Hydrodynamic Sealing Feature Patents (Class 277/559)
  • Patent number: 8967986
    Abstract: To provide a higher sealing capability irrespective of the pressure difference between compression chambers, lips having leading ends extended toward the inner surface of a recessed groove are formed. At least some of the lips have a base end that is shaped to reduce rigidity against extension of the lips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshikazu Harashima, Yoshiyuki Kanemoto, Koji Fukui, Susumu Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 8950753
    Abstract: A radial shaft seal to isolate an air side of the seal from an oil side of the seal is provided. The seal includes a mounting portion and a seal lip having a sealing surface extending between an oil side end and an air side end. An annular bridge is connected to the oil side end by a first hinge and to the mounting portion by a second hinge. The bridge extends in overlying relation to the seal lip. A projection extends from the first hinge away from the bridge. A plurality of ribs extend radially inwardly from the projection. A plurality of nubs extend axially from the oil side end of the seal lip toward the oil side of the shaft seal. The ribs and nubs minimize friction between the seal and a shaft during installation and prevent the seal lip from inverting during an oil-side installation assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Corporation
    Inventors: Brent R. Sedlar, David M. Toth
  • Patent number: 8931452
    Abstract: The present invention provides a vehicle valve stem seal having both durability and sliding properties at an extremely high level in addition to usual sealing performance. The present invention is a vehicle valve stem seal comprising an elastic member with a seal lip portion on an end of a valve stem guide, the seal lip portion slidably closely contacting with a valve stem of an engine, wherein the elastic member is formed of a composition containing a fluororubber and a fluororesin and has projecting portions at least on a surface of the seal lip portion, the projecting portions being substantially formed of the fluororesin contained in the composition, the fluororesin is a copolymer including a polymerization unit derived from ethylene and a polymerization unit derived from tetrafluoroethylene, and the fluororubber is a polymer including a polymerization unit derived from vinylidene fluoride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd., Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidetaka Ogishi, Tetsuya Mizone, Kouhei Takemura, Tomihiko Yanagiguchi
  • Patent number: 8925927
    Abstract: A dynamic seal advantageously utilizes a groove on the active side or surface of the seal to capture a leaked lubricant and hydrodynamically pump the lubricant back into the lubricated side of the seal. The groove stops short of the leading edge of the seal that faces the lubricant side thereby forming a static dam between the termination point of the groove and the seal edge. When the fluid pressure within the groove adjacent the static dam exceeds the opening pressure for the seal lip, the lubricant within the groove is pumped back into the lubricant side of the seal. The groove can have an induction zone wherein the fluid pressure rise is gradual and a booster zone wherein the fluid pressure rise is relatively faster than in the induction zone. The booster zone is disposed adjacent the static dam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Freudenberg-Nok General Partnership
    Inventor: Alexander Berdichevsky
  • Patent number: 8919782
    Abstract: A dynamic lip seal is provided for sealing between a housing and a shaft and with a fluid medium to be sealed on an oil side and air on an air side of the seal. The seal includes a seal lip extending from a seal body and including a shaft contact portion adapted for engagement with the shaft and including a static band and a first set of spiral grooves disposed on an oil side of the static band, and a second set of spiral grooves on an air side of the static band. The first and second sets of spiral grooves are both configured to pump oil toward the static band when the shaft is rotated in a first direction, and the first and second sets of spiral grooves are both configured to pump oil away from the static band when the shaft is rotated in a second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Freudenberg-NOK General Partnership
    Inventor: Alexander Berdichevsky
  • Publication number: 20140312571
    Abstract: A radial-shaft sealing assembly includes a sealing lip disposed on a support ring. A cylindrical portion of the sealing lip that abuts on a rotatable shaft contains an elastomeric material and has a profiling for pumping oil or lubricant back to an oil side of the sealing assembly. The profiling includes first and second annular ridges disposed in parallel, and first and second groups of radially-projecting pumping elements disposed therebetween and distributed around the circumference of the cylindrical portion. Each pumping element extending at an angle (?) to the circumferential direction (U) of the cylindrical portion, but the first group of pumping elements has an opposite orientation to the second group of pumping elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Inventor: Juergen KURTH
  • Publication number: 20140175748
    Abstract: A seal includes a sealing lip having a sealing region with a pumping structure that can abut on a first component. The pumping structure causes a liquid medium to move in a direction from a first axial side of the seal towards or to a second axial side of the seal when the first component rotates relative to a second component. The pumping structure includes at least one pumping groove that extends along a direction of extension and at least one retaining structure disposed in the at least one pumping groove. The at least one retaining structure reduces a cross-section of the at least one pumping groove, in at least one direction perpendicular to the direction of extension, to a value of between 50% and 90% of an extension of the cross-section of the pumping groove outside the at least one retaining structure along the at least one direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventors: Juergen Netzer, Helmut Benedix, Willy Seewald
