Abstract: A shaft seal for forming a dynamic seal along an axially extending annular running surface and method of installation thereof is provided. The shaft seal has a mounting portion configured to be connected to a stationary housing and a seal lip having an annular sealing surface extending between an oil side end and an air side end of the seal lip. The sealing surface is configured to extend axially along a shaft running surface. An annular bridge portion connects the seal lip to the mounting portion. A plurality of webs extend generally radially between the bridge portion and the mounting portion to prevent the seal lip from being inadvertently unfolded during installation or while in use. An annulus can be used to install the shaft seal into a housing and about a shaft without the need for secondary operations.

Abstract: A shaft seal for forming a dynamic seal along an axially extending annular running surface and method of installation thereof is provided. The shaft seal has a mounting portion configured to be connected to a stationary housing and a seal lip having an annular sealing surface extending between an oil side end and an air side end of the seal lip. The sealing surface is configured to extend axially along a shaft running surface. An annular bridge portion connects the seal lip to the mounting portion. A plurality of webs extend generally radially between the bridge portion and the mounting portion to prevent the seal lip from being inadvertently unfolded during installation or while in use. An annulus can be used to install the shaft seal into a housing and about a shaft without the need for secondary operations.

Abstract: A hydrodynamic PTFE seal for a rotating part including a first portion supported by a flexible, elastomeric member and a second portion extending from the first portion past the elastomeric member along the rotating part. The second or trailing portion of the seal is concentrically disposed about the rotating part. The first portion of the seal attached to the elastomeric member is also concentrically disposed around the rotating part. The seal can also include a living hinge portion disposed between the first and second portions. The first portion, the second portion and the living hinge portion can jointly define a continuous sealing surface.

Abstract: An apparatus and procedure is provided for testing and evaluating the sealing effectiveness of dynamic seals of the type having at least one and often at least two dust-excluding seals. Included is a housing having a support wall formed with an opening through which a representative shaft is supported for rotation. An annular gap exists between the shaft and wall opening and is closed by the test seal. A dust chamber is provided on the atmosphere side of the test seal and includes a slow speed dust redistribution device which gathers and transports dust from the bottom of the chamber to the top where it is released and falls back into the chamber. A high speed beater agitation device disperses the released dust to maintain a constant density dust cloud environment within the dust chamber. A dry dust collection chamber is provided on the opposite oil side of the test seal.

Abstract: A shaft seal assembly includes an outer stationary carrier, an inner member, and a sealing system including a primary lubricant-retention seal that is fixed to the carrier in combination with a number of debris-excluding seal features. Such features include a first debris-exclusion seal fixed to the carrier adjacent the primary seal and a second debris-exclusion seal that is mounted on either the carrier or inner member and has at least one lip sealingly engaging the other of the carrier and inner member in spaced relation to the first debris-exclusion lip defining a sealed annular cavity therebetween. Disposed within the cavity is a porous filter element in the preferred form of an open cell sponge. The various dust exclusion features cooperate to allow each to perform efficiently. The outermost second debris-exclusion seal guards the foam against substantial debris, and the foam in turn protects the first debris-exclusion lip against virtually all debris.

Abstract: An annular wear sleeve for a shaft seal is fabricated of an elastically deformable metal material and includes an annular body portion and an end flange portion. The sleeve is slightly oversized relative to the shaft on which it is installed to provide a low force slip-fit installation on the shaft. Once installed, the end flange is elastically deformed, imparting a radially inward bending force on the body portion causing the inner surface of the wear sleeve to constrict about and engage the outer surface of the shaft, providing intimate metal-to-metal contact therebetween to dissipate heat from the seal member and to secure the wear sleeve against rotation on the shaft in service. Releasing the deformation force on the end flange enables the wear sleeve to recover its elastic deformation, causing the wear sleeve to release the constricting engagement with the shaft enabling it to be dismounted from the shaft with low force in the same manner as was required for installation.