Dimensional Aspect Of The Flexible Projection (e.g., Angle, Length, Radius, Thickness, Etc.) Patents (Class 277/560)
  • Patent number: 6523833
    Abstract: A ring-shaped low load seal attached into a ring-shaped dovetail groove having an opening portion, a first side wall face, a second side wall face, and a bottom wall face. This seal has a trileaf cross-sectional configuration composed of a first arc portion, a second arc portion, a protruding portion, and a concave portion disposed between the first arc portion and the second arc portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Cable Industries, Ltd., SMC Corporation
    Inventors: Tsuneo Ishigaki, Mamoru Fukuda, Yasuyuki Nishimura, Kazumasa Nishida
  • Patent number: 6520506
    Abstract: A radial shaft seal, which includes a ring-shaped, metal supporting body and a sealing lip disposed thereon, in order to separate a hydraulic side that is particularly under high pressure, from an atmospheric side, the sealing lip being pressed onto the shaft by an annular helical spring. In an uninstalled sealing ring, the working plane of the annular helical spring has a value x that is less than zero with respect to the working plane of the sealing edge, and in an installed sealing ring, the two working planes are approximately coplanar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Firma Carl Freudenberg
    Inventors: Hans Reinhardt, Rolf Stadler, Rolf Vogt
  • Patent number: 6520507
    Abstract: A sealing sleeve made of a polymer material especially for small-dimension installation spaces, the sealing sleeve having a retaining segment and a sealing segment, the retaining segment being connected to a supporting body and the sealing segment on the peripheral side encircling a shaft to be sealed or a barrel ring in a sealing manner under radial biasing and having on the side facing the shaft a surface profiling for recirculating the lubricant, wherein the connecting diameter (interior diameter (D) of the enclosing part (31)) is 1.0 to 1.05 times the shaft diameter (W) plus four times the sleeve thickness (d).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Firma Carl Freudenberg
    Inventors: Gilbert Pataille, Boris Tchilingurian
  • Patent number: 6517082
    Abstract: An elastomer lip member with its rear supported by a pressure resisting back-up ring, and a synthetic resin lip member arranged on a rear side of the elastomer lip are comprised, and on the inner circumferential surface of the seal lip portion of the elastomer lip member, helical grooves generating a pumping action of a fluid introducing direction from an inner space of machine side when a shaft rotates are formed. When a pressure in the inner space of machine is MPa (gage), by making a contact width between the seal lip portion of the elastomer lip member and a shaft at least 0.6 mm, so that a surface pressure maximum portion of the seal lip portion of the elastomer lip member to the shaft is biased or maldistributed toward its rear side whereby a fluid introduction by said helical grooves is performed satisfactorily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho, Eagle Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Yamada, Takayuki Imai, Yasuhiro Ikeda
  • Patent number: 6513810
    Abstract: A sealing ring, including a support ring made of an impact-resistant material, and a lip ring made of PTFE, where the lip ring has a holding segment and a sealing segment, and where the holding segment is connected with the support ring by an intermediate layer made of a polymer material. The holding segment and the sealing segment are made of two different PTFE compounds, each adapted to their purpose of use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: Firma Carl Freudenberg
    Inventor: Gilbert Pataille
  • Patent number: 6511075
    Abstract: An elastomer seal between a piston and a cylinder or a shaft of an automatic automobile transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Dichtungstechnik G. Bruss GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Henning Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20030015843
    Abstract: A seal system for use in high speed, high pressure applications including a rigid retainer and a resilient body covering the retainer having pressure balancing control. Reduced clearance of the metal case retainer prevents seal extrusion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2002
    Publication date: January 23, 2003
    Inventors: Timothy Troy Smith, Larry J. Castleman
  • Patent number: 6497415
    Abstract: The present seal system is in two parts. First is that of an elastomer energizer, which may be in the shape of a square ring, o-ring, or an other custom design for energizing the seal system. Second is that of a seal element having a particular geometry and composition. The geometric layout of the seal element ensures firm contact between the seal and groove bottom, independently of the seal pressure and radial position of the moving part, and concentrates contact forces against the moving part by means of a seal apex. In the installed state, the seal is forced into contact with the groove bottom by having an outer diameter matching or exceeding that of the groove bottom, and a radial height exceeding that of the housing groove. Further, the influence of the compression ring or energizer is balanced out by positioning the seal apex near the axial position of the center of the energizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Assignee: TI Specialty Polymer Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry J. Castleman, Gert Iverson
