Abstract: A labyrinth seal assembly, bearing assembly therewith, and method of construction thereof, has an outer rigid carrier and an inner sleeve. The carrier has an outer cylindrical flange and a radially inwardly extending leg and the sleeve has a cylindrical wall and a radially outwardly extending flange. A seal body is attached to at least one of the leg and the flange, wherein a labyrinth passage extends between the seal body and the sleeve, from an air side of the assembly to an oil side of the assembly, during normal use of the assembly.

Abstract: An axle has a journal to which an antifriction bearing is fitted on an enlarged or dust guard section located beyond the journal, with a fillet leading from the journal up to the enlarged section. A backing ring fits over and against the fillet of the journal and has a counterbore that receives the adjacent end of the enlarged section. A stabilizing ring fits into the counterbore of the backing ring and around the enlarged section of the journal to stabilize the backing ring and thereby reduce radial and circumferential movement between it and the fillet of the journal. The stabilizing ring includes a rigidifying element that fits over the enlarged section of the axle with an interference fit and a more flexible compression member that lies within the counterbore where it exists in a state of compression between the counterbore and the rigidifying element. The stabilizing ring allows some microaxial movement of the backing ring.

Abstract: A labyrinth seal assembly, bearing assembly therewith, and method of construction thereof, has an outer rigid carrier and an inner sleeve. The carrier has an outer cylindrical flange and a radially inwardly extending leg and the sleeve has a cylindrical wall and a radially outwardly extending flange. A seal body is attached to at least one of the leg and the flange, wherein a labyrinth passage extends between the seal body and the sleeve, from an air side of the assembly to an oil side of the assembly, during normal use of the assembly.

Abstract: An axle (A) has a journal (2) to which an antifriction bearing (B) is fitted on an enlarged or dust guard section (4) located beyond the journal, with a fillet (6) leading from the journal up to the enlarged section. A backing ring (R) fits over and against the fillet of the journal and has a counterbore (48) that receives the adjacent end of the enlarged section. A stabilizing ring (S) fits into the counterbore of the backing ring and around the enlarged section of the journal to stabilize the backing ring and thereby reduce radial and circumferential movement between it and the fillet of the journal. The stabilizing ring includes a rigidifying element (54) that fits over the enlarged section of the axle with an interference fit and a more flexible compression member (56) that lies within the counterbore where it exists in a state of compression between the counterbore and the rigidifying element. The stabilizing ring allows some microaxial movement of the backing ring.

Abstract: A non-contact labyrinth seal assembly, bearing assembly therewith, and method of construction thereof, has an outer rigid carrier and an inner sleeve. The carrier has an outer cylindrical flange and a radially inwardly extending leg and the sleeve has a cylindrical wall and a radially outwardly extending flange. A body is attached to at least one of the leg and the flange, wherein the body provides, at least in part, a purely non-contact labyrinth passage extending between the carrier and the sleeve.

Abstract: An axle (A) has a journal (2) to which an antifriction bearing (B) is fitted on an enlarged or dust guard section (4) located beyond the journal, with a fillet (6) leading from the journal up to the enlarged section. A backing ring (R) fits over and against the fillet of the journal and has a counterbore (48) that receives the adjacent end of the enlarged section. A stabilizing ring (S) fits into the counterbore of the backing ring and around the enlarged section of the journal to stabilize the backing ring and thereby reduce radial and circumferential movement between it and the fillet of the journal. The stabilizing ring includes a rigidifying element (54) that fits over the enlarged section of the axle with an interference fit and a more flexible compression member (56) that lies within the counterbore where it exists in a state of compression between the counterbore and the rigidifying element. The stabilizing ring allows some microaxial movement of the backing ring.

Abstract: An axle has a journal to which an antifriction bearing is fitted on an enlarged or dust guard section located beyond the journal, with a fillet leading from the journal up to the enlarged section. A backing ring fits over and against the fillet of the journal and has a counterbore that receives the adjacent end of the enlarged section. A stabilizing ring fits into the counterbore of the backing ring and around the enlarged section of the journal to stabilize the backing ring and thereby reduce radial and circumferential movement between it and the fillet of the journal. The stabilizing ring includes a rigidifying element that fits over the enlarged section of the axle with an interference fit and a more flexible compression member that lies within the counterbore where it exists in a state of compression between the counterbore and the rigidifying element. The stabilizing ring allows some microaxial movement of the backing ring.

Abstract: A non-contact labyrinth seal assembly, bearing assembly therewith, and method of construction thereof, has an outer rigid carrier and an inner sleeve. The carrier has an outer cylindrical flange and a radially inwardly extending leg and the sleeve has a cylindrical wall and a radially outwardly extending flange. A body is attached to at least one of the leg and the flange, wherein the body provides, at least in part, a purely non-contact labyrinth passage extending between the carrier and the sleeve.

Abstract: A non-contact labyrinth seal assembly, bearing assembly therewith, and method of construction thereof, has an outer rigid carrier and an inner sleeve. The carrier has an outer cylindrical flange and a radially inwardly extending leg and the sleeve has a cylindrical wall and a radially outwardly extending flange. A body is attached to at least one of the leg and the flange, wherein the body provides, at least in part, a purely non-contact labyrinth passage extending between the carrier and the sleeve.

Abstract: A non-contact labyrinth seal assembly, bearing assembly therewith, and method of construction thereof, has an outer rigid carrier and an inner sleeve. The carrier has an outer cylindrical flange and a radially inwardly extending leg and the sleeve has a cylindrical wall and a radially outwardly extending flange. A body is attached to at least one of the leg and the flange, wherein the body provides, at least in part, a purely non-contact labyrinth passage extending between the carrier and the sleeve.

Abstract: A backing ring that serves to position an antifriction bearing on the journal of an axle for a railcar or locomotive carries a ring containing a corrosion inhibitor. During installation of the bearing on the journal, the backing ring is advanced over the journal followed by the bearing. When the axially directed force that advances the bearing over the journal is transmitted through the bearing to the backing and is resisted at the fillet, the corrosion inhibitor exudes from the backing ring and forms a coating on the fillet to inhibit fretting and other corrosion between the backing ring and the journal.

Abstract: A backing ring that serves to back an antifriction bearing on the journal of a rail car axle includes an annular body that seats against a fillet that is located at the end of the journal and also a lip that projects over a larger dust guard diameter that is located on the axle immediately beyond the fillet. In addition, the backing ring includes a stabilizing element which cooperates with the lip and with the dust guard diameter to lessen the tendency of the annular body to work against the fillet and create a fretting wear when the journal undergoes cyclic flexures. The stabilizing element accommodates dust guard diameters of varying size. The stabilizing element may also establish a seal between the lip and the dust guard diameter.