  • Publication number: 20140151967
    Abstract: A sealing lip seals a first space from a second space with respect to a liquid medium present in the first space. The sealing lip has abutment surface configured to abut on a sealing surface of a component that is movable relative to the sealing lip along a direction of movement. A groove is defined in the abutment surface and pumps any liquid medium present in the groove towards the first space along the direction of movement. The groove extends completely within the abutment surface and is enclosed by the abutment surface, such that it does not intersect either lateral edge of the sealing lip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Inventors: Helmut Benedix, Juergen Kurth, Juergen Netzer, Christoph Passow, Willy Seewald
  • Patent number: 8720903
    Abstract: A fluid seal assembly (the assembly) of the present invention is disposed between an outer surface, i.e. engine block or any other part that requires application of the assembly and a rotatable member, such as, for example a shaft, wherein the assembly circumscribes the shaft and lubricated the shaft and the same rotates around the axis. The assembly includes at least three members: a casing unit, a sealing ring unit, and a collar. The assembly eliminates problems associated with prior art designs such as static leakage of oil, clogging up the spirals with carbonized oil that negatively impact lifecycle of the fluid seals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventors: Yefim Epshetsky, Alex Paykin
  • Patent number: 8714561
    Abstract: To improve durability of a seal lip (4) of an oil seal (1) in slidably contact with the peripheral surface of a shaft (23), a lubricating oil supply section (11) for collecting adhered oil and dropping it on the shaft (23) is provided at a forward end portion of an installation section (2), the lubricating oil supply section (11) has projections (12) formed on the inner peripheral surface of the installation section (2) to collect oil on the surface thereof, the surface of each projection (12) has a recess (13) for temporarily accumulating oil, guidance projections, or a slope for collecting the oil, and dams are formed on a forward end face (2a) of the installation section (2) to block the oil flowing down along the circumferential direction on the forward end face (2a) and guides the oil toward each projection (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Nok Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Yamanaka, Takehiro Nakagawa, Masayuki Tanida, Hideharu Hyakutake, Hiroki Matsui, Hideyuki Furuyama, Go Kanzaki, Shinya Takeda, Kei Sasaki, Akira Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20140110904
    Abstract: A dynamic lip seal is provided for sealing between a housing and a shaft and with a fluid medium to be sealed on an oil side and air on an air side of the seal. The seal includes a seal lip extending from a seal body and including a shaft contact portion adapted for engagement with the shaft and including a static band and a first set of spiral grooves disposed on an oil side of the static band, and a second set of spiral grooves on an air side of the static band. The first and second sets of spiral grooves are both configured to pump oil toward the static band when the shaft is rotated in a first direction, and the first and second sets of spiral grooves are both configured to pump oil away from the static band when the shaft is rotated in a second direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: FREUDENBERG-NOK GENERAL PARTNERSHIP
    Inventor: Freudenberg-NOK General Partnership
  • Patent number: 8678397
    Abstract: In a U-cup based seal of a rod, the basic body of the U-cup 3 is recessed relative to a square cross-sectional shape in the region of a radially inner outer edge 18 on the low pressure side in order to obtain a space 17 between the U-cup 3 and the opening, i.e. the passage opening 16 of a sealing gap 15, leading into a rectangular groove 4 guiding the U-cup 3. This space 17 remains at least partially also upon pressurization such that the U-cup 3 complete remains in the groove 4 upon pressurization and is not extruded into the sealing gap 15. This considerably reduces wear of the U-cup 3. An inner surface 24 of the U-cup shows liquid dragging bore reliefs formed as recesses 25 in the inner surface 24 of the U-cup 3 for transferring hydraulic liquid, disposed on a surface of the translatory movable machine part 1, from a low-pressure side N of the U-cup to a high-pressure side H of the U-cup 3 upon translatory movement of the movable machine part 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Trelleborg Sealing Solutions Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Joerg Peter, Jean-Jacques Adolf, Holger Jordan
  • Patent number: 8651496
    Abstract: A seal to seal a gap between a rotatable component (4, 18) and a non-rotatable component comprises: A fastening section adapted to be fixedly mounted in relation to the non-rotatable component, a sleeve-like section (3) adapted to be mounted around the rotatable component (4, 18), a resilient section (7) between the sleeve-like and fastening section comprising an arcuate portion (8), and in an unmounted condition, the sleeve-like section (3) has an inner diameter, DSEAL, with a predefined magnitude relative to an outer diameter of the rotating component, DSHAFT, such that 0.9?DSEAL/DSHAFT?1.1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventors: Jürgen Kurth, Clifford Roland Worsley
  • Patent number: 8646782