  • Patent number: 6494462
    Abstract: A hydrodynamic seal for location in a seal groove of a structure, such as a housing and for dynamic sealing engagement with a relatively rotatable surface. Elevated contact pressure zones caused by pressure manipulation features located at least partially on the dynamic sealing surface of the seal provide for controlled lubricant movement within the dynamic sealing interface between the seal and the relatively rotatable surface for enhanced lubrication of the seal even when the seal defines a wide sealing footprint with the relatively rotatable surface. The pressure manipulation feature may be defined by projections at least partially from the dynamic sealing lip which are compressed against the relatively rotatable surface or depressions which define pressure manipulating edges which react with the lubricant in the dynamic sealing interface responsive to relative rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Kalsi Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Lannie L. Dietle
  • Patent number: 6485256
    Abstract: A seal apparatus is comprised of a seal ring 13 and a singer 14 in combination to prevent foreign matter from progressing into the rolling bearing 6a. The amount of compression &dgr; of the second seal lip 23, which occurs when the tip edge of the second seal lip 23 of the seal ring 13 comes in contact with the outside surface of the singer 14, is at least {fraction (1/10)}and up to {fraction (7/10)}the height of the second seal lip 23 in the free state. In addition, the roughness of a portion of the outside surface of the singer 14 which the tip edge of the second seal lip 23 comes in sliding contact with is from 0.2&mgr;m to 2.0&mgr;m in the arithmetic mean Ra, or is from 0.8 &mgr;m to 8.0 &mgr;m in the maximum height Ry. Consequently, a structure of a water pump is provided without increasing the cost thereof, or without enlarging the size to improve the durability of the water pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventor: Masamichi Iketani
  • Patent number: 6481721
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for maintaining the pressure in an overclad tube at a reduced level despite axial movement of the tube during performance of an RIT overcladding operation. The overcladding tube is held by means of the lathe chuck, and a tubular extension of a rotary union member extends into the tube. The distal end of the extension has a sealing member replaceably mounted thereon which forms a seal with the interior wall of the tube. A vacuum source thus is enabled to connect to the interior of the overcladding tube through the rotary union, the extension tube, and the seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Michael Mueller, Srinivas Vemury
  • Publication number: 20020153665
    Abstract: A rod or piston primary seal, which includes a primary seal (2) facing the space (1) to be sealed and a secondary seal (3) facing away from it, in which the primary seal (2) is fitted into the groove (4), of a holding element (5), open in the direction of the relatively movable machine part (11) which is bounded, on the side facing away from the space (1) to be sealed, by a first side surface (7) which extends essentially at right angles to the sealing axis (6), and includes a sealing edge ring (8) made of tough, hard plastic which has a sealing edge (9) lying adjacent to the machine part (11) and is pressed with its sealing edge (9) onto the machine part (11) by a profile ring (10) made of elastomeric material which is supported on the bottom surface (12) of groove (4) and lies adjacent to sealing edge ring (8) with its inner surface (13), the sealing edge ring (8) having a profile bounded essentially by a right angle between the sealing edge (9) and the bounding surface (14) facing the first side surface (7
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2002
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Inventors: Dieter Von Borstel, Gunter Reichow, Hans-Jurgen Timmermann
  • Patent number: 6431552
    Abstract: A rotary shaft sealing system comprising a rotary lip seal and its associated retention gland, wherein the each of the seal and the gland are complimentary of the other within the environment of use. The system is particularly adapted for the sealing of a rotary shaft in an environment wherein the hydraulic pressure upon the fluid within the gland is at least 20 psi, or higher; and, such fluid pressure within the gland is further subject to variation or surges at the time of start-up and/or during operation/use of the rotary shaft. The retention gland geometry assists in the direction and application of hydraulic pressure against the seal so as to increase the radial contact force between the seal lip and the rotary shaft, thus, insuring more complete and effective sealing at this contact interface. The seal of this system is preferable pre-loaded so as to apply positive sealing pressure against the rotary shaft both prior to and during use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Improved Materials Strategies, Inc.
