Abstract: A narrow cross section (about 0.110 inch) grease purgeable bushing seal that can be installed in the same housing bore diameter as that of the bushing without the need for machining a larger counter bore in the housing, including a metal shell with a radially inwardly turned flange at the bushing side thereof, and an elastomeric sealing element molded and bonded to the shell. To be grease purgeable, the seal parameters must be within the following ranges for the cross-sectional thickness E, the lip clearance A, the lip thickness B, the lip beam length C, the orifice D and the interference i, as follows:E.ltoreq.0.100 inch+iI=0.000 to 0.015 inchA.gtoreq.bB.gtoreq.23% (e-iC.gtoreq.45% (e-i)D.gtoreq.31% (e-i)The seal can also be turned around and used to seal oil in other applications thereof.

Abstract: A thrust washer having a backing layer of resilient material such as rubber or other elastomers and having, for example, a polytetrafluoroethylene bearing surface, which can include one or more integral sealing lips formed from the polytetrafluoroethylene bearing material. Another aspect of this invention is a unitary article including said resiliently-backed thrust washer in combination with a seal. This unitary article can be purchased and installed as a unit taking the place of four separate prior art elements that had to be purchased and installed separately.

Abstract: A method for making a shaft seal of the type including an elastomeric body and a polytetrafluoroethylene sealing element comprising inserting a metal shell (if employed in the seal), a synthetic rubber blank prep form and a polytetrafluoroethylene sealing element into a transfer or compression mold, and then closing the mold to simultaneously form a sealing lip portion of the polytetrafluoroethylene sealing element into the desired shape, mold the rubber into the desired shape and bond the rubber to the shell (if used) and to the anchor portion of the polytetrafluoroethylene sealing element.

Abstract: An annular shaft seal and method for sealing the shaft of a water pump used with coolants containing anti-corrosion compounds that can precipitate out as particles that can cause wear of shaft and seal. The shaft seal of this invention has a primary sealing element and a unique auxiliary sealing element. The unique auxiliary sealing element has a large lip contact width and is located axially inwardly of the primary sealing element for causing the anti-corrosion compounds to precipitate out at a location axially inwardly from the primary sealing element and over a larger than normal area thus reducing shaft wear due to lower unit loading. The seal also includes means for preventing the precipitated-out particles from reaching the shaft-contacting lip of the primary sealing element.

Abstract: A method for making an annular shaft seal of the type having an elastomeric sealing element bonded to a metal shell having a guard or scraper portion having a sharp I.D. edge, in which the sharp I.D. edge is formed or "pierced" during the molding process simultaneously with the elastomeric sealing element being molded and bonded to the shell.

Abstract: A spiral cutting anvil is provided with indicia along its length, and a series of aligned gaps through which a cutting blade can be passed. A cutting blade comprises the working portion of a cutter assembly pivotally fastened to a slide plate which can be located at various positions with respect to the anvil. An adjustable stop is disposed at an appropriate point along the spiral, as determined by the indicia, and a length of packing material extends from the stop along the anvil to one of the gaps. The cutting blade is then urged through the gap, in guillotine fashion, to sever the packing at the correct point.

Abstract: The valve closure member thrust and load compensator is applicable to butterfly valves and the like and is a mechanical arrangement which directly supports the weight of the closure member or disc and simultaneously supports the valve shaft and through means of an adjusting screw balances the load and centralizes the sealing forces within the valve body.

Abstract: A seal having at least one screw thread molded into the elastomeric mounting surface thereof. The mating surface of the housing can also be provided with at least one screw thread to mate with the screw thread(s) on the seal.

Abstract: A shaft seal of the type including an annular metal case and a flexible non-elastomeric sealing element such as polytetrafluoroethylene is made by molding a synthetic rubber filler ring between the metal case and the sealing element such that it bonds to both the metal case and to the sealing element, providing a faster and less expensive method of manufacturing the seal, while eliminating any leakage route between the metal case and the sealing element and also eliminating the I.D. to O.D. concentricity problem. In the embodiment where the sealing element is polytetrafluoroethylene, the filler ring chemically bonds to the metal case and mechanically bonds to the sealing element. Hydrodynamic pumping members can be molded onto the shaft engaging surface of the sealing element during the process of molding the synthetic rubber filler ring.

Abstract: A shaft seal of the type including a metal case and a polytetrafluoroethylene sealing element, is provided with an auxiliary sealing lip by providing a radial flange of the metal case with a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart apertures therethrough and molding an annular filler ring of synthetic rubber in the space between the sealing element and the metal case such that the rubber also flows through the apertures to the other side of the radial flange of the metal case and forms an auxiliary lip there. The filler ring chemically bonds to the metal case and mechanically bonds to the sealing element to lock the sealing element in place while also forming an auxiliary lip.

