comprises a plastic material.

8. A track roller bearing comprising:
an inner race having an outer surface extending between a first axial end and a second axial end of the inner race and the outer surface extending circumferentially around the inner race;
an outer race having an inner surface extending between a third axial end and a fourth axial end of the outer race and the inner surface extending circumferentially in the outer race;
the inner race being positioned coaxially in the outer race such that a cavity is formed between the outer surface and the inner surface;
a plurality of rolling elements disposed in the cavity and in rolling engagement with a portion of the inner surface and the outer surface; and
a seal assembly secured to a portion of the outer race, the seal assembly comprising:
an inner seal member comprising an annular ring having an axially inward facing surface and an axially outward facing surface, the annular ring having a first lobe extending outwardly from a radially outermost portion of the annular ring, the annular ring having a leg extending axially outward from the axially outward facing surface, proximate the first lobe, a seal receiving surface extending along a portion of the axially outward facing surface and along a radially inward facing surface of the leg, the seal receiving surface having a first seating area and a second seating area;
an outer seal member positioned radially inward from the leg and axially outward from the axially outward facing surface of the annular ring, the outer seal member comprising a pivot member having a second lobe extending outwardly therefrom;
a retaining ring having a circumferential groove formed therein, the retaining ring being positioned axially outward of the annular ring and radially inward from the leg; and
the pivot member being pivotally seated in the groove so that the second lobe is moveable between the first seating area and the second seating area.

9. The track roller bearing of claim 8 , wherein the retaining ring is configured to rotate with the inner race.

10. The track roller bearing of claim 8 , further comprising at least one barrier for preventing introduction of a lubricant into the cavity when the track roller bearing is assembled.

11. The track roller bearing of claim 10 , wherein the at least one barrier comprises:
the outer surface extends continuously between the first axial end and the second axial end of the inner race and the outer surface extends circumferentially around the inner race; and
the inner surface extends continuously between the third axial end and the fourth axial end of the outer race and the inner surface extends continuously circumferentially in the outer race.

12. The track roller bearing of claim 8 , wherein at least one of the third axial end and the fourth axial end of the outer race comprises a radially inward facing groove in which the first lobe is seated such that the axially inward facing surface of the inner seal member frictionally engages the respective one of opposing axial faces of the outer race.

13. The track roller bearing of claim 8 , wherein at least one of the third axial end and the fourth axial end of the outer race comprises a radially inward facing lip that engages a radially outward facing surface of the leg of the inner seal member to maintain a continuous circumferential engagement of the radially inward facing surface of the leg with the second lobe.

14. The track roller bearing of claim 8 , wherein the seal receiving area comprises an arcuate segment.

15. The track roller bearing of claim 8 , wherein the first lobe comprises a biasing property that is configured to align the annular ring in the bearing.

16. The track roller bearing of claim 8 , wherein a portion of the retaining ring and a portion of the axially outward facing surface are in rotational sliding engagement with one another.

17. The track roller bearing of claim 8 , wherein the second lobe is in rotational sliding engagement with a portion of the seal receiving surface.

18. The track roller bearing of claim 8 , wherein a portion of the pivot member is in rotational sliding engagement with the groove.

19. The track roller bearing of claim 8 , wherein at least one of the inner seal member and the outer seal member comprises a plastic material.

Assignees

• Roller Bearing Co America Inc

Inventors

• Smith Phil
• Swartley Curtis
• Richard Nolan

Classifications

• F16C33/7896

  with two or more discrete sealings arranged in series · CPC title

• F16C33/7879

  with a further sealing ring · CPC title

• F16C13/006

  Guiding rollers, wheels or the like, formed by or on the outer element of a single bearing or bearing unit, e.g. two adjacent bearings, whose ratio of length to diameter is generally less than one · CPC title

• F16C19/06

  with a single row or balls · CPC title

• F16C2300/02

  General use or purpose, i.e. no use, purpose, special adaptation or modification indicated or a wide variety of uses mentioned · CPC title