    Inventor: Don Ulrich
  • Patent number: 6409177
    Abstract: A radial shaft seal with a membrane is disclosed. The surface of the membrane is in sealing contact with the shaft. A plurality of inclined waves are formed in the surface in response to shear stresses formed by movement of one of the support rings relative to the other. The inclined waves are generally elliptical in shape and form an undulating surface. The direction of the inclined waves can be changed in response to shaft rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Freudenberg-Nok General Partnership
    Inventor: David E. Johnston
  • Patent number: 6406026
    Abstract: A unitary sleeve lip seal can be used to provide permanently lubricated sealed bearings in severe service conditions such as the track pins of track-driven vehicles and agricultural equipment. The seal has a labyrinthine exclusion path and multiple dust lips contacting the sleeve in addition to the main sealing lip. A garter spring encircling the main sealing lip may enable the seal to operate at moderately elevated pressures. The sleeve has a radial flange at the outermost end. Elastomeric lips extend between the sleeve flange and a faceplate that terminates the outside end of the seal housing. The seal is packed with water-resistant grease and can, when installed in association with grease-packed bearings can create a permanently lubricated bearing/shaft assembly that requires no re-greasing. Resilient coatings both protect the sleeve and case and also improve leak resistance, especially when the seal is retrofitted onto shafts that have been damaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Transcom, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael R. Oldenburg
  • Patent number: 6382634
    Abstract: A hydrodynamically lubricating seal has a generally circular seal body defining a static sealing surface and having a dynamic sealing lip projecting from the seal body and defining a dynamic sealing surface, a non-hydrodynamic edge and a non-circular angulated flank having a flank angle. The flank angle and the dynamic sealing surface have theoretical intersection being positioned from the non-hydrodynamic edge by a variable distance having a minimum dimension being greater than {fraction (1/16)} inch and also having a maximum dimension. The circular seal body defines a theoretical center-line and, when viewed in a longitudinal cross-section taken along the theoretical center-line, a hydrodynamic inlet curve is shown that blends the theoretical intersection between the flank angle and the dynamic sealing surface. This hydrodynamic inlet curve is tangent to the dynamic sealing surface at a location of tangency and has a rate of curvature less than the rate of curvature of a ⅛ inch radius.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Kalsi Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Lannie L. Dietle, Manmohan S. Kalsi
  • Patent number: 6367811
    Abstract: A rotating shaft seal provided with a seal element, arranged between a housing and a rotation shaft, which contacts the rotation shaft, and a seal member made of rubber having a lip end portion, disposed on a fluid storing chamber side to the seal element, which contacts the rotation shaft, comprising a supporting metal for supporting a rear face of the seal member of rubber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Cable Industries, Ltd., Kabushiki Kaisya Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Atsushi Hosokawa, Hiromi Obata, Takeshi Baba, Tomoya Inagaki, Toshiro Fujii, Takayuki Imai, Naoya Yokomachi, Kazuo Murakami
  • Patent number: 6357757
    Abstract: A seal assembly having a case, an annular seal member and an annular guide member. The case is adapted to be mounted to a housing within a bore. The annular seal member is coupled to the case and extends radially inward therefrom. A seal lip is formed into the annular seal member and is adapted to provide a seal between the housing and a shaft. The annular guide member is coupled to one of the case and the seal member and extends radially inward therefrom. The annular guide includes an inner tip which extends radially inward beyond the seal lip when the seal assembly is in a free state disengaged from the shaft. The inner tip of the annular guide is adapted to protect the sealing integrity of the seal lip when the seal assembly and the shaft are assembled to one another. A method for installing a seal assembly with a guide member is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: John Clinton Hibbler, David Marshall Morse, Rajendra G. Kumashi
  • Patent number: 6336638
    Abstract: A radial shaft seal with a sealing disk made of a polymer material which curves towards a space that is sealed as the sealing disk radially approaches a shaft with respect to which it forms a seal. The sealing disk has a first surface profiling on the side facing the shaft and a second surface profiling on the side facing away from the shaft, the first surface profiling being formed by sawtooth recesses arranged adjacent to one another axially at a distance. The first bordering surfaces of the recesses facing the space to be sealed form a smaller angle with the shaft than second bordering surfaces of the recesses facing away from the space to be sealed. The second surface profiling is formed by essentially U-shaped recesses which are open on the side facing away from the shaft and are arranged adjacent to one another with an axial distance between them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2002