Abstract: A shaft seal with a reformable shell and a seal lip which can be readily installed over a roughened, enlarged or irregular portion of a shaft and then be reformed so that the sealing lip is brought into proper sealing engagement with the shaft.

Abstract: A seal and a method for installing a seal over a first portion of a shaft (such as a larger diameter splined portion) and for sealing against a second portion of the shaft, in which, during installation, the sealing lip is moved to a non-sealing configuration out of contact with the first portion of the shaft.

Abstract: A shaft seal of the type including an annular metal case and a flexible non-elastomeric sealing element such as polytetrafluoroethylene is made by molding a synthetic rubber filler ring between the metal case and the sealing element such that it bonds to both the metal case and to the sealing element, providing a faster and less expensive method of manufacturing the seal, while eliminating any leakage route between the metal case and the sealing element and also eliminating the I.D. to O.D. concentricity problem. In the embodiment where the sealing element is polytetrafluoroethylene, the filler ring chemically bonds to the metal case and mechanically bonds to the sealing element. Hydrodynamic pumping members can be molded onto the shaft engaging surface of the sealing element during the process of molding the synthetic rubber filler ring.

Abstract: A method for producing a bi-directional hydrodynamic sealing element for a shaft seal wherein the sealing element is made from a non-elastomeric material such as polytetrafluoroethylene, and has a sealing lip and a plurality of bi-directional pumping elements on a shaft engaging surface thereof, formed as a series of non-concentric circles or other geometric figures on the non-elastomeric sealing element while it is flat. The centers of the non-concentric circles are located on the periphery of a circle concentric with the sealing lip. The flat sealing element is then formed into a conical lip type sealing element and the circular pumping elements become elliptically shaped, bi-directonal helical pumping elements.

Abstract: A method for installing a seal over a first portion of a shaft (such as a larger diameter splined portion) and for sealing against a second portion of the shaft, in which, during installation, the sealing lip is moved to a non-sealing configuration out of contact with the first portion of the shaft.

Abstract: An oil seal, the combination thereof with a housing bore, and a method for installing the oil seal. This invention relates to applications where minimal radial force may be exerted against a housing bore and where the seal must be positively retained in the bore. The oil seal includes a shell having a locking member deformable radially outwardly, and an elastomeric sealing element bonded to the shell and including a face gasket for providing an O.D. seal when the locking member is deformed outwardly into an annular retaining groove in a housing bore. The seal is positively retained in the bore while exerting only minimal radial force against the bore while using less expensive cold rolled steel for the shell as contrasted to the more expensive spring steel required for snap-locking shells.

Abstract: In the art of pressure shaft seals, a method for sealing including installing a seal having a reinforcing shell with a cylindrical portion and a radial portion wherein the pierce or endwall of the radial flange is formed as a radius or taper facing axially inwardly, instead of as a cylindrical surface parallel to the seal axis, to reduce the shear pressure on the bond at the pierce and also to eliminate a sharp corner and any tendency of the rubber to tear, and wherein an offset is provided on the axially outer surface of the radial flange of the metal case adjacent the pierce to disturb the flowing rubber from wiping the bonding cement off of the pierce.

Abstract: A unitized, grease-purgeable shaft seal including a wear sleeve and an elastomeric member having an inner sealing element extending toward the wear sleeve on one side of a wear sleeve flange and having an outer sealing element extending toward the wear sleeve on the other side of the flange whereby the seal is unitized. Each of the sealing elements includes an outwardly facing sealing lip, whereby the seal is grease purgeable.

Abstract: The improvement in a reed valve for use between crankcase chambers of a two-stroke engine, comprising a flat, ring-shaped steel insert having a rubber coating on one side thereof and including a sealing lip on the I.D. thereof. One insert is secured on each side of a reed block between the block and the reeds with the rubber facing the reeds to cushion the contact between the reeds and the block, and the sealing lip provides a positive-contact seal against the crankshaft.

Abstract: A muffler having a low frequency silencing element therein that can be contained within the spatial limitations of a conventional muffler without increasing the back pressure. The low frequency silencing element includes a plurality of axially extending transfer tubes thus allowing the low frequency silencing element to function effectively while the exhaust gas flow is directed through the transfer tubes. Different numbers and different diameters of transfer tubes can be used. The outlet section of the transfer tubes can be used to create a high frequency resonator, if desired. Dispersive silencing elements can also be used without a significant increase in back pressure.