Abstract: A wheel end assembly for a heavy-duty vehicle includes an axle spindle and a hub rotatably mounted on the axle spindle. A main seal extends radially between the axle spindle and the hub. The seal includes a dynamic portion that seats in a bore formed in the wheel hub, and a static portion that seats on the axle spindle. The static portion includes a rigid carrier that in turn includes a first member, and a second member that is rigidly attached to the first member. An elastomer is bonded to the carrier member and forms a first external lip. The first external lip extends generally parallel to a chamfer formed in an inboard end of the hub. The first external lip, other external features, and internal features prevent contaminants from entering the wheel end assembly, retain lubricant in the assembly, and provide a dynamic expulsion surface to expel contaminants.

Abstract: A shaft seal assembly for establishing a liquid-tight seal between a steering knuckle and an axle shaft is provided. The shaft seal assembly includes an outer case and a first elastomeric member attached to one another. The elastomeric member has a castellated feature including a plurality of projections extending in a radially outward direction and separated from one another by a plurality of grooves. When the shaft seal assembly is installed in the steering knuckle, a cavity is presented between the steering knuckle and the first elastomeric member. Together, the grooves and cavity allow air to flow from a hub on one side of the seal assembly to a vacuum port in the steering knuckle. The cavity extends circumferentially around the seal assembly, and thus, air flow from the hub to the vacuum port is not dependent upon the orientation of the seal assembly relative to the steering knuckle.

Abstract: A modular fracture plug and method of construction thereof for temporarily sealing off a well is provided. The fracture plug includes an inner substrate material and an outer shell. The outer shell is provided having a plurality of individual sections bonded to one another. One of the sections provides a closed base, while another of the sections provides a closed cover, and one or more of the sections provide an intermediate section between the base and the cover. The intermediate section has a through opening forming at least a portion of the cavity.

Abstract: A non-contact labyrinth seal assembly includes a carrier having cylindrical outer flange with an annular leg extending inwardly therefrom. An elastomeric body is attached to the leg. The body has a first pair of seal lips extending radially inwardly in diverging relation from one another and a second pair of seal lips spaced radially outwardly from the first pair of seal lips. The second pair of seal lips includes radially outermost and a radially innermost seal lips. The radially outermost seal lip has a cylindrical inner surface and an inner surface of the radially innermost seal lip has a first portion extending substantially parallel to the cylindrical inner surface to form an annular channel and a second portion extending radially outwardly to an innermost lip free end that is radially aligned with the cylindrical inner surface to form an annular opening having a width less than a width of the channel.

Abstract: A hammer union seal assembly, hammer union seal and method of construction thereof is provided. The method of constructing the hammer union seal includes forming an annular rubber ring having a cylindrical inner surface and a cylindrical outer surface, with the cylindrical outer surface extending between opposite corner edges. The method further includes forming an annular steel ring. Then, recessing and bonding the annular steel ring in one of the corner edges with an outer surface of the steel ring remaining exposed.

Abstract: A non-contact labyrinth seal assembly includes a carrier having cylindrical outer flange with an annular leg extending inwardly therefrom. An elastomeric body is attached to the leg. The body has a first pair of seal lips extending radially inwardly in diverging relation from one another and a second pair of seal lips spaced radially outwardly from the first pair of seal lips. The second pair of seal lips includes radially outermost and a radially innermost seal lips. The radially outermost seal lip has a cylindrical inner surface and an inner surface of the radially innermost seal lip has a first portion extending substantially parallel to the cylindrical inner surface to form an annular channel and a second portion extending radially outwardly to an innermost lip free end that is radially aligned with the cylindrical inner surface to form an annular opening having a width less than a width of the channel.

Abstract: A wheel end assembly for a heavy-duty vehicle includes an axle spindle and a hub rotatably mounted on the axle spindle. A main seal extends radially between the axle spindle and the hub. The seal includes a dynamic portion that seats in a bore formed in the wheel hub, and a static portion that seats on the axle spindle. The static portion includes a rigid carrier that in turn includes a first member, and a second member that is rigidly attached to the first member. An elastomer is bonded to the carrier member and forms a first external lip. The first external lip extends generally parallel to a chamfer formed in an inboard end of the hub. The first external lip, other external features, and internal features prevent contaminants from entering the wheel end assembly, retain lubricant in the assembly, and provide a dynamic expulsion surface to expel contaminants.

Abstract: A dynamic radial shaft seal assembly includes an inner wear sleeve having a cylindrical inner wall with a bore sized for receipt about a shaft and an outer running surface. The inner wear sleeve has a flange extending radially outwardly from the running surface. The assembly further includes an outer case having cylindrical outer wall configured for receipt in a housing and a rim extending radially inwardly from the outer wall. An elastomeric body is attached to the rim. The elastomeric body includes a main seal lip configured to engage the outer running surface of the inner wear sleeve and a plurality of thrust pads extending axially from the rim for engagement with the flange. The thrust pads are spaced circumferentially from one another by gaps. The elastomeric body further includes a first dust exclusion lip extending axially from the leg and bridging the gaps.