    Assignee: Firma Carl Freudenberg
    Inventors: Wolfgang Guth, Werner Hufnagel
  • Patent number: 6334620
    Abstract: The invention relates to a bellows seal for pivot joints, wherein a first end of the bellows is tightly and rigidly connected to the joint housing. The second end of the bellow tightly and annularly surrounds a tappet and has a radial and sealing surface. Said surface is a front face divided into an inner concave ring surface and an outer concave ring surface. In relation to the axis of the bellow, the angle of inclination of the ring surfaces is approximately &agr;=70° for the external ring surface and approximately &bgr;=80° for the inner ring surface. The radial extension of the outer ring surface is approximately 12% in relation to the radius of the outer ring surface of the ring flange of the second end of the bellow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2002
    Assignee: TRW Fahrwerksysteme GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Reinhard Reetz, Helmut Reichelt, Josef Reutter, Herbert Schwarz, Walter Ulke, Bernd Hermans, Ulrich Mette, Karl-Rainer Raukamp
  • Patent number: 6325383
    Abstract: A sealing arrangement having two machine parts which are moved relative to one another and which enclose a sealing ring, the sealing arrangement having a radially internal retaining part, a radially external sealing part, and a resilient connecting part joining these two. The sealing part is prestressed with respect to the radially outward opposing sealing surface exclusively by the elongation of the holding part while the diameter of the sealing part remains unchanged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Firma Carl Freudenberg
    Inventors: Otto Kahle, Hans Werther
  • Patent number: 6322082
    Abstract: A fluid seal for installation in a high pressure environment. The seal casing comprises a casing member with an axial flange and a radial flange. The seal includes a rubber lip body and a flex neck section forming a pocket in which a synthetic resinous anti-extrusion insert is trapped. A radial flange of the casing includes on its innermost axial surface a plurality of shallow, spaced apart re-entrant formations, and the anti-extrusion insert in use overlying and covering at least the re-entrant portion of a face of the radial flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: SKF USA Inc.
    Inventor: Alex Paykin
  • Patent number: 6315302
    Abstract: A novel hydrodynamically lubricated compression type rotary seal that is suitable for lubricant retention and environmental exclusion. Particularly, the seal geometry ensures constraint of a hydrodynamic seal in a manner preventing skew-induced wear and provides adequate room within the seal gland to accommodate thermal expansion. The seal accommodates large as-manufactured variations in the coefficient of thermal expansion of the sealing material, provides a relatively stiff integral spring effect to minimize pressure-induced shuttling of the seal within the gland, and also maintains interfacial contact pressure within the dynamic sealing interface in an optimum range for efficient hydrodynamic lubrication and environment exclusion. The seal geometry also provides for complete support about the circumference of the seal to receive environmental pressure, as compared the interrupted character of seal support set forth in U.S. Pat. Nos.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Kalsi Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: William T. Conroy, Lannie L. Dietle, Jeffrey D. Gobeli, Manmohan S. Kalsi
  • Patent number: 6302403
    Abstract: A sealing assembly for two mechanical members connected for relative rotation; a first mechanical member is fitted integrally with a substantially rigid shield, from which projects radially an annular sealing member having, on a respective first annular face, a first and a second axial sealing lip, both cooperating in sliding manner with a sealing surface of a second mechanical member; when the first annular face of the annular sealing member is subjected to a pressure substantially equal to the pressure on a second annular face, opposite the first, of the annular sealing member, only the first lip cooperates in sliding manner with the sealing surface, and the second lip mates, with no interference, with the sealing surface to permit fluid passage; conversely, when the first annular face is subjected to a pressure significantly lower than the pressure on the opposite second annular face, the annular sealing member is deformed elastically so that the second lip also cooperates in sliding manner with the sealin
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: SKF Industrie S.p.A.
