Abstract: A piston assembly is for a fluid delivery device, preferably a lubricant injector, the injector having a measuring chamber defined by an inner cylindrical surface and an axial end face, a flow port through the end face, and a central axis extending through the chamber. The piston assembly includes a piston body disposeable within the chamber so as to be linearly displaceable along the central axis. The piston body includes a cylindrical head, the head having first and second axial ends and an outer circumferential surface, and a rod extending axially from the second axial end of the piston head. A seal is coupled with the first axial end of the piston head and has an annular lip sealingly engageable with the chamber inner cylindrical surface and an axial end engageable with the chamber end face.

Abstract: A seal assembly includes an annular seal body disposable about a first member and having an axial sealing lip engageable with the radial surface of a second member, first and second circumferential ends and an outer circumferential surface. A plurality of teeth extend outwardly from the outer surface and are spaced circumferentially about a centerline. A first coupler member has teeth disposed between and attached to the teeth of the seal body to form a first attachment interface adjacent to the seal body first end. A second coupler member has teeth disposed between and attached to the teeth of the seal body to form a second attachment interface adjacent to the seal body second end. The first and second coupler members are connected so as to couple the two ends of the seal body and to retain the seal assembly about the first member.

Abstract: A piston assembly is for a fluid delivery device, preferably a lubricant injector, the injector having a measuring chamber defined by an inner cylindrical surface and an axial end face, a flow port through the end face, and a central axis extending through the chamber. The piston assembly includes a piston body disposeable within the chamber so as to be linearly displaceable along the central axis. The piston body includes a cylindrical head, the head having first and second axial ends and an outer circumferential surface, and a rod extending axially from the second axial end of the piston head. A seal is coupled with the first axial end of the piston head and has an annular lip sealingly engageable with the chamber inner cylindrical surface and an axial end engageable with the chamber end face.

Abstract: A seal assembly includes an annular seal body disposeable about a first member and having an axial sealing lip engageable with the radial surface of a second member, first and second circumferential ends and an outer circumferential surface. A plurality of teeth extend outwardly from the outer surface and are spaced circumferentially about a centerline. A first coupler member has teeth disposed between and attached to the teeth of the seal body to form a first attachment interface adjacent to the seal body first end. A second coupler member has teeth disposed between and attached to the teeth of the seal body to form a second attachment interface adjacent to the seal body second end. The first and second coupler members are connected so as to couple the two ends of the seal body and to retain the seal assembly about the first member.

Abstract: A shield device prevents materials from contacting a seal for a shaft extending outwardly from a housing and displacing a mounted component. The shield device includes an annular disk having opposing first and second radial surfaces and outer and inner circumferential edges, the inner edge defining a bore for receiving the shaft. The disk is coupleable with the shaft so as to be disposed between the component and the housing and is spaced axially above the seal such that the first radial surface faces the seal. The disk has an outside diameter greater than the seal outside diameter and overlaps the seal with the disk outer edge being spaced radially outwardly from the seal to provide a barrier about the seal. Preferably, an annular projection extends axially outwardly from the first, lower radial surface and is disposeable within a circular groove of the housing that extends about the seal.

Abstract: An annular seal element includes a seal body having a radially inner surface and at least one seal lip extending radially outward from the seal body. There is an open, radially inwardly facing circumferential channel in the radially inner surface and a garter spring is disposed entirely within the circumferential channel. Also, a seal plug including the annular seal element.

Abstract: A seal assembly for sealing between first and second tubular members includes an annular seal body disposeable within an annular gland between the tubular members and formed of a generally compressible polymeric material. The seal body has a first axial sealing surface disposed against a first tubular member end surface, a second axial sealing member disposeable against a second tubular member end surface and a recess(es) defined partially by an angled activation surface. An annular backing ring formed of a substantially rigid material is disposed the body recess to couple the backing ring with the seal body. The backing ring has an outer axial end disposeable against the first member end surface to prevent radially outward displacement of the portions of the seal at the first member end surface and is biased axially toward the first member end surface when compression of the seal body displaces the activation surface axially.

Abstract: A shield device prevents materials from contacting a seal for a shaft extending outwardly from a housing and displacing a mounted component. The shield device includes an annular disk having opposing first and second radial surfaces and outer and inner circumferential edges, the inner edge defining a bore for receiving the shaft. The disk is coupleable with the shaft so as to be disposed between the component and the housing and is spaced axially above the seal such that the first radial surface faces the seal. The disk has an outside diameter greater than the seal outside diameter and overlaps the seal with the disk outer edge being spaced radially outwardly from the seal to provide a barrier about the seal. Preferably, an annular projection extends axially outwardly from the first, lower radial surface and is disposeable within a circular groove of the housing that extends about the seal.

Abstract: A coupler is for selectively coupling a first bearing ring with a first backing ring or a second bearing ring with a second backing ring and includes a flexible annular body disposeable simultaneously within the first bearing ring and first backing ring or within the second bearing ring and second backing ring. A first bearing projection and a first backing ring projection extend radially from a first circumferential surface and are axially spaced apart and a second bearing projection and a second backing ring projection extend radially from a second circumferential surface and are axially spaced apart. The body is invertible between a first orientation in which the first bearing ring and backing ring projections are disposeable within the first bearing and backing ring openings and a second orientation in which the second bearing ring and backing ring projections are disposeable within the second bearing and backing ring openings.

Abstract: An annular seal element includes a seal body having a radially inner surface and at least one seal lip extending radially outward from the seal body. There is an open, radially inwardly facing circumferential channel in the radially inner surface and a garter spring is disposed entirely within the circumferential channel. Also, a seal plug including the annular seal element.

