Seal installation guide sleeve

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9636810-B2
Application number	US-201615334493-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 26, 2016
Priority date	Mar 19, 2014
Publication date	May 2, 2017
Grant date	May 2, 2017

Abstract

A seal installation guide sleeve for installing a radial lip seal onto a shaft. The radial lip seal includes a flexible sealing lip. The guide sleeve includes a cylindrical lip engaging surface, and includes an annular flange portion extending from the cylindrical lip engaging surface. The guide sleeve also includes a plurality of tabs extending from the annular flange portion. The guide sleeve is pre-installed in the radial lip seal such that the flexible sealing lip engages the cylindrical lip engaging surface, thereby protecting the flexible sealing lip from damage as the radial lip seal is installed onto the shaft.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A seal installation guide sleeve for installing a radial lip seal onto a shaft via an installation tool comprising a plurality of lugs, the radial lip seal comprising a flexible sealing lip, the guide sleeve comprising:
a cylindrical lip engaging surface;
an annular flange portion extending from the cylindrical lip engaging surface; and
a plurality of tabs extending from the annular flange portion, each of the tabs having a first leg extending axially from the annular flange portion and a second leg angularly disposed from the first leg, each of the lugs having an axially extending third leg and a fourth leg angularly disposed from the third leg, the second legs of the plurality of tabs facing respectively the fourth legs of the plurality of lugs when the guide sleeve and the installation tool are engaged, the guide sleeve configured to be pre-installed in the radial lip seal such that the flexible sealing lip engages the cylindrical lip engaging surface, thereby protecting the flexible sealing lip from damage as the radial lip seal is installed onto the shaft.

2. The seal installation guide sleeve of claim 1 , wherein the guide sleeve has three tabs spaced 120° apart from one another.

3. The seal installation guide sleeve of claim 1 , wherein the guide sleeve has two tabs space 180° apart from one another.

4. The seal installation guide sleeve of claim 1 , wherein an inner diametrical surface of the cylindrical lip engaging surface does not radially overlap any radial inner portions of the plurality of tabs.

5. The seal installation guide sleeve of claim 1 , wherein an outer diametrical surface of the cylindrical lip engaging surface is a smooth surface.

6. The seal installation guide sleeve of claim 1 , wherein the guide sleeve is manufactured from a recyclable material.

7. The seal installation guide sleeve of claim 1 , wherein the guide sleeve is manufactured from polypropylene.

8. The seal installation guide sleeve of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of tabs are configured to matingly engage a plurality of lugs of an installation tool by rotating the installation tool.

9. The seal installation guide sleeve of claim 1 , wherein the first leg and the second leg are angularly disposed 90° relative to one another.

10. The seal installation guide sleeve of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of second legs are perpendicular to an axis defined by the cylindrical lip engaging surface.

11. The seal installation guide sleeve of claim 1 , wherein the guide sleeve is configured to be pre-installed in the radial lip seal via the fourth legs of the lugs pressing the annular flange portion.

12. The seal installation guide sleeve of claim 1 , wherein the guide sleeve is configured to be disengaged from the radial lip seal when the radial lip seal is installed onto the shaft.

13. The seal installation guide sleeve of claim 12 , wherein the guide sleeve is configured to be disengaged from the radial lip seal via the fourth legs of the lugs pulling on the second legs.

14. The seal installation guide sleeve of claim 13 , wherein the second legs contact respectively the fourth legs when the guide sleeve and the installation tool are engaged.

15. The seal installation guide sleeve of claim 11 , wherein the annular flange portion contacts the fourth legs when the guide sleeve and the installation tool are engaged.

16. The seal installation guide sleeve of claim 1 , wherein the second leg of each of the tabs and the annular flange portion cooperate to receive therebetween a respective one of the fourth legs when the guide sleeve and the installation tool are engaged.

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Lammers Eric T
• Schott Allan N
• Metz Blake A

Classifications

• F16J15/3268

  Mounting of sealing rings · CPC title

• B25B27/0028 Primary

  Tools for removing or installing seals (B25B27/0092 takes precedence) · CPC title