Load ring for seal assembly and seal assembly of machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9822883-B2
Application number	US-201615361637-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 28, 2016
Priority date	Dec 1, 2015
Publication date	Nov 21, 2017
Grant date	Nov 21, 2017

Abstract

A load ring for a seal assembly includes an inner axial surface, an outer axial surface, a first frustoconical surface, a second frustoconical surface, and a rib. The inner and outer axial surfaces are cylindrical and extend along a longitudinal axis. The outer axial surface is in outward radial relationship to the inner axial surface along a radial plane which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The first and second frustoconical surfaces are annular and extend radially between the inner axial surface and the outer axial surface. The second frustoconical surface is in spaced relationship with respect to the first frustoconical surface along the longitudinal axis. The rib projects radially inwardly from the inner axial surface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A load ring for a seal assembly, the load ring comprising:
an inner axial surface, the inner axial surface being cylindrical and extending between an inner seal end and an inner load end thereof along a longitudinal axis;
an outer axial surface, the outer axial surface being cylindrical and extending between an outer seal end and an outer load end thereof along the longitudinal axis, the outer axial surface in outward radial relationship and parallel to the inner axial surface along a radial plane, the radial plane being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;
a first frustoconical surface, the first frustoconical surface being annular and extending between a first inner face end and a first outer face end thereof, and wherein the first frustoconical surface extends radially between the inner axial surface and the outer axial surface;
a second frustoconical surface, the second frustoconical surface being annular and extending between a second inner face end and a second outer face end thereof, and wherein the second frustoconical surface extends radially between the inner axial surface and the outer axial surface, the second frustoconical surface being in spaced relationship with respect to the first frustoconical surface along the longitudinal axis;
a rib, an inner base surface, an outer chamfer surface, a retention tab, and an inner chamfer surface;
the rib projecting radially inwardly from the inner axial surface, wherein the rib is annular, circumscribes the inner axial surface, and includes a load edge, a seal edge, a rib apex, a first inclined surface, and a second inclined surface, and wherein the load edge of the rib is axially aligned with the inner base surface;
the inner base surface being annular, interposed between the inner axial surface and the second frustoconical surface, perpendicular to the inner axial surface, and parallel to the radial plane, wherein the inner base surface extends radially between an inner base edge and an outer base edge, and wherein the outer base edge of the inner base surface is contiguous with the second inner face end of the second frustoconical surface, and the inner base edge of the inner base surface is contiguous with the rib;
the outer chamfer surface being annular and interposed between the second frustoconical surface and the outer axial surface;
the retention tab being annular and interposed between the first frustoconical surface and the outer axial surface, the retention tab extending radially outwardly relative to the outer axial surface;
the inner chamfer surface being annular and interposed between the inner axial surface and the first frustoconical surface;
wherein the inner chamfer surface is disposed at a first chamfer angle relative to the inner axial surface, and the outer chamfer surface is disposed at a second chamfer angle relative to the outer axial surface, the first chamfer angle being substantially the same as the second chamfer angle such that the inner chamfer surface is parallel to the outer chamfer surface;
wherein the first chamfer angle of the inner chamfer surface is configured to generate stress concentrations such that the inner axial surface sealingly engages a seal ramp portion of a seal ring, and such that the first frustoconical surface sealingly engages a seating portion of the seal ring; and
wherein the second chamfer angle of the outer chamfer surface is configured to generate stress concentrations such that the outer axial surface sealingly engages a load ramp portion of a load ring engagement surface of a first member, and such that the second frustoconical surface sealingly engages an annular base portion of the load ring engagement surface of the first member.

2. The load ring of claim 1 , wherein the first frustoconical surface is in inclined relationship with the radial plane at a first incline angle, and the second frustoconical surface is in inclined relationship with the radial plane at a second incline angle, the first incline angle and the second incline angle each being oblique.

3. The load ring of claim 2 , wherein the first incline angle is a reflex angle and is greater than the second incline angle by about one hundred eighty degrees.

4. A seal assembly comprising:
a first member and a second member, the first member being rotatable about a longitudinal axis with respect to the second member, the first member and the second member each including a load ring engagement surface, the load ring engagement surface of at least one of the first member and the second member defining, at least in part, a seal cavity interposed between the first member and the second member;
a first seal ring and a second seal ring, the first seal ring and the second seal ring each having a load end and a seal end in spaced relationship to each other along the longitudinal axis, a loading surface extending along the longitudinal axis, and a sealing face disposed at the seal end and extending radially with respect to the longitudinal axis, the first seal ring and the second seal ring abutting one another such that the sealing face of the first seal ring and the sealing face of the second seal ring are in contacting relationship with each other; and
a first load ring and a second load ring, the first load ring engaging the load ring engagement surface of the first member and the loading surface of the first seal ring, the second load ring engaging the load ring engagement surface of the second member and the loading surface of the second seal ring;
wherein at least one of the first load ring and the second load ring includes:
an inner axial surface, the inner axial surface being cylindrical and extending along the longitudinal axis,
an outer axial surface, the outer axial surface being cylindrical and extending along the longitudinal axis, the outer axial surface in outward radial relationship to the inner axial surface along a radial plane, the radial plane being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis,
a first frustoconical surface, the first frustoconical surface being annular and extending radially between the inner axial surface and the outer axial surface,
a second frustoconical surface, the second frustoconical surface being annular and extending radially between the inner axial surface and the outer axial surface, the second frustoconical surface being in spaced relationship with respect to the first frustoconical surface along the longitudinal axis;
a rib, an inner base surface, an outer chamfer surface, a retention tab, and an inner chamfer surface;
the rib projecting radially inwardly from the inner axial surface, wherein the rib is annular, circumscribes the inner axial surface, and includes a load edge, a seal edge, a rib apex, a first inclined surface, and a second inclined surface, and wherein the load edge of the rib is axially aligned with the inner base surface;
the inner base surface being annular, interposed between the inner axial surface and the second frustoconical surface, perpendicular to the inner axial surface, and parallel to the radial plane, wherein the inner base surface extends radially between an inner base edge and an outer base edge, and wherein the outer base edge of the inner base surface is contiguous with the second inner face end of the second frustoconical surface, and the inner base edge of the inner base surface is contiguous with the rib;
the outer chamfer surface being annular and interposed between the second frustoconical surface and the outer axial surface;
the retention tab being annular and interposed between the first frustoconical surface and the outer axial surface, the retention tab extending radially outwardly relative to the outer axial surface;
the inner chamfer surface being annular and interposed between the inner axial surface and the first frustoconical surface;
wherei

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Antoine Darren B
• Mathew Sunil I
• Chapagain Pradeep
• Skauge Brian S

Classifications

• B62D55/088

  with means to exclude or remove foreign matter, e.g. sealing means, self-cleaning track links or sprockets, deflector plates or scrapers · CPC title

• B62D55/15

  Mounting devices, e.g. bushings, axles, bearings, sealings {(with lubrication means B62D55/092)} · CPC title

• B62D55/06

  with tracks without ground wheels · CPC title

• F16J15/36

  connected by a diaphragm {or bellow} to the other member · CPC title

• F16J15/344 Primary

  the pressing force being applied by means of an elastic ring supporting the slip-ring · CPC title