Abstract: A labyrinth seal assembly, bearing assembly therewith, and method of construction thereof, has an outer rigid carrier and an inner sleeve. The carrier has an outer cylindrical flange and a radially inwardly extending leg and the sleeve has a cylindrical wall and a radially outwardly extending flange. A seal body is attached to at least one of the leg and the flange, wherein a labyrinth passage extends between the seal body and the sleeve, from an air side of the assembly to an oil side of the assembly, during normal use of the assembly.

Abstract: A labyrinth seal assembly, bearing assembly therewith, and method of construction thereof, has an outer rigid carrier and an inner sleeve. The carrier has an outer cylindrical flange and a radially inwardly extending leg and the sleeve has a cylindrical wall and a radially outwardly extending flange. A seal body is attached to at least one of the leg and the flange, wherein a labyrinth passage extends between the seal body and the sleeve, from an air side of the assembly to an oil side of the assembly, during normal use of the assembly.

Abstract: A non-contact labyrinth seal assembly, bearing assembly therewith, and method of construction thereof, has an outer rigid carrier and an inner sleeve. The carrier has an outer cylindrical flange and a radially inwardly extending leg and the sleeve has a cylindrical wall and a radially outwardly extending flange. A body is attached to at least one of the leg and the flange, wherein the body provides, at least in part, a purely non-contact labyrinth passage extending between the carrier and the sleeve.

Abstract: A non-contact labyrinth seal assembly, bearing assembly therewith, and method of construction thereof, has an outer rigid carrier and an inner sleeve. The carrier has an outer cylindrical flange and a radially inwardly extending leg and the sleeve has a cylindrical wall and a radially outwardly extending flange. A body is attached to at least one of the leg and the flange, wherein the body provides, at least in part, a purely non-contact labyrinth passage extending between the carrier and the sleeve.

Abstract: A non-contact labyrinth seal assembly, bearing assembly therewith, and method of construction thereof, has an outer rigid carrier and an inner sleeve. The carrier has an outer cylindrical flange and a radially inwardly extending leg and the sleeve has a cylindrical wall and a radially outwardly extending flange. A body is attached to at least one of the leg and the flange, wherein the body provides, at least in part, a purely non-contact labyrinth passage extending between the carrier and the sleeve.

Abstract: A seal component (100, 200) having a triple-lip configuration for sealing against a moving surface, such as the inner ring race surface (12, 12?) of a spherical plain bearing (14, 14?). The triple-lip configuration incorporates a pair of outward inclined seal lips (102, 202, 104, 204) for providing protection from external contaminates, and a third inwardly inclined seal lip (106, 206) which is orientated to provide lubricant or grease retention within the sealed bearing (14, 14?). The size and configuration of the third seal lip (106, 206) is selected to minimize surface friction and to avoid seal lip inversion during oscillatory motion of the bearing components during use. A retention surface (110a, 210) is disposed to abut against the outer ring race surface (10b, 10b) to resist roll-out displacement of the seal component (100, 200) during use.

Abstract: A bearing assembly for accommodating rotation about an axis includes an outer race (2) having a raceway (6) presented toward the axis and an inner race (4) having a raceway (8) presented toward the raceway (6) of the outer race (2) and forming a bore (12) there between. The inner race (4) includes at an end a sealing surface (20) that is inclined away from the raceways (6, 8) and toward the axis. Rollers (16) are arranged in a row between the outer raceway (6) and the inner raceway (8). A seal (22) closes the end of the bore (12). The seal (22) includes a seal case (24) supported by the outer race (2) at its end. A first sealing element (26) is carried by the seal case (24) and bears against the sealing surface (20) on the inner race (4) and forms a first stage sealing contact. A second sealing element (36) is carried by the seal case (24) and forms second stage sealing contact.

Abstract: The performance of a worm assembly seal is improved by (1) the use of a hardened steel worm with a bronze worm gear; (2) a tribological coating on one or both of the worm thread or spiral and the gear teeth; 3) a tribological coating on one or both of the input or output shaft or shaft sleeves; or (4) a tribological coating applied to the worm thread, the gear teeth, the input and output shafts or shaft sleeves, or combinations thereof. In each of the approaches, the worm, worm gear, and input and output shafts or shaft sleeves can have surface finishing treatments. Additionally, in each of the three approaches, carbon or carbon/nitrogen concentration gradients can be added to the worm.

Abstract: A non-contact labyrinth seal assembly, bearing assembly therewith, and method of construction thereof, has an outer rigid carrier and an inner sleeve. The carrier has an outer cylindrical flange and a radially inwardly extending leg and the sleeve has a cylindrical wall and a radially outwardly extending flange. A body is attached to at least one of the leg and the flange, wherein the body provides, at least in part, a purely non-contact labyrinth passage extending between the carrier and the sleeve.

Abstract: A seal assembly (100) between an elastomeric seal component (110) and a surface (102) of a rotating component (104) which incorporates at least one micro-channel (106) having discrete branching elements (108, 108A) or micro-recesses (114). The micro-channels (106) are formed on either the surface of the rotating component (104) or the elastomeric seal component (110), and are configured to provide a uniform and unidirectional wear surface. The micro-channels (106) permit a controlled amount of lubricant to flow to the elastomeric seal region (R) area while creating a barrier to prevent lubricant axial migration beyond the elastomeric seal region (R). The controlled lubrication reduces seal wear, extends the seal life, and results in a reduced chance of leakage if the elastomeric seal component (110) is misaligned relative to the rotating component surface (102).

