Abstract: A seal element is positioned within an outer casing and has an anchoring portion which is sealingly secured to the periphery of a rotating shaft by a surrounding coil spring. A radial portion on the seal element extends radially outward from the anchoring portion and passes between two spaced washers, providing a dynamic seal therebetween. An arm extends from one face of the seal element radial portion to resiliently bias the radial portion into engagement with the washers. A spiral hydrodynamic groove on the other face of the seal element radial portion automatically pumps fluid back to the fluid side of the seal apparatus as the shaft and seal element rotate together.

Abstract: A method of producing a hydrodynamic sealing element is disclosed wherein washer-like sealing elements may be partially sliced from a cylindrical billet and formed to have an axially extending inner portion adapted to sealingly engage a rotating shaft. The inside surface of the axially extending portion is grooved to facilitate the sealing action. Grooving is accomplished by axial withdrawal action of the same cutting element that partially slices and forms the sealing element.

Abstract: A method for molding an annular lip type shaft seal 10 of the type having an annular elastomeric shaft seal element 12 and a resin liner 14 (preferably polytetrafluoroethylene) integrally molded therewith and bonded thereto, including providing a step or shoulder 36 on the mold core 26 to prevent the resin liner 14 from flowing axially beyond a predetermined location during molding. The method includes providing a certain range of acute angles ".alpha." between the shoulder surface 42 and the liner forming surface 38 of the mold core surface 34, and a certain range of shoulder heights "d" relative to the liner thickness "t", for various values of the initial viscosity of the elastomeric preform 18. The percentage of rejects due to undesired flow of the resin liner 14 during molding has been greatly reduced.

Abstract: A disc brake boot seal 10 (and method for assembling a disc brake system) that is molded in its extended condition and that when moved into its collapsed condition will remain in its collapsed condition. The boot seal comprises a molded elastomeric sleeve 12 having a plurality of different wall portions 20-34 certain ones of which interact to releasably hold the sleeve in its collapsed condition so that it does not self-extend. The expense and high mold breakage resulting from the prior art system of molding a seal in its collapsed, convoluted condition are eliminated by this invention.

Abstract: A non-convoluted, elongated sealing boot of elastomeric material in, or for use in, a cylinder and piston assembly of a disc brake of a vehicle brake system as a dirt seal to protect the piston and the cylinder chamber from road dirt and to prevent water entry. The sealing boot includes an elongated, molded elastomer sleeve which comprises seven distinct interacting segments, or wall portions, of a plurality of different and tapering thicknesses which permit the sleeve, when installed in a disc brake assembly, to be collapsed to a convoluted shape upon retracting the piston into the cylinder to replace the brake pads of the disc brake assembly.

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 shaft seal (and method for making the same) of the type having an annular elastomeric body, a molded lip, and the molded lip having a liner of sintered polytetrafluoroethylene bonded thereto. The elastomer is molded simultaneously with the polytetrafluoroethylene liner being formed and bonded to the elastomer. The method for making the seal employs the same mold used to make common, molded lip elastomeric seals.

Abstract: A shaft seal (and method for making the same) of the type having an annular elastomeric body, a molded lip, and the molded lip having a liner of sintered polytetrafluoroethylene bonded thereto. The elastomer is molded simultaneously with the polytetrafluoroethylene liner being formed and bonded to the elastomer. The method for making the seal employs the same mold used to make common, molded lip elastomeric seals.

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: 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 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 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 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: 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 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: 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: A shaft seal (and method for making the same) of the type having an annular elastomeric body, a molded lip, and the molded lip having a liner of sintered polytetrafluoroethylene bonded thereto. The elastomer is molded simultaneously with the polytetrafluoroethylene liner being formed and bonded to the elastomer. The method for making the seal employs the same mold used to make common, molded lip elastomeric seals.

Abstract: A shaft seal (and method for making the same) of the type having an annular elastomeric body, a molded lip, and the molded lip having a liner of sintered polytetrafluoroethylene bonded thereto. The elastomer is molded simultaneously with the polytetrafluoroethylene liner being formed and bonded to the elastomer. The method for making the seal employs the same mold used to make common, molded lip elastomeric seals.