    Abstract: A sealing arrangement, comprising a shaft (1) to be sealed, which is enclosed by a radial shaft seal (2), wherein the radial shaft seal (2) comprises two sealing lips (7, 8) for mutually sealing two spaces (5, 6) to be sealed and filled with a medium (3, 4) to be sealed, said sealing lips being disposed axially adjacent to each other at a distance from each other and delimiting a lubricant reservoir (18) with the shaft (1) to be sealed, wherein the first sealing lip (7) is axially curved in the direction of the first space (5) to be sealed in order to seal the first medium (3) to be sealed, and wherein the second sealing lip (8) is axially curved in the direction of the second space (6) to be sealed in order to seal the second medium (4) to be sealed, wherein both sealing lips (7, 8) each have at least one sealing rib (9, 10), which are delimited by mutually intersecting conical surfaces (11, 12; 13, 14), wherein on both sealing ribs (9, 10) the first conical surface (11, 13) facing the first space (5) to be
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Carl Freudenberg KG
    Inventor: Ulrich Dahlhaus-Preussler
  • Publication number: 20140035238
    Abstract: A seal backup ring assembly is provided that eliminates fluid differential pressure acting radially on the backup ring, preventing collapse of the backup ring against a shaft. The backup ring is assembled so that the initial clearance (extrusion gap) between the backup ring and relatively rotating member is not affected by the differential pressure acting across the assembly. This allows for an initially small extrusion gap to be present throughout the differential pressure range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: Kalsi Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron Paul Richie, Lannie Laroy Dietle
  • Publication number: 20140008875
    Abstract: The present invention is a generally circular rotary seal that establishes sealing between relatively rotatable machine components for lubricant retention and environmental exclusion, and incorporates seal geometry that interacts with the lubricant during relative rotation to distribute a lubricant film within the dynamic sealing interface. The features of a variable inlet size, a variable dynamic lip flank slope, and a reduction in the magnitude and circumferentially oriented portion of the lubricant side interfacial contact pressure zone at the narrowest part of the lip, individually or in combination thereof, serve to maximize interfacial lubrication in severe operating conditions, and also serve to minimize lubricant shear area, seal torque, seal volume, and wear, while ensuring retrofitability into the seal grooves of existing equipment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: Kalsi Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Lannie Laroy Dietle, John Erick Schroeder
  • Patent number: 8585059
    Abstract: A sealing device in which a good lubricating oil film is formed along the entire circumference of a sliding surface. The sealing device (1) is fitted in an annular groove formed in either of two elements that are a housing having a shaft hole and a shaft inserted through the shaft hole, and the sealing device (1) seals an annular gap between the two elements. The sealing device (1) has a seal ring (2) sliding against the other element by relative axial movements of the two elements. In the seal ring (2), on each of axially opposite ends of a sliding surface (20) sliding against the other element, there are formed grooves (22) extending from an end surface (21) of the seal ring (2) toward the axial center of a sliding surface (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: NOK Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Maeda, Yoshiyuki Abe
  • Patent number: 8579298
    Abstract: In a section passing through a central axis of the annular sealing device 100, if a radius of curvature of a curved face between a first inclined face 110X and a second inclined face 110Y is R0, a radius of curvature of a curved face between a side face on a sealed fluid side (O) and the first inclined face 110X in an annular groove is R1a, R2a, R3a, and R4a for respective annular grooves, and a radius of curvature of a curved face between a side face on an atmosphere side (A) and the first inclined face 110X in an annular groove is R1b, R2b, R3b, and R4b for the respective annular grooves, R1b, R2b, R3b, R4b<R0<R1a, R2a, R3a, R4a is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: NOK Corporation
    Inventor: Kazunori Jinbo
  • Patent number: 8573602
    Abstract: A radial shaft seal configured for receipt in a housing and about a shaft to sealingly isolate an air-side of the shaft seal from an oil-side of the shaft seal is provided. The seal includes an annular mounting portion and a seal lip operably attached to the mounting portion. The seal lip has an annular inner sealing surface extending axially between an oil-side end and a free air-side end. The inner sealing surface has a first groove region extending along the shaft in sealed engagement therewith and a second groove region extending along the shaft in sealed engagement therewith. The first groove region and the second groove region are spaced axially from one another by an intermediate non-grooved region. The first groove region is configured to direct contamination toward the air-side of the seal and the second groove region is configured to direct lubrication toward the oil-side of the seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew Payne, Brent R. Sedlar, David M. Toth, Frederick R. Hatch
  • Patent number: 8567789
    Abstract: A sealing device for sealing space between two members concentrically and relatively rotating comprising a core member fixedly fitted into one of the two members, a metal slinger fixedly fitted into the other of the two members, and an elastic seal member fixedly attached to the core member and having a seal lip which elastically and slidably contacts the slinger. The slinger has a slidably contacting treated surface for the seal lip as is processed such a surface-treatment as defined by the following parameters: arithmetic mean roughness Ra in the range from 0.5 ?m to 1.5 ?m, root-mean-square roughness Rq in the range from 0.6 ?m to 2.0 ?m, mean surface irregularity interval Sm in the range from 0.05 mm to 0.17 mm and peak count Pc (50%) in the range from 20 to 60.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Uchiyama Manufacturing Corp.