Abstract: A seal assembly for sealing between first and second tubular members includes an annular seal body disposeable within an annular gland between the tubular members and formed of a generally compressible polymeric material. The seal body has a first axial sealing surface disposed against a first tubular member end surface, a second axial sealing member disposeable against a second tubular member end surface and a recess(es) defined partially by an angled activation surface. An annular backing ring formed of a substantially rigid material is disposed the body recess to couple the backing ring with the seal body. The backing ring has an outer axial end disposeable against the first member end surface to prevent radially outward displacement of the portions of the seal at the first member end surface and is biased axially toward the first member end surface when compression of the seal body displaces the activation surface axially.

Abstract: A seal assembly is for sealing a space between an inner surface of an outer member and an outer surface of a shaft within the outer member. The seal assembly includes an annular seal body having first and second axial ends, inner and outer circumferential surfaces, and a seal lip extending radially inwardly from the body and having an inner surface sealingly engageable with the shaft surface. The seal body is sized such that a clearance space is defined between the seal body outer surface and the outer member inner surface and a portion of the body inner surface is engageable with the shaft such that the body is radially displaceable within the clearance space when the shaft displaces radially. A retainer coupled with the outer member has a radial surface and a biasing member biases the seal body toward the retainer radial surface or a radial stop surface.

Abstract: A seal assembly is for a spherical plain bearing with an inner ring mounted on a shaft and an outer ring disposed about the inner ring and having a concave inner surface slidably displaceable against the inner ring convex outer surface. The seal assembly includes an annular inner member disposed about the shaft axially adjacent to the bearing inner ring and having opposing first and second axial ends and an outer engagement surface extending axially between the first and second ends. A generally annular outer member has a base portion coupled with the bearing outer ring and a lip portion extending radially inwardly from the base portion and having an outer end sealingly engageable with the outer engagement surface of the seal inner member. The lip portion slidably displaces generally axially along the inner member engagement surface when the outer ring displaces axially relative to the inner ring.

Abstract: A seal assembly is for sealing a space between an inner surface of an outer member and an outer surface of a shaft within the outer member. The seal assembly includes an annular seal body having first and second axial ends, inner and outer circumferential surfaces, and a seal lip extending radially inwardly from the body and having an inner surface sealingly engageable with the shaft surface. The seal body is sized such that a clearance space is defined between the seal body outer surface and the outer member inner surface and a portion of the body inner surface is engageable with the shaft such that the body is radially displaceable within the clearance space when the shaft displaces radially. A retainer coupled with the outer member has a radial surface and a biasing member biases the seal body toward the retainer radial surface or a radial stop surface.

Abstract: The invention is a Y-bone fish fillet knife, a specialized Y-bone fish fillet knife blade and methods of using same to debone fish having Y-bones. Features of the novel Y-bone fish fillet knife and its specialized knife edge include an intentionally unsharpened, or rounded edge, notched groove and an arcuate cutting edge. The rounded notched groove tracks and slides along the Y-bones during cutting. The cutting edge may have other shapes and be dual-edged according to other embodiments. The knife and its handle are designed for ambidextrous use.

Abstract: A seal is for sealing an axial space between first and second axially-spaced members, the first member having a radial surface and the second member having an outer circumferential surface. The seal includes an annular body having inner and outer circumferential surfaces and first and second axial ends, a radial sealing surface proximal to the first end to sealingly engage with the first member radial surface, and a circumferential sealing surface proximal to the second end to sealingly engage with the second member outer surface. At least a portion of the seal body extends circumferentially about and encloses the axial space. The seal may be incorporated in a joint assembly for a linkage having first and second links, the assembly including a shaft coupled with the first link and a boss coupled with the second link, receiving the shaft, and defining an axial space in which the seal is disposed.

Abstract: A seal is for sealing an axial space between first and second axially-spaced members, the first member having a radial surface and the second member having an outer circumferential surface. The seal includes an annular body having inner and outer circumferential surfaces and first and second axial ends, a radial sealing surface proximal to the first end to sealingly engage with the first member radial surface, and a circumferential sealing surface proximal to the second end to sealingly engage with the second member outer surface. At least a portion of the seal body extends circumferentially about and encloses the axial space. The seal may be incorporated in a joint assembly for a linkage having first and second links, the assembly including a shaft coupled with the first link and a boss coupled with the second link, receiving the shaft, and defining an axial space in which the seal is disposed.

Abstract: A composite seal including multiple seal elements is disclosed along with corresponding methods and seal structures. In one embodiment, the composite seal may include a first, substantially annular seal element having an upper body portion, a neck portion, and an axial protrusion. The upper body portion includes opposing inclined surfaces extending toward the neck portion defining a first angle. The axial protrusion includes opposing inclined surfaces extending towards an axial end of the axial protrusion defining a second angle, wherein the first angle and the second angle are substantially similar. The composite seal may further include a second, substantially annular seal element having a mouth portion, a neck portion and a recess portion, wherein the axial protrusion is configured to be complementarily engaged with the recess portion in an interlocking manner.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include a folding slider joint for selective folding or collapsing of an elongated structural member. Various embodiments of the folding slider joint may include end caps for ends of the elongated members, the end caps configured for dual pivoting linkage with each other, a hollow slider configured for sliding over the end caps in the ends of the elongated members, optional slider stops and optional detent locking mechanisms. Methods of operating the folding slider joint are also disclosed.

Abstract: A seal assembly for a groove or seal gland in a relatively stationary machine part for sealing an axially displaceable machine part extending therethrough comprises a relatively flexible seal element supported by a relatively rigid support element. The seal element has a static seal that bears on a radial wall of the seal gland to provide superior back-pressure relief while maintaining proper seal element position in the seal gland.