    Inventors: Gianfranco Pairone, Fabrizio Avaro, Mario Micca
  • Patent number: 6273430
    Abstract: An oil seal or fluid seal for providing a seal between a cylinder and a piston rod is provided. The oil seal has an annular seal lip which has on a conical inner circumferential surface thereof a plurality of annular projections which are arranged axially of the seal lip. One of the annular projections which is located more axially outside of the cylinder is larger in the height above the inner circumferential surface than one of the annular projections which is located more axially inside of the cylinder. By this, under a condition where the annular projections which are located more axially inside of the cylinder are subjected to a high pressure within the cylinder, the annular projections which are located more axially inside of the cylinder and the annular projections which are located more axially outside of the cylinder are nearly equal in the contact pressure against the piston rod, thus causing all of the annular projections to deform nearly equally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: Unisia Jecs Corporation
    Inventors: Issei Kanari, Michiya Hiramoto
  • Patent number: 6206380
    Abstract: A seal device for the rolling bearing has an inner seal lip which never turns over when the inner seal lip with its tip end edge separated from the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion of the slinger is fitted onto the cylindrical portion of the slinger, so that the inner seal lip is not resiliently deformed, or very little resiliently deformed while the tip end edge of the inner seal lip is fitted onto the cylindrical portion of the slinger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroya Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 6203022
    Abstract: An annular sealing element (16) for sealing an annular gap between the inner surface of a cylindrical wall and a cylindrical piston which can be displaced axially relative to said wall and is arranged concentrically therewith, has two separate annular and axially adjoining parts (42, 44), of which the first part (42) consists of an elastomer material and the second part (44) consists of a rigid material. In order to ensure, in conjunction with a displaceable body of a valve, that the opening and closing behavior of the valve is as constant as possible, the two parts (42, 44) are connected to one another in a releasable manner, and the part (44) made of rigid material has an axial protrusion (46) which is formed integrally with it, runs around it in the form of a ring, passes more or less to the full extent through the part (42) made of elastomer material and has its end surface covered over to the full extent by the part (42) made of elastomer material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignees: Lucas Industries public limited, Contitech Forteile GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Struschka, Ulrich Beier
  • Patent number: 6189894
    Abstract: A packing member has a unique improved geometry particularly adapted to the manufacture of urethane seal having a Shore A hardness of from about 90 to about 100, the packing member including an annular body defining a central opening and an annular axis, the annular body having an upper sealing portion and a lower support portion and a groove extending into the upper sealing portion, the groove having an outer outwardly inclined wall, an inner inwardly wall and a bottom wall; the upper sealing portion of the annular body including radially extending inner and outer sealing lips formed adjacent to at least a portion of the groove, the outer sealing lip extending axially beyond the inner sealing lip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: The Texacone Company
    Inventor: Wallace T. Wheeler
  • Patent number: 6182975
    Abstract: The follow-up performance to the operation of a shaft is improved by forming an annular space between a rubber seal lip formed of a rubber-like elastic material and a resin seal lip so as to prevent the resin seal lip from interfering with the rubber seal lip. The follow-up performance to the shaft is further improved by increasing the flexibility of the resin seal lip by forming a plurality of annular grooves parallel to one another to the side surface of the annular gap side of the resin seal lip. A PTFE sheet is inserted as in the form of a flat washer shape into a mold, it is adhesively baked to a first seal member formed of rubber together with the vulcanization formation, a plurality of annular grooves and a helical groove are formed to the PTFE sheet by utilizing a mold clamping pressure, and the PTFE sheet is bent at the mold separation time after the molding process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: NOK Corporation
    Inventors: Noboru Matsushima, Satoshi Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 6173961
    Abstract: An improved seal assembly (142) is used in a power steering system (10) having an axially reciprocatable shaft (36). The seal assembly (142) has an inner side (164) which is exposed to hydraulic fluid. The seal assembly (142) includes a flexible lip (148) having a circular line (152) of minimum diameter. An annular coil spring (158) is disposed in engagement with a side of the flexible lip opposite from the line (152) of minimum diameter. The coil spring (158) has a circular central axis (170) which is axially offset from a plane containing the line (152) of minimum diameter of the flexible lip (148). The circular central axis (170) of the coil spring (158) is offset from the line (152) of minimum diameter of the flexible lip (148) in a direction toward the inner side (164) of the seal assembly (142) prior to installation of the seal assembly in the power steering system (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Assignee: TRW Inc.
    Inventor: Jon W. Martin
  • Patent number: 6168164
    Abstract: A hydrodynamic shaft seal assembly and method of forming hydrodynamic grooves involves forming a spiraling open channel portion in the face of the seal element, and cutting a flex-enhancing portion extending from the open channel portion further into the seal element to enhance the flexibility of the seal without further enlarging the open channel portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul World Wide, Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Toth, Stanley N. Smith
  • Patent number: 6161834
    Abstract: A seal is provided for an offshore fluid swivel to seal a gap passage (34) leading from a transfer chamber (20) to the environment, which uses pressured fluid to apply a variable pressure that pushes the seal tightly against a sealed surface (52) on one side of the gap passage. In one arrangement, a ring-shaped seal device includes a seal body (82) of largely U-shaped cross-section, with a base (84) and a pair of legs (86, 88) extending from opposite sides of the base, with the base and at least one leg sealing against walls of the cavity that holds the seal. A hose (90) lies between the two legs and against the base of the seal body, and pressured fluid of greater than chamber fluid pressure is applied to the hose to expand it and thereby push apart the legs of the seal body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: Imadco, Inc.