    Inventor: Koki Ishida
  • Patent number: 8556270
    Abstract: A radial shaft seal configured for receipt in a housing and about a shaft to sealingly isolate an air side of the seal from an oil side of the shaft seal is provided. The seal includes a mounting portion and a seal lip having an annular sealing surface extending between an oil side end and a free air side end. An annular bridge is connected to the oil side end of the seal lip by a first hinge and to the mounting portion by a second hinge. The bridge extends from the first hinge to the second hinge in radially overlying relation to the seal lip. An annular projection extends from the mounting portion axially away from the bridge. The projection has an oil side facing the seal lip and confronts the air side end of the seal lip upon the seal lip pivoting about the first hinge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Corporation
    Inventors: David M. Toth, Brent R. Sedlar
  • Patent number: 8550467
    Abstract: The present invention is a generally circular rotary seal that establishes sealing between relatively rotatable machine components for lubricant retention and environmental exclusion, and incorporates seal geometry that interacts with the lubricant during relative rotation to distribute a lubricant film within the dynamic sealing interface. The features of a variable inlet size, a variable dynamic lip flank slope, and a reduction in the magnitude and circumferentially oriented portion of the lubricant side interfacial contact pressure zone at the narrowest part of the lip, individually or in combination thereof, serve to maximize interfacial lubrication in severe operating conditions, and also serve to minimize lubricant shear area, seal torque, seal volume, and wear, while ensuring retrofitability into the seal grooves of existing equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Kalsi Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Lannie Laroy Dietle, John Erick Schroeder
  • Patent number: 8505924
    Abstract: A rotary shaft sealing assembly in which a first fluid is partitioned from a second fluid in a housing assembly having a rotary shaft located at least partially within. In one embodiment a lip seal is lubricated and flushed with a pressure-generating seal ring preferably having an angled diverting feature. The pressure-generating seal ring and a hydrodynamic seal may be used to define a lubricant-filled region with each of the seals having hydrodynamic inlets facing the lubricant-filled region. Another aspect of the sealing assembly is having a seal to contain pressurized lubricant while withstanding high rotary speeds. Another rotary shaft sealing assembly embodiment includes a lubricant supply providing a lubricant at an elevated pressure to a region between a lip seal and a hydrodynamic seal with a flow control regulating the flow of lubricant past the lip seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Kalsi Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Lannie L. Dietle, John E. Schroeder, Manmohan S. Kalsi, Patricio D. Alvarez
  • Patent number: 8500130
    Abstract: A radial shaft seal configured for receipt in a housing and about a shaft to sealingly isolate an air side of the seal from an oil side of the shaft seal is provided. The seal includes a mounting portion and a seal lip having an annular sealing surface extending between an oil side end and a free air side end. An annular bridge is connected to the oil side end of the seal lip by a first hinge and to the mounting portion by a second hinge. The bridge extends from the first hinge to the second hinge in radially overlying relation to the seal lip. A projection extends from the first hinge away from the bridge toward the oil side of the seal to prevent the seal lip from inverting during the oil-side installation assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Corporation
    Inventors: Brent R. Sedlar, David M. Toth, Ronald M. Noteboom, II
  • Patent number: 8496252
    Abstract: A seal includes a supporting body; a disk-shaped sealing element fixed to the supporting body so as to form a static seal and to include a free end; and a sealing body disposed at the free end so as to form a dynamic sealing edge, wherein the sealing body includes a material that is a different from a material of the sealing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Carl Freudenberg KG
    Inventor: Denis Broisin
  • Publication number: 20130175763
    Abstract: A seal for sealingly engaging a shaft or other rotatable element includes a sealing portion having a lubricant side and a non-lubricant side and extending generally inwardly toward the shaft when the seal is installed thereon. The sealing portion has an active lip portion including a shaft engagement surface engageable with the shaft and a lubricant vent extending through at least a portion of the active lip portion. The lubricant vent provides fluid communication between opposite sides of the active lip portion, thus maintaining adequate lubrication between the shaft engagement surface and the shaft, avoiding lubricant coking, or other degradation, and extending seal life.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: FREUDENBERG-NOK GENERAL PARTNERSHIP
    Inventors: Alexander Berdichevsky, David Sakata, Sean Donovan
  • Patent number: 8459654
