Abstract: A seal assembly is provided for retaining fluids within a sealed region defined in part by the seal assembly secured within an annular casing member and in part by a shaft extending axially through the seal assembly within the casing. The fluid seal assembly includes both a primary and a secondary lip arranged to facilitate easier, more reliable installation of the shaft therethrough. The primary and secondary lips are joined by a center section which is supported by a generally L-shaped support ring which extends to the casing to form the seal.

Abstract: A lip type bonded shaft seal adapted to seal against substantial fluid pressure. The seal includes a low-friction liner bonded to a sealing portion of an elastomeric element which is bonded to a U-shaped metal shell which helps to support the sealing lip portion. The low-friction liner is not bonded to any part of the metal shell.

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: An annular trimmed lip shaft seal of the type not having a metal shell but consisting solely of an elastomeric body and a liner of low friction material bonded thereto, which liner includes a radial flange extending radially out beyond the outside diameter of the elastomeric body for abutting the housing for locating the seal, and for strengthening the seal to provide seal retention and alignment. A method for making the seal and a method for locating, retaining and aligning a seal are also disclosed.

Abstract: A shaft seal 10 and method for use including an annular bore retention section 12 which includes a metal reinforcing shell 20 having a cylindrical portion and a radial flange; an annular flex section 16 comprised of axial flex section 28 and radial flex section 30; and a dual lip sealing element 14 comprised of primary sealing lip 32 and secondary sealing lip 34, both of said sealing lips being lined with a low-friction material such as, for example, polytetrafluoroethylene liner 42.

Abstract: A shaft seal 10 and method, for use, for example with a rotary drill bit in the oil patch industry, including an annular metal ring 12, an annular elastomeric body 14 and a polytetrafluoroethylene liner 16. The seal 10 has an axially inwardly extending lubricant lip 18 and an axially outwardly extending mud lip 20. When the pressure of the lubricant exceeds a particular value for which the seal is designed (for example, in the range of 100-200 psi), the pressure causes the lubricant lip 18 to reverse direction and allow lubricant to be purged and flow axially outwardly past both lips, until its pressure is reduced after which the lubricant lip 18 returns (flips back) to it original position. During purging, the mud lip 20 acts as a restricted opening controlling purging and excluding drilling mud.

Abstract: Inner and outer sealing rings (16 and 18) for the balancing ring (12) of a hydraulic motor, each comprising an annular elastomeric body (30) including a flat, radially extending central ring (36) and a pair of sealing elements (38 and 40) projecting axially away from opposite ends of the central ring (36) and in opposite axial directions therefrom and tapering to a sealing lip (50 and 52) in the directions away from the central ring. The inner and outer sealing rings (16 and 18) have cylindrical O.D. and I.D. surfaces, (54 and 66), respectively. Each sealing ring preferably has a reinforcing ring (32 and 62) and a liner (34 and 64) of low friction material.

Abstract: A shaft seal 10 and method for sealing fluids in applications with excessive shaft-to-bore misalignment or dynamic shaft runout, including a seal 10 having a mounting section 22, a sealing element 24, and a convoluted flex section 26 which allows radial movement of the sealing element. The sealing element 24 includes a bearing member 42 having a liner 46 with a low friction, cylindrical bearing surface adjacent the lip 38, for causing the lip 38 to follow any radial movement of the shaft, and to prevent the lip 38 from taking an oval shape and leaking.

Abstract: A shaft seal with a polytetrafluoroethylene-lined lip having the following dimensional criteria thus providing sufficient retraction to effect positive sealing against a smaller diameter shaft section after installation and stretching over a larger diameter shaft section:(1) Lip Angle=15.degree.--25.degree.;(2) Included Angle--must be divergent axially from the flex secton;(3) Clearance Diameter--must be greater than the shaft oversized step diameter;(4) Lip Interference.gtoreq.125% of X (X is the difference between the diameters of the oversized shaft section and the diameter of the section to be sealed; and(5) Lip Height.gtoreq.175% of X.The above parameters are for seals to be used on shafts where there will be runout and/or angular shaft displacement. When there is no runout or angular shaft displacement, the seal parameters are identical to those listed above except that lip interference .gtoreq.100% of X, and lip height.gtoreq.150% of X.

Abstract: An installation tool 10 and method for preventing damage to the lip or lips 34 and 35 of a shaft seal 12 mounted in a bore 16 of a housing 18 during installation of a shaft 20 through the bore and seal, the tool including a handle 26, an annular body 22 and a lip protective sleeve 24. The body and sleeve have a split 27 therethrough to allow for circumferential expansion thereof such that it can be removed radially off of the shaft 20.

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.