    Inventors: Jack Pollack, Robert M Hobson
  • Patent number: 6149163
    Abstract: The sealing ring seals between relatively rotating and vibrating machine parts such as parts of an aircraft propeller, and has several sealing lands. The shape and configuration of the lands are selected so that natural vibration frequencies of the ring or lands are not vibration frequencies to which the ring is subject in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Dowty Aerospace Gloucester Limited
    Inventors: Thomas Noel Brown, Stephen John Bowen Parker
  • Patent number: 6123514
    Abstract: A sealing structure for the shaft of a compressor. The sealing apparatus includes an inner ring, and outer ring, and a support ring. The inner ring and the outer rings have flexible annular lips that contact the surface of the rotary shaft. The support ring supports the inner lip and determines the position of the inner lip. The first lip permits fluid leakage along the surface of the shaft, while the second lip forms a fluid-tight seal with the shaft. The support ring prevents the internal pressure of the compressor from pressing the first lip against the shaft with excessive force, which extends the life of the sealing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakushi
    Inventors: Masahiro Kawaguchi, Hiroshi Kubo, Tomohiko Yokono, Shintaro Miura, Takuya Okuno, Eiji Tokunaga, Atsuyuki Morishita, Ken Suitou
  • Patent number: 6116613
    Abstract: A wiper seal is disclosed which includes an elastomeric member having a metal support member adhesively bonded thereto. The elastomeric member has a first substantially flat surface that is perpendicular to a reference axis of the wiper seal, an outer peripheral surface that is substantially parallel with the reference axis, and an inner peripheral surface that forms an acute angle with the reference axis. The metal support member has a first leg portion that coincides with the outer peripheral surface and a second leg portion that coincides with the substantially flat perpendicular surface. The intersection of the first and second leg portions forms a generally sharp corner or at least a predetermined minimum radius size. When the wiper seal is installed in a recess of a housing, the substantially flat perpendicular surface is generally flush with the surface of the housing adjacent the recess to substantially eliminate recesses or pockets that could retain dirt and/or other contaminants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony D. Friend, Mark J. Kiesel
  • Patent number: 6113108
    Abstract: A buffer seal is provided and adapted to absorb high pressures. The buffer seal includes a body portion and a sealing portion with a backup ring disposed in a groove adjacent to the sealing portion. The sealing portion has a first surface that is perpendicular to a reference axis of the buffer seal and a second surface that forms an acute angle with the reference axis, preferably less than thirty degrees. The first surface of the sealing portion extends axially from the body portion to form a shoulder. The shoulder functions during use to provide a surface that pressurized fluid can act against to urge the sealing portion against a shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony D. Friend, Donald S. Jackson, Mark J. Kiesel
  • Patent number: 6056293
    Abstract: A sealing assembly for a pump shaft, having a metal supporting structure, and a sealing ring in turn having a main sealing lip and a secondary lip, which extend axially in opposite directions and define an annular cavity together with a lateral surface of the shaft. When undeformed, the diameters of the two lips are such as to respectively determine a predetermined amount of interference and a radial clearance with the shaft. The sealing ring is so formed as to be deformed elastically by the interference fit between the main lip and the shaft, so as to cause the secondary lip to cooperate with the shaft with substantially no interference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: RFT S.p.A.