    Abstract: A hydrodynamic shaft seal assembly includes a PTFE seal member having outer and inner sections. The outer section is affixed to an annular carrier. The inner section is free and includes at least one hydrodynamic groove in direct running contact with a rotating shaft or wear sleeve. A mid-portion of the seal member is formed between the inner and outer sections. The mid-portion is thinned and includes one or more annular undulations formed therein to improve flexibility of the inner section relative to the outer section. The seal assembly may include one or more excluder features. A rubber casing is molded about portions of the carrier. Preferably, one or more annular undulations are formed in a coining operation during the rubber molding process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Corporation
    Inventors: Frederick R. Hatch, David M. Toth
  • Patent number: 8454025
    Abstract: A dynamic seal advantageously utilizes a plurality of grooves on the active side or surface of the seal to capture a leaked lubricant and hydrodynamically pump the lubricant back into the lubricated side of the seal. The grooves are interrupted at an intermediate location by a continuous circumferential band that aids in preventing leakage past the band when the shaft is not rotating and the grooves on both sides of the band pump contaminants away from the sealing lip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Freudenberg-NOK General Partnership
    Inventors: Sean Donovan, John A. London, Robert Scavuzzo
  • Patent number: 8413995
    Abstract: For an oil seal (1) having a seal lip (6) with a slope (7) at the side of sealed fluid and a slope (8) at the side opposite to the sealed fluid, and a screw section (9) provided on the slope (8) for pushing back sealed fluid by a pumping effect at a time of rotation, in order to achieve low torque characteristics based on fluid lubrication by increasing the thickness of an oil film on sliding surfaces, an intermediate surface (10) is provided between the slopes (7, 8), and an oppositely threaded screw section (11) for sucking the sealed fluid by a pumping effect is provided on the intermediate surface (10) without reaching the boundary (13) between the intermediate surface (10) and the slope (8), so that a threadless region is provided in the entire circumference between the screw section (11) and the boundary (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: NOK Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroki Matsui, Masayuki Tanida, Hirotaka Mizuta, Hideyuki Furuyama, Ken Yoshikawa, Yuki Sato
  • Patent number: 8398088
    Abstract: A sealing ring has a sealing element with at least one fastening part and at least one sealing part provided with a sealing edge. The sealing element is essentially of rotational symmetry. The sealing edge, at least over a portion of a circumference thereof, is positioned in a slanted position relative to a sealing ring axis at an angle different from a 90 degree angle, viewed in a projection onto an axial plane of the sealing ring. A support part is provided and the sealing edge is arranged on an inner side of the support part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: KACO GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Klaus-Jürgen Uhrner, Herbert Gust
  • Patent number: 8376369
    Abstract: A dynamic seal utilizes a groove on the active side of the seal to capture a leaked lubricant and pump the lubricant back into the lubricated side of the seal. The groove stops short of the leading edge of the seal that faces the lubricant side forming a static dam between the termination point of the groove and the seal edge. When the fluid pressure within the groove exceeds the opening pressure for the seal lip, the lubricant within the groove is pumped back into the lubricant side of the seal. The groove can have an induction zone wherein the fluid pressure rise is gradual and a booster zone wherein the fluid pressure rise is relatively faster than in the induction zone. The booster zone is disposed adjacent the static dam. Bars are provided across the spiral grooves to prevent contaminants from reaching and becoming trapped in the booster zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Freudenberg-NOK General Partnership
    Inventors: John A. London, Robert Scavuzzo, Alexander Berdichevsky
  • Patent number: 8328201
    Abstract: A seal assembly is for sealing a space between a housing and a shaft rotatable about a central axis. The seal assembly includes a seal body connectable with the housing and having an inner circumferential sealing surface. The sealing surface has opposing axial ends and is slidably contactable with the shaft outer surface to define a sealing interface. An annular biasing member, preferably a garter spring, is disposed about a portion of the seal body and has a centerline. The biasing member exerts a biasing force directed radially inwardly toward the centerline, such that the seal exerts a contact pressure on the shaft. Further, the biasing member is angularly positioned on the seal body such that the contact pressure extends axially along the shaft axis to direct substances entering the sealing interface toward a proximal axial end of the sealing surface when the shaft rotates about the central axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventor: Yefim Epshetsky
  • Patent number: 8322726
    Abstract: A seal for a compressor for sealing a shaft comprises a first seal part with a sealing edge which is provided on a circular cylindrical surface along a line which deviates from a circular shape and which is closed in itself in the peripheral direction for adjoining and sealing the shaft, and a second seal part with a sealing section which is intended to adjoin the shaft and which is hollowly cylindrical when it adjoins properly with the inside surface which comprises a return structure for a fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: AB SKF