Abstract: A shaft seal assembly for establishing a liquid-tight seal between a steering knuckle and an axle shaft is provided. The shaft seal assembly includes an outer case and a first elastomeric member attached to one another. The elastomeric member has a castellated feature including a plurality of projections extending in a radially outward direction and separated from one another by a plurality of grooves. When the shaft seal assembly is installed in the steering knuckle, a cavity is presented between the steering knuckle and the first elastomeric member. Together, the grooves and cavity allow air to flow from a hub on one side of the seal assembly to a vacuum port in the steering knuckle. The cavity extends circumferentially around the seal assembly, and thus, air flow from the hub to the vacuum port is not dependent upon the orientation of the seal assembly relative to the steering knuckle.

Abstract: A modular fracture plug and method of construction thereof for temporarily sealing off a well is provided. The fracture plug includes an inner substrate material and an outer shell. The outer shell is provided having a plurality of individual sections bonded to one another. One of the sections provides a closed base, while another of the sections provides a closed cover, and one or more of the sections provide an intermediate section between the base and the cover. The intermediate section has a through opening forming at least a portion of the cavity.

Abstract: A dynamic radial shaft seal assembly includes an inner wear sleeve having a cylindrical inner wall with a bore sized for receipt about a shaft and an outer running surface. The inner wear sleeve has a flange extending radially outwardly from the running surface. The assembly further includes an outer case having cylindrical outer wall configured for receipt in a housing and a rim extending radially inwardly from the outer wall. An elastomeric body is attached to the rim. The elastomeric body includes a main seal lip configured to engage the outer running surface of the inner wear sleeve and a plurality of thrust pads extending axially from the rim for engagement with the flange. The thrust pads are spaced circumferentially from one another by gaps. The elastomeric body further includes a first dust exclusion lip extending axially from the leg and bridging the gaps.

Abstract: A seal assembly has an inner wear sleeve with an axially extending tubular body. A flange extends radially outwardly from the body. An outer seal component has an axially extending tubular outer wall with a flange extending radially inwardly therefrom to support at least one dynamic seal lip in sealing engagement with the inner sleeve body. The outer seal component includes an annular retention lip disposed axially outwardly of the wear sleeve flange. The retention lip extends radially inwardly of a radially outer edge of the flange and is deflectable in an axial direction to enable the flange of the wear sleeve to be forced axially thereby during assembly, whereupon the retention flange returns to its non-deflected position to inhibit removal of the wear sleeve in the reverse axial direction. The annular retention flange has at least one axially extending debris expulsion slot for the escapement of debris.

Abstract: An oil lubricated rotating hub (14) and stationary spindle (12) assembly includes an oil bath seal (16, 16?) for establishing a dynamic sealing interface between the hub (14) and spindle (12). A wheel sensor assembly includes a variable reluctance senor (54) targeted at an encoder ring (56, 56?) which is integrated into the oil bath seal (16, 16?). The encoder ring (56, 56?) is of the permanent magnet type including a plurality of magnetically polarized sectors alternating between North and South polarities. The use of an encoder style target (56, 56?) in combination with a variable reluctance sensor (54) enables improved slow speed sensing with relatively large air gap spacing between the exposed (58, 58?) of the encoder ring (56, 56?) and the head of the VR sensor (54). Furthermore, the encoder ring (56, 56?) enables use of less expensive, lighter materials for the oil bath seal carrier (20, 20?).

Abstract: A seal assembly has an inner wear sleeve with an axially extending tubular body. A flange extends radially outwardly from the body. An outer seal component has an axially extending tubular outer wall with a flange extending radially inwardly therefrom to support at least one dynamic seal lip in sealing engagement with the inner sleeve body. The outer seal component includes an annular retention lip disposed axially outwardly of the wear sleeve flange. The retention lip extends radially inwardly of a radially outer edge of the flange and is deflectable in an axial direction to enable the flange of the wear sleeve to be forced axially thereby during assembly, whereupon the retention flange returns to its non-deflected position to inhibit removal of the wear sleeve in the reverse axial direction. The annular retention flange has at least one axially extending debris expulsion slot for the escapement of debris.

Abstract: An oil lubricated rotating hub (14) and stationary spindle (12) assembly includes an oil bath seal (16, 16?) for establishing a dynamic sealing interface between the hub (14) and spindle (12). A wheel sensor assembly includes a variable reluctance senor (54) targeted at an encoder ring (56, 56?) which is integrated into the oil bath seal (16, 16?). The encoder ring (56, 56?) is of the permanent magnet type including a plurality of magnetically polarized sectors alternating between North and South polarities. The use of an encoder style target (56, 56?) in combination with a variable reluctance sensor (54) enables improved slow speed sensing with relatively large air gap spacing between the exposed (58, 58?) of the encoder ring (56, 56?) and the head of the VR sensor (54). Furthermore, the encoder ring (56, 56?) enables use of less expensive, lighter materials for the oil bath seal carrier (20, 20?).