    Inventor: Alberto Visconti
  • Patent number: 6056292
    Abstract: A shaft seal seals a shaft in a hydraulic steering valve. The seal is a sealing ring surrounding the shaft. The sealing ring has a sealing edge contacting the outer surface of the shaft to form a seal. The sealing edge extends circumferentially around the outer surface of the shaft in a sinusoidal fashion. The sealing ring has first and second surfaces which extend radially outward from the sealing edge and which diverge relative to each other as they extend radially outward from the sealing edge. The first and second surfaces extend entirely circumferentially around the outer surface of the shaft. The first surface extends at a constant first angle relative to said sealing edge throughout the entire circumferential extent of the first surface and the second surface extends at a constant second angle relative to the sealing edge throughout the entire circumferential extent of the second surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: TRW Fahrwerksysteme GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Hans-Willi Gerigk
  • Patent number: 6050570
    Abstract: A seal for separating a viscous lubricant, such as grease, from contaminants in the surrounding environment, includes case having axial and radial walls, a shield located in the case and also having axial and radial walls, a primary seal element attached to the radial wall of the case and establishing two fluid barriers along the axial wall of the shield, and a secondary seal element attached to the radial wall of the shield and establishing another fluid barrier along the axial wall of the case. The primary seal element includes a labyrinth which is spaced slightly away from the axial wall of the shield and contains pumping cavities which drive the lubricant away from the primary seal element when relative rotation exists between the primary seal element and the shield. The primary seal element also has a contact lip provided with inside and outside beveled surfaces which converge toward a band along which the contact lip bears against the axial wall of the shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: The Timken Company
    Inventor: Dennis L. Otto
  • Patent number: 6047970
    Abstract: A rod scraper for hydraulic cylinders and the like is disclosed which includes an elastomeric ring member having an inner surface defining a central aperture adapted for receiving a rod for axial movement relative thereto, the inner surface including a scraper portion having an inner most circumferential lip positioned adjacent one end of the elastomeric seal member for scraping the rod, the elastomeric ring member further having a curved outer surface portion generally axially coextensive with the scraper portion, and a metallic backing ring affixed in overlaying relation to at least a substantial portion of the curved outer surface portion of the elastomeric ring member, the backing ring being resiliently biased against the curved outer surface portion to urge the lip of the elastomeric ring member against the rod and sufficiently flexible to allow some radial movement of the rod while maintaining the lip in circumferential contact with the rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony D. Friend, Mark J. Kiesel
  • Patent number: 6045138
    Abstract: A sealing device for application to relatively movable concentric members at an interface between liquid and air contains a seal lip having a pair of annular projections on the surface thereof on predetermined axial spacing. Free ends of the projections on the device having convergent surfaces wherein, on the liquid end of the device, the angularity of the surface facing the intermediate space is no less than that of the liquid-facing surface and, on the air end of the device, the angularity of the surface facing the intermediate space is greater than that of the air-facing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: NOK Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Kanzaki
  • Patent number: 6045137
    Abstract: A radial seal arrangement is disclosed and adapted for use in providing a sealed surface with a shaft. The radial seal arrangement includes an elastomeric member and a metal support member bonded thereto. The elastomeric member includes a first sealing portion that is defined by a lip portion and a second sealing portion defined by a first surface extending at an acute angle from a perpendicular radial surface and a second surface that extends from and is generally perpendicular with the first surface. The metal support member includes a first leg that extends in a linear direction with respect to a reference axis of the seal arrangement and a second leg that extends generally along the perpendicular radial surface. The second leg of the metal support member terminating at a location generally adjacent to the first surface of the second sealing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony D. Friend, Joseph M. Vanecko
  • Patent number: 6036193
    Abstract: Lip-type oil seals (10) having helical pumping ribs (40) are manufactured by preparing a molded foreproduct of the seal and by trimming a hat portion (62) to form a sharp sealing edge (32). Each of the pumping ribs (40) is configured to include a first section (50) of a uniform cross-section and a bilge-shaped second section (52). Trimming is made along a trim line (68) that intersects in between the length of the first sections (50) to ensure that a length of the first sections (52) is preserved between the sealing edge (32) and the second sections (52) regardless of the tolerance of positioning of a trimming knife. Oil seals having an improved initial static and dynamic sealing performance is obtained. The second sections (52) achieves a satisfactory pumping action even after a substantial wear has taken place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: NOK Corporation
    Inventors: Tsunehisa Onuma, Hideyuki Furuyama
  • Patent number: 6035990
    Abstract: The invention concerns a disconnecting device for a motor vehicle friction clutch which contains a pressure housing (2) arranged concentrically to a gear box input shaft (3) and fastened to a gear box housing (4). A guiding sleeve (6) is arranged in the pressure housing (2) radially separated from the gear box input shaft (3) and from a longitudinal bore (5) in the pressure housing (2) on which a ring piston (7) is movably guided which axially delimits a pressure chamber (8). For sealing the ring piston (7), a seal (12) is provided which has sealing lips (13, 14) spread apart in a V-shape.In accordance with the invention, the sealing lips (13, 14) of the seal (12) have an asymmetrically configured cross sectional profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Luk Lamellen und Kupplungsbau
