Abstract: The present invention relates to a seal which is capable of sealing against and rotatably supporting a spherical formation.The seal 10 has at least one annular lip portion 12 which has at least one sealing surface 18, 19 which is spherically contoured to sealingly engage the spherical formation 40. The lip portion is resilient in an axial direction but rigid enough to resist compressive deformation.The seal is particularly useful for sealingly supporting a hopper stirring member which extends through a wall of the hopper.

Abstract: A seal unit for providing a fluid seal between a shaft and a housing. THe seal unit includes a seal element screw threadedly received within an annular casing. The seal is made of a rigid but resilient material so that on rotation of the seal element within the casing the seal element is caused to deflect to bring it into sealing engagement with the shaft. Such an arrangement makes it possible to use a seal element having an internal diameter larger than the shaft to be sealed so that the seal element may be slid over the shaft without causing damage to the sealing surface of the seal element.

Abstract: A rigid bushing is described suitable for reception on a shaft or in a bore which has formed at an axial end thereof an annular sealing formation which extends integrally from the end of the bushing angularly so as to form a sealing surface to engage either a shaft or a bore, sealing being accomplished by the application of axial pressure upon the bushing.

Abstract: There is disclosed a seal formed by a seal housing having an annular chamber, a shaft extending therethrough and an annular sealing element disposed within the chamber and partitioning it into a plurality of annular spaces, the sealing element being rigid but compressible and engaging the wall of the chamber radially spaced from the shaft as well as the shaft and said sealing element being provided with fluid passages such that when compressive forces are placed upon the element, the fluid pressure on all sides of said element are equalized.