Abstract: A cartridge seal assembly can be sued for sealing an annular space between a rotating shaft and an opening in a housing of an appliance. The cartridge seal assembly includes a wear sleeve and an elastomeric seal. The wear sleeve includes a cylindrical wall sized to fit the rotary shaft and an radially outwardly extending flange, the flange comprising a peripheral edge. The elastomeric seal includes a primary seal configured to form a static seal against the cylindrical wall of the wear sleeve, an outer body configured to engage a surface of the housing defining the opening, and a retaining feature configured to engage the peripheral edge of the wear sleeve. The wear sleeve is preassembled with the elastomeric seal.

Abstract: A seal assembly adapted for use in creating a seal between an axially extending shaft and a support member. The seal assembly defines an axial passage through which the shaft extends, wherein a bearing assembly is mounted to the support member and includes a stationary outer race and an inner race which rotates along with the shaft. The seal assembly includes a rigid ring defining an axial passage through which the shaft extends and a resilient material carried by the ring. The resilient material defines an inner sealing section adapted to engage the shaft and an outer sealing section located radially outwardly of the inner sealing section and adapted to engage an outer sealing surface associated with the support member.

Abstract: A unitized seal for use in a gas spring seal assembly. The unitized seal includes a rigid thermoplastic insert having an elastomeric sealing layer surrounding the insert and bonded to the insert. The insert provides rigidity to the seal and includes a central, axial opening that receives and guides a rod slidably engaged with the insert. The sealing layer engages the interior surface of the gas spring cylinder to prevent the pressurized gas contained within the gas spring from escaping around the seal. The sealing layer also includes a central, axial opening aligned with the passage in the insert that slidably engages the rod and further prevent gas from escaping the gas spring cylinder. The unitized seal may be formed in a single or two-step process. In the single step process, the insert and sealing layer are formed by injection molding processes in a single mold and are bonded to one another by a subsequent covulcanization process.