    Inventor: Harald Peschke
  • Patent number: 6029979
    Abstract: A sealing arrangement for providing a seal between a component and a cylinder in which the component is inserted includes a sealing ring supported in the axial direction in a circumferential slot on the component. The sealing ring has at least one static and one dynamic sealing lip. The sealing lips rest radially on corresponding sealing surfaces of the component and the cylinder. To reduce the noise generated during movement of the component in the cylinder, the geometrical shape of at least of one of the sealing lips is asymmetrical in the axial and/or radial direction with respect to a longitudinal axis of the component or a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the component, or cavities are distributed around a circumference of a base body portion of the sealing ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: Mannesmann Sachs AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Grosspietsch, Thomas Otto, Gottfried Mader, Olaf Pagels, Thomas Riess, Volker Stampf
  • Patent number: 6027123
    Abstract: A tank piston is shown with an improved seal and wiper. The piston is used in conjunction with tanks used for transporting semi-solid and viscous materials such as grease, oil, ink, and the like. The improved seal consists of an annular rubber member with a hollow chamber filled with an open cell foam material such as polyurethane, or a gel such as silica gel. The material in the chamber is compressible and expandable to provide a seal about the piston. Additionally, the piston is provided with an annular wiper structure that extends about the outer forward periphery of the piston, and is forwardly angled at about 45.degree. relative to an axis of the piston. The wiper has a beveled end that makes contact with the interior surface of the tank to provide a cleaning action. A complementary second wiper may be added near the outer rearward periphery of the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: CBW Transport Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Berry, Sr., Christopher K. Duncan
  • Patent number: 5967527
    Abstract: A sealing assembly (1) for a rotary shaft (2), having a metal structure (4) defined by a sleeve portion (6) and by a radially inner flange (7), and a sealing ring (5) cooperating in sliding manner with the shaft (2); the sealing ring (5) in turn has a connecting portion (15) for connection to the flange (7), and a portion (18) projecting from the flange; two sealing lips (19, 20) extend axially from opposite sides of the projecting portion (18); the two sealing lips (19, 20) and the projecting portion (18) are connected in one piece to one another at respective narrow sections (21, 22, 23), each defining a respective virtual hinge permitting rotation of each element with respect to the others; and the respective centers of rotation (A, B, C) of the virtual hinges are defined, at each axial section of the sealing assembly, by three points arranged substantially in the form of a triangle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Forsheda AB
    Inventors: Roberto Fabro, Mikael Josefsson, Peter Koski
  • Patent number: 5956956
    Abstract: Occurrence of leakage of refrigerant around a seal member in cryogenic state is suppressed. The seal member 32 is formed from unsaturated polyester-PTFE with an unsaturated polyester mixing ratio of 20% to 35%. A plurality of slits 36 extended axially and penetrating through radially are provided in an end portion 35 of an outer circumferential wall 32a. Thus, by a synergistic effect of the use of a material small in the heat shrinkage factor and the reduction of radial shrinkage of the whole outer circumferential wall 32a attributable to the aforementioned configuration, the sealing properties in the cryogenic state are enhanced so that the occurrence of leakage of refrigerant is suppressed to the utmost, thereby preventing deterioration in the refrigeratability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Morishita, Hirotoshi Torii
  • Patent number: 5951022
    Abstract: An improved fluid seal device or pressure seal of the type suitable for uses such as sealing an annular space between an internal surface and a member having an outer cylindrical surface is described. The seal includes a reinforced body formed of fabric reinforced rubber and at least one dynamic lip made substantially of rubber. The lip protrudes from the seal so that a small portion of the lip contiguous to the body of the seal and containing fabric reinforcement is contacted by the movable member in addition to the movable member contacting the resilient portion of the lip. The resilient portion of the lip hinges along the interface between the resilient portion and the fabric reinforced portion to control break-away frictional forces between the seal and the member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Gorman Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald W. Gorman, Hal W. Gorman
  • Patent number: 5941533
    Abstract: A volumetric pump for administering intravenous fluids to a patient comprises a housing having an elongate cavity therein with an open and a closed end. A resilient sheet of material having a centrally-located aperture covers the open end, and a pump shaft is slidably disposed through the aperture to form a sphincter seal therebetween. An inlet conduit leading from a fluid source (an IV bag) passes through the housing into the cavity near the open end thereof, and an outlet conduit leading to a fluid sink (the patient) passes through the housing from the cavity near the closed end thereof. The shaft is driven back and forth in reciprocating motion inwardly and outwardly of the cavity to produce, respectively, a positive pressure forcing fluid out of the outlet conduit to the fluid sink, and a negative pressure forcing fluid from the fluid source through the inlet conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: Sarcos, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen C. Jacobsen, Clark C. Davis