Abstract: The performance of a worm assembly seal is improved by (1) the use of a hardened steel worm with a bronze worm gear; (2) the use of a hardened steel worm and a bronze worm gear with a tribological coating on one or both of the worm thread or spiral and the gear teeth; 3) the use of a hardened steel worm and a bronze worm gear with a tribological coating on one or both of the input or output shaft or shaft sleeves; or (4) the use of a hardened steel worm with a bronze worm gear with a tribological coating applied to the worm thread, the gear teeth, the input and output shafts or shaft sleeves, or combinations thereof. In each of the three approaches, the worm, worm gear, and input and output shafts or shaft sleeves can have surface finishing treatments. Additionally, in each of the three approaches, carbon or carbon/nitrogen concentration gradients can be added to the worm.

Abstract: A spherical roller bearing having a sealing arrangement and a closure arrangement to prevent the loss of lubricants from the bearing and to prevent the entrance of contaminants into the bearing.

Abstract: A mounting for the road wheel of an automotive vehicle includes a spindle, a hub located around the spindle and inboard and outboard tapered roller bearings located between the hub and spindle where they are mounted in opposition. The cones (inner races) of the two bearings are separated by a spacer which at its ends is attached to the cones. The spacer holds the cones together within the hub so that the bearings and hub can be installed on and removed from the spindle as a unit. The spacer also establishes the setting for the bearings. In addition, the mounting has a seal located in the inboard end of the hub. The seal has lips which establish dynamic fluid barriers along the cone of the inboard bearing and along an adjacent sealing surface on the spindle without contacting the cone or spindle. The raceways and rollers for the two bearings have highly crowned profiles and the hub and the seal within contain an optimum amount of grease for lubricating the bearings.

Abstract: Disclosed is a labyrinth seal assembly for sealing an annular gap defined between a bore of a housing and an outer surface of a cylindrical shaft, wherein the housing and shaft are relatively movable. The seal assembly includes radially inner and radially outer shield rings. The radially inner shield ring has an inner surface which is adapted and configured for support by the shaft. The radially outer shield ring is partially disposed within the sealing channel of the inner shield ring. The outer shield ring includes a casing member, foam seal elements, and a shield element retainer. The foam seal elements depend radially inward into the sealing channel so as to form a circuitous sealing labyrinth therein. The seal elements are formed preferably from polyurethane. A highly viscous fluid is disposed within the circuitous sealing labyrinth.

Abstract: A two-piece seal is provided for a bearing assembly. The seal includes a first seal ring or labyrinth element received on an inner diameter of the bearing outer race and a second seal ring or labyrinth received on an outer diameter of the bearing inner race. The labyrinth include ribs and channels on facing or opposed surfaces which are sized and shaped such that the rib of one seal ring is received in the groove of the opposing seal ring to thereby form a labyrinth path between the two labyrinth elements. Additionally, a flexible seal lip is formed on one of the labyrinth elements to form a dynamic seal between the two labyrinth elements at an inner end of the labyrinth path.

Abstract: Disclosed is a labyrinth seal assembly for sealing an annular gap defined between a bore of a housing and an outer surface of a cylindrical shaft, wherein the housing and shaft are relatively movable. The seal assembly includes radially inner and radially outer shield rings. The radially inner shield ring has an inner surface which is adapted and configured for support by the shaft. The radially outer shield ring is partially disposed within the sealing channel of the inner shield ring. The outer shield ring includes a casing member, foam seal elements, and a shield element retainer. The foam seal elements depend radially inward into the sealing channel so as to form a circuitous sealing labyrinth therein. The seal elements are formed preferably from polyurethane. A highly viscous fluid is disposed within the circuitous sealing labyrinth.

Abstract: A spherical roller bearing having a sealing arrangement and a closure arrangement to prevent the loss of lubricants from the bearing and to prevent the entrance of contaminants into the bearing.

Abstract: A mounting for the road wheel of an automotive vehicle includes a spindle, a hub located around the spindle and inboard and outboard tapered roller bearings located between the hub and spindle where they are mounted in opposition. The cones (inner races) of the two bearings are separated by a spacer which at its ends is attached to the cones. The spacer holds the cones together within the hub so that the bearings and hub can be installed on and removed from the spindle as a unit. The spacer also establishes the setting for the bearings. In addition, the mounting has a seal located in the inboard end of the hub. The seal has lips which establish dynamic fluid barriers along the cone of the inboard bearing and along an adjacent sealing surface on the spindle without contacting the cone or spindle. The raceways and rollers for the two bearings have highly crowned profiles and the hub and the seal within contain an optimum amount of grease for lubricating the bearings.

Abstract: A particle exclusion assembly designed to operate in an inclined position and to protect an associated sealing assembly. The assembly includes radially inner and outer relatively rotatable walls and axially inner and outer baffles and a rotary, controlled porosity, open-celled element which substantially fills the cavity between the two walls and the two baffles. The open-celled element controls the rate of movement of particulate material and restricted annular opening is provided to control ingress and egress of particulate material from the open-celled element.

Abstract: A mounting for the road wheel of an automotive vehicle includes a spindle, a hub located around the spindle and inboard and outboard tapered roller bearings located between the hub and spindle where they are mounted in opposition. The cones (inner races) of the two bearings are separated by a spacer which at its ends is attached to the cones. The spacer holds the cones together within the hub so that the bearings and hub can be installed on and removed from the spindle as a unit. The spacer also establishes the setting for the bearings. In addition, the mounting has a seal located in the inboard end of the hub. The seal has lips which establish dynamic fluid barriers along the cone of the inboard bearing and along an adjacent sealing surface on the spindle without contacting the cone or spindle. The raceways and rollers for the two bearings have highly crowned profiles and the hub and the seal within contain an optimum amount of grease for lubricating the bearings.