Seal with connecting insert

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9719598-B2
Application number	US-201514824415-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 12, 2015
Priority date	Aug 12, 2015
Publication date	Aug 1, 2017
Grant date	Aug 1, 2017

Abstract

A seal including a generally annular casing, a generally annular sealing element that is configured to seal with a relatively movable member, and an insert coupled with the sealing element and the casing. The insert substantially maintains a relative position of at least a portion of the casing and at least a portion of the sealing element.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A seal, comprising:
a generally annular casing comprising a radially-extending section and an axially-extending section connected to or integrally-formed with the radially-extending section;
a generally annular sealing element that is configured to seal with a relatively movable member; and
an insert coupled with the sealing element and the casing, wherein the insert substantially maintains a relative position of at least a portion of the casing and at least a portion of the sealing element,
wherein the radially-extending section of the casing is connected to the insert and at least a portion of the radially-extending section extends radially outward from the insert, and
wherein the axially-extending section of the casing is positioned radially outward from the sealing element and the insert, such that the insert is entirely radially inward of the axially-extending section.

2. The seal of claim 1 , wherein the insert is generally annular.

3. The seal of claim 1 , wherein the insert is bonded with the sealing element.

4. The seal of claim 1 , wherein the insert is disposed at least partially within a pocket of the sealing element.

5. The seal of claim 4 , wherein the sealing element further comprises a sealing ridge, the sealing ridge directly engaging the casing thereby forming a sealing engagement directly with the casing.

6. The seal of claim 4 , wherein the insert is embedded in the pocket, such that the sealing element defines an interface between the casing and the insert.

7. The seal of claim 4 , wherein the insert comprises a base disposed in the pocket and coupled with the sealing element, and a ledge extending axially from the base, wherein an end of the casing engages the ledge, and wherein the seal further comprises a connecting material directly in contact with the ledge and the casing.

8. The seal of claim 4 , wherein the insert comprises a base disposed in the pocket and coupled with the sealing element, and a ledge extending axially from the base, wherein the ledge defines a recess, an end of the casing being received into the recess, and the casing forming an interference fit with the ledge.

9. The seal of claim 1 , wherein the insert comprises a base coupled with the sealing element and a crimping extension extending from the base, wherein the crimping extension is configured to be deformed into engagement with the casing, to retain the casing in engagement with the insert.

10. The seal of claim 1 , wherein the insert comprises a base coupled with the sealing element and a radial extension extending from the base and engaging the casing.

11. The seal of claim 10 , wherein the sealing element comprises a first axial end and a second axial end, the insert being coupled with the sealing element proximal to or at the first axial end, and wherein the casing is connected to the insert at a connection location, the insert being disposed between the connection location and the second axial end.

12. The seal of claim 10 , wherein the radial extension is welded or soldered to the insert.

13. The seal of claim 1 , wherein the sealing element comprises a sealing lip on an inner diameter thereof, for sealing with the relatively movable member.

14. The seal of claim 1 , wherein the casing is formed from a metal or metal alloy, the insert is formed from a metal or metal alloy, and the sealing element is formed from an elastomer.

15. The seal of claim 1 , wherein the sealing element comprises a first axial end and a second axial end, the insert being coupled with the sealing element proximal to or at the first axial end, and wherein the casing is welded or soldered to the insert at a connection location, the casing being disposed between the connection location and the first axial end.

16. The seal of claim 1 , wherein further comprising a formable coupling material forming a sealing lip of the sealing element, the sealing lip being configured to seal with the relatively movable member, wherein the formable coupling material is connected with the insert and the sealing element.

17. The seal of claim 1 , wherein an interface between the insert and the casing is not fluid-tight, and wherein the sealing element is configured to prevent fluid flow between the insert and the casing.

18. The seal of claim 1 , further comprising an outer seal, wherein the axially-extending section of the casing defines a recess in which the outer seal is positioned, the outer seal being configured to seal between the casing and a bore of a housing, the outer seal being separate from the sealing element.

19. The seal of claim 1 , wherein an end of the casing is configured to be received into the insert after the insert is formed.

20. The seal of claim 1 , wherein a radially-inner end of the radially-extending section of the casing is directly connected to the insert.

21. A generally annular seal, comprising:
a sealing element disposed around and extending axially along a shaft, the sealing element comprising a lip configured to seal with the shaft, and the sealing element defining a pocket;
an insert attached to the sealing element and comprising a base disposed in the pocket and a radial extension extending outwards from the base; and
a casing comprising a radially-extending section attached to the insert and an axially-extending section connected to or integrally-formed with the radially extending section,
wherein at least a portion of the radially-extending section extends radially outward of the insert, and
wherein the axially-extending section is positioned radially outward of the sealing element and the insert, such that the insert is entirely radially inward of the axially-extending section.

22. The seal of claim 21 , wherein an axially-facing end of the casing is attached to an axially-facing surface of the radial extension of the insert.

23. The seal of claim 21 , wherein the shaft is movable with respect to the sealing element, the insert, and the casing.

24. The seal of claim 21 , wherein the sealing element is formed at least partially from a first material, and the insert is formed at least partially from a second material, the first material being less rigid than the second material.

Assignees

• Thomas Michael
• Skf Ab

Inventors

• Thomas Michael

Classifications

• F16J15/3252

  with rigid casings or supports · CPC title

• F16J15/3268 Primary

  Mounting of sealing rings · CPC title

• F16J15/3204 Primary

  with at least one lip · CPC title

• F16J15/3208

  provided with tension elements, e.g. elastic rings · CPC title