    Inventor: Jürgen Kurth
  • Patent number: 8313104
    Abstract: A sealing device in which a good lubricating oil film is formed along the entire circumference of a sliding surface. The sealing device (1) is fitted in an annular groove formed in either of two elements that are a housing having a shaft hole and a shaft inserted through the shaft hole, and the sealing device (1) seals an annular gap between the two elements. The sealing device (1) has a seal ring (2) sliding against the other element by relative axial movements of the two elements. In the seal ring (2), on each of axially opposite ends of a sliding surface (20) sliding against the other element, there are formed grooves (22) extending from an end surface (21) of the seal ring (2) toward the axial center of a sliding surface (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: NOK Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Maeda, Yoshiyuki Abe
  • Patent number: 8282107
    Abstract: An oil seal for reciprocation motion including a seal main body, a resin backup ring, and a holding member. The seal main body includes a seal lip that can be in sliding contact with a reciprocating shaft. The backup ring is disposed such as to support the seal lip from the atmosphere side to ensure durability of the seal lip. In the backup ring, at least a single annular groove is provided on the inner peripheral surface opposing the reciprocating shaft. The annular groove can hold a lubricating material. The holding member holds the backup ring between the holding member and the seal main body in a sandwiched-state. The inner peripheral surface of the backup ring forms a taper that increases in diameter from a sealed side towards an atmosphere side in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignees: KYB Corporation, Arai Seisakusho Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Horiba, Kazuhiko Yonezawa, Shinichi Sumimoto, Seiji Miyazawa
  • Patent number: 8181971
    Abstract: A sealing ring has a sealing element with at least one fastening part and at least one sealing part provided with a sealing edge. The sealing element is essentially of rotational symmetry. The sealing edge, at least over a portion of a circumference thereof, is positioned in a slanted position relative to a seal axis at an angle different from a 90 degree angle, viewed in a projection onto an axial plane of the sealing ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: KACO GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Klaus-Jürgen Uhrner, Herbert Gust
  • Publication number: 20120013078
    Abstract: A hydrodynamically lubricating geometry for the generally circular dynamic sealing lip of rotary seals that are employed to partition a lubricant from an environment. The dynamic sealing lip is provided for establishing compressed sealing engagement with a relatively rotatable surface, and for wedging a film of lubricating fluid into the interface between the dynamic sealing lip and the relatively rotatable surface in response to relative rotation that may occur in the clockwise or the counter-clockwise direction. A wave form incorporating an elongated dimple provides the gradual convergence, efficient impingement angle, and gradual interfacial contact pressure rise that are conducive to efficient hydrodynamic wedging. Skewed elevated contact pressure zones produced by compression edge effects provide for controlled lubricant movement within the dynamic sealing interface between the seal and the relatively rotatable surface, producing enhanced lubrication and low running torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: Kalsi Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Lannie L. Dietle, John E. Schroeder
  • Publication number: 20110316238
    Abstract: A radial shaft sealing ring for sealing of a casing part of a motor vehicle engine or gearbox, with a supporting body and a sleeve-type sealing lip connected to the supporting body and bent towards the side to be sealed, which sealing lip lies on an axial length L on the shaft and has a conveying groove in the area of contact with the shaft for conveying of medium back into the volume to be sealed, and which sealing lip has a sufficient bending elasticity to achieve a sufficient contact pressure without the use of additional means, wherein the material of the sealing lip essentially consists of a high temperature cross-linked LSR liquid silicone material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Inventor: Wolfgang Schmitt
  • Patent number: 8075000
    Abstract: A composite, dynamic seal suitable for use in a high temperature environment and method of making same. The dynamic seal includes a resilient, generally ring-shaped seal body having a first layer formed of a first resilient sealing material and a second layer formed of a second resilient sealing material. The first and second layers are preferably molded and cured together simultaneously and chemically cross-linked to each other. The first resilient sealing material is selected for its wear resistant dynamic properties and the second resilient sealing material is selected for its compression set resistant properties. Preferably, the first resilient sealing material is tetrafluoroethylene and propylene copolymer and the second resilient sealing material is fluorocarbon rubber. The first and second resilient sealing materials have compatible cure systems, preferably peroxide cure systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Kalsi Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian A. James, John E. Schroeder, Rome Richardson, Lannie L. Dietle
  • Publication number: 20110278801
    Abstract: A seal is disclosed for use in a rolling mill oil film bearing in which a sleeve is mounted on a roll neck for rotation therewith, the sleeve is journalled for rotation in a fixed bushing, and a flow of oil exits from between the sleeve and the bushing. The seal comprises a flexible circular seal body adapted to be mounted on and to rotate with the roll neck. Circumferentially spaced impellers project from the seal body. The impellers are rotatable with the seal body and serve to rotatively propel oil exiting from between the sleeve and bushing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: MORGAN CONSTRUCTION COMPANY
    Inventors: Thomas C. Wojtkowski, JR., Peter N. Osgood
  • Patent number: 8056904
    Abstract: A hydrodynamically lubricating geometry for the generally circular dynamic sealing lip of rotary seals that are employed to partition a lubricant from an environment. The dynamic sealing lip is provided for establishing compressed sealing engagement with a relatively rotatable surface, and for wedging a film of lubricating fluid into the interface between the dynamic sealing lip and the relatively rotatable surface in response to relative rotation that may occur in the clockwise or the counter-clockwise direction. A wave form incorporating an elongated dimple provides the gradual convergence, efficient impingement angle, and gradual interfacial contact pressure rise that are conducive to efficient hydrodynamic wedging. Skewed elevated contact pressure zones produced by compression edge effects provide for controlled lubricant movement within the dynamic sealing interface between the seal and the relatively rotatable surface, producing enhanced lubrication and low running torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Kalsi Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Lannie L. Dietle, John E. Schroeder
  • Publication number: 20110215530
    Abstract: The present invention relates to circumferential seal ring segments positioned around a rotating shaft so as to prevent fluids from leaking from a lubricant sump during both low and high pressure conditions. The circumferential seal is comprised of a plurality of adjoining annular ring segments facing the rotating shaft. Each sealing ring segment includes a dead end circumferential groove on a shaft-side face of each sealing ring such that, when the segments are joined, the circumferential dead end groove of each segment extends arcuately in the direction of shaft rotation. At least one additional groove is contained on the shaft-side face of each sealing ring segment. Each additional groove may contain a pocket. The additional groove(s) directs and creates pressurized air within the dead end circumferential groove, either directly or indirectly maintaining a seal between the ring segments and the shaft. A bleed hole may also be provided to create a seal between each sealing segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2011
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: Stein Seal Company
    Inventors: Thurai Manik Vasagar, Alan D. McNickle, Glenn M. Garrison, Diane McNickle
  • Publication number: 20110215535
    Abstract: The present invention relates to circumferential seal ring segments positioned around a rotating shaft so as to prevent fluids from leaking from a lubricant sump during both low and high pressure conditions. The circumferential seal is comprised of a plurality of adjoining annular ring segments facing the rotating shaft. Each sealing ring segment includes a dead end circumferential groove on a shaft-side face of each sealing ring such that, when the segments are joined, the circumferential dead end groove of each segment extends arcuately in the direction of shaft rotation. At least one additional groove is contained on the shaft-side face of each sealing ring segment. The additional groove(s) directs and creates pressurized air within the dead end circumferential groove, either directly or indirectly maintaining a seal between the ring segments and the shaft. A bleed hole may also be provided to create a seal between each sealing segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: Stein Seal Company
    Inventors: Thurai Manik Vasagar, Alan D. McNickle, Diane R. McNickle, Glenn M. Garrison
  • Patent number: 8011673
    Abstract: A dynamic shaft seal assembly is provided including a dynamic seal for engaging a rotary shaft. The dynamic seal includes a base portion that is mounted within a casing and has an axially extending barrel portion extending from a radially inner end of the base portion. The axially extending barrel portion terminates in a radially extending leg portion which extends inwardly from an end of the axially extending portion. A generally conically shaped seal portion extends from an end of the radially extending portion and the seal portion includes a radially inner face engaging the shaft and a radially outer face having a stiffening bead integrally formed thereon. The stiffening bead reduces the seal's propensity for “bell mouthing” while the axially extending barrel portion provides improved shaft followability for the dynamic seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Freudenberg-NOK General Partnership
    Inventor: Alexander Berdichevsky
  • Publication number: 20110204579
    Abstract: A dynamic seal advantageously utilizes a plurality of grooves on the active side or surface of the seal to capture a leaked lubricant and hydrodynamically pump the lubricant back into the lubricated side of the seal. The grooves are interrupted at an intermediate location by a continuous circumferential band that aids in preventing leakage past the band when the shaft is not rotating and the grooves on both sides of the band pump contaminants away from the sealing lip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: FREUDENBERG-NOK GENERAL PARTNERSHIP
    Inventors: Sean Donovan, John A. London, Robert Scavuzzo
  • Patent number: 7963526
    Abstract: A radial shaft seal is provided for accommodating large radial offset of the shaft relative to a housing. The seal includes an annular retainer insert provided for engaging the seal to a fixed housing. An annular elastomeric seal body is molded to the retainer insert and includes a flexible axially extending portion extending from an inner surface of the retainer insert. A seal portion extends from a radially inward end of the flexible portion and includes first and second seal lips and an elastomeric bearing surface disposed between the first and second sealing lips. The bearing surface includes a plurality of raised pads adapted to engage the shaft. The pads each include a rounded edge on lateral sides thereof for encouraging the creation of a lubricating film between the pads and shaft. The pads are lubricated by a lubricant disposed in a lubricant chamber disposed between the first and second seal lips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Freudenberg-NOK General Partnership
    Inventor: John C. Dahlheimer
  • Patent number: 7959159
    Abstract: In order to provide a seal arrangement for sealing between a first medium space filled with a first medium and a second medium space filled with a second medium which ensures reliable sealing between the medium spaces with very low leakage values even over a prolonged period of use, wherein said seal arrangement comprises a moveable component which is displaceable in the longitudinal direction thereof and/or rotatable about the longitudinal direction thereof and extends through the seal arrangement and wherein the seal arrangement comprises a sealing element which comprises a first sealing region that is sealing in relation to the first medium space and a second sealing region that is sealing in relation to the second medium space, wherein the first sealing region comprises a first dynamic sealing section abutting against the moveable component and the second sealing region comprises a second dynamic sealing section abutting against the moveable component and at least one of the two dynamic sealing sections h
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignees: ElringKlinger AG, Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Hocker, Walter Schuhmacher, Clemens Schefzik, Klaus Lang, Siamend Flo, Berthold Pfuhl, Heinz Siegel
  • Patent number: 7931277
    Abstract: A circumferential seal system for sealing a high pressure region from a low pressure region separated by a runner with an outer circumferential surface and a seal ring disposed about the outer circumferential surface is described. The seal system includes a plurality of groove sets separately disposed along the outer circumferential surface. Each groove set further includes at least two grooves. At least one groove within each groove set exerts a lifting force via a fluid from the high pressure region onto the seal ring as the runner translates with respect to the seal ring along an axis substantially perpendicular to the rotation of the runner. The continuous feed of fluid onto the seal ring ensures a thin film between the seal ring and the runner regardless of their relative arrangement during axial excursions of the runner resulting from conditions within a turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Stein Seal Company
    Inventor: Glenn M. Garrison
  • Patent number: 7931125
    Abstract: A shaft seal assembly for use with a reciprocating or rotating shaft includes a shaft seal, a lubricant-storing ring, and a retainer. The retainer and ring can be formed as a subassembly and then combined with a shaft seal. The seal includes an annular body portion, a first sealing lip portion, and a first pocket portion. The first sealing lip portion has a substantially uniform axial dimension and is adapted to sealingly engage a shaft. The first pocket portion includes a plurality of pockets, each having an opening toward the first sealing lip portion. The plurality of pockets are each adapted to collect a working fluid when the shaft axially displaces in a first direction and to dispense the working fluid when the shaft axially displaces in a second direction. The assembly provides a lubricated shaft and seal that improves the effective life of the shaft seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Freudenberg-NOK General Partnership
    Inventors: Michael D. Downes, Robert P. LaPlante
  • Patent number: 7918463
    Abstract: A reciprocating seal used, for example, for a shock absorber. A main seal lip has a two-step lip structure including a first lip and a second lip and a plurality of protrusions extending in the direction of the shaft are formed on a sliding contact surface of the second lip, thereby improving frictional force characteristics and, at the same time, improving sealing performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Nok Corporation
    Inventors: Hidenori Arai, Kazuki Takeno, Ichiro Yamane, Shinobu Munekata, Katsumi Yamashina, Masaru Watanabe