Hydrodynamic Sealing Feature Patents (Class 277/559)
  • Publication number: 20040207161
    Abstract: A structure and method of manufacturing an outer surface of a shaft avoids the creation of a preferential lead and thereby minimizes leakage through an annular seal assembly when such shaft is rotated or otherwise moved relative thereto during use. The outer circumferential surface of the shaft is formed having a plurality of relatively small irregularities that are evenly distributed thereabout. Such irregularities may be defined by relatively higher portions and relatively lower portions that are formed in an intersecting, cross hatched pattern or in a circumferentially extending undulating or oscillating pattern. To form the cross hatched pattern, an apparatus can be operated to engage the outer circumferential surface of the shaft in two sequential passes in opposite axial directions while the shaft is being rotated. To form the undulating pattern, an apparatus can be operated to engage the outer circumferential surface of the shaft in an axially reciprocating manner while the shaft is being rotated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2004
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Inventor: Mark Shuster
  • Patent number: 6779798
    Abstract: A sealing arrangement includes a sealing ring (1) having a sealing lip (3) which is curved forward in the direction of the area to be sealed off (2). The sealing lip (3) is pre-tensioned so as to surround and form a seal around the circumference of the machine element (4) to be sealed off. The sealing lip (3) has, on the side facing radially away from the machine element (4), at least one recess (5). The recess (5) only connects and allows flow between the area to be sealed off (2) and the surrounding area (6) if the sealing ring (1) is incorrectly mounted and the sealing lip (3) is erroneously curved forward in the direction of the surrounding area (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: Firma Carl Freudenberg
    Inventor: Fabrice Fougerolle
  • Patent number: 6769500
    Abstract: A rock bit seal in which the shape of the retainer lip (which restrains the seal from axial motion in response to pressure differentials) is optimized, with respect to the as-deformed shape of the seal in place, to achieve a preload stress which is everywhere nonzero. Preferably the ratio of maximum to minimum stress in the as-installed condition is kept to a small ratio, e.g. less than 2:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Raul A. Miglierini
  • Patent number: 6767016
    Abstract: A hydrodynamically lubricating rotary seal for partitioning a lubricant from an environment has a generally circular seal body and sloping, generally opposed projecting static and dynamic sealing lips. The dynamic sealing lip is provided for establishing compressed sealing relation with a relatively rotatable surface, and has a sloping dynamic sealing surface that varies in width, and also has a hydrodynamic inlet curvature that varies in position around the circumference of the seal. When the seal is installed against a relatively rotatable surface, the dynamic sealing lip deforms to define a variable width interfacial contact footprint against the relatively rotatable surface that is wavy on the lubricant side, and wedges a film of lubricating fluid into the interface in response to relative rotation. The environment edge of the interfacial contact footprint is substantially circular, and therefore does not produce a hydrodynamic wedging action in response to relative rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Gobeli, Lannie Dietle, Manmohan S. Kalsi
  • Patent number: 6736404
    Abstract: A structure and method of manufacturing an outer surface of a shaft avoids the creation of a preferential lead and thereby minimizes leakage through an annular seal assembly when such shaft is rotated or otherwise moved relative thereto during use. The outer circumferential surface of the shaft is formed having a plurality of relatively small irregularities that are evenly distributed thereabout. Such irregularities may be defined by relatively higher portions and relatively lower portions that are formed in an intersecting, cross hatched pattern or in a circumferentially extending undulating or oscillating pattern. To form the cross hatched pattern, an apparatus can be operated to engage the outer circumferential surface of the shaft in two sequential passes in opposite axial directions while the shaft is being rotated. To form the undulating pattern, an apparatus can be operated to engage the outer circumferential surface of the shaft in an axially reciprocating manner while the shaft is being rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Dana Corporation
    Inventor: Mark Shuster
  • Patent number: 6729624
    Abstract: A radial shaft seal for dynamic applications is disclosed. The shaft seal has a case member and a resilient sealing body attached to the case member. The sealing body includes an annular elastomeric member and a resinous ring. The elastomeric member has a radially extending section and a distal end. The resinous ring has a radially extending portion and an edge. The radially extending section is contiguous to the radially extending portion to form a composite seal lip body. The composite seal lip body, as installed, is positioned so that the distal end of the radially extending section and the edge of said radially extending portion engage the shaft in fluid tight relation by the elastomeric member and by the reaction forces of the resinous ring. Therefore, a portion of the reaction forces is shared by the edge and the distal end so as to reduce the wear in the distal end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Freudenberg-NOK General Partnership
    Inventor: David E. Johnston
  • Patent number: 6726213
    Abstract: A bi-direction rotatable face seal with spiral grooves is provided comprising: a rotating ring with a sealing face sealed and fixed on a rotary shaft; a stationary ring with a sealing face mounted in a casing, which is sealed and axially aligned by means of an elastomeric O-ring, a thrust ring, springs and anti-rotating pins; the sealing face of the stationary ring is pushed into engagement with the sealing face of the rotating ring to form a sealing interface; sealing fluid is located on high pressure side of the sealing interface; the rotating ring can rotate relative to the stationary ring in bi-direction without contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Inventor: Yuming Wang
  • Patent number: 6726211
    Abstract: A sealing device including a fitting portion fixed on a first surface forming an annular gap with a second surface; and a seal supported by a support provided at the fitting portion and including a plurality of axial lips whose tips come into contact with the second surface. The annular gap is sealed for the purpose of isolating a sealed side and a non-sealed side, and ribs for pumping a sealing fluid to the sealed side are formed on the lips at the non-sealed side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: NOK Corporation
    Inventors: Yuichi Kuroki, Akira Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 6715768
    Abstract: A sealing ring having a sealing disk made of polymer material, which has a retaining segment and a sealing segment. The retaining segment is connected to a support ring and the sealing segment is curved in the direction of a space that is to be sealed off and sealingly surrounds a shaft against which it forms a seal on its peripheral side under radial prestressing. The sealing segment on the side facing the shaft has a first surface profiling, the first surface profiling on the side facing the space to be sealed off being formed by at least one recirculating element, and at least one dust lip being arranged on the side of the recirculating element facing away from the space to be sealed off. Between the recirculating element and the dust lip, an annular, self-contained sealing bead is arranged which sealingly surrounds the shaft on the peripheral side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Firma Carl Freudenberg
    Inventors: Eberhard Bock, Gilbert Pataille, Boris Tchilingurian
  • Patent number: 6705617
    Abstract: A hydrodynamic shaft seal formed with a spiral hydrodynamic channel in which successive turns of the channel are of progressively diminishing volume toward an air side of the seal. The channel is made by forming a spirally extending first cut in a surface of the seal, and forming a spirally extending second cut in the surface of the seal adjacent to the first cut such that the first and second cuts intersect below the surface of the seal to produce a spiral channel. The spiral of the first cut has a lead different from the lead of the second cut such that the channel is of progressively diminishing volume along its length. Alternatively, the second cut may have the same lead as the first cut for the first few turns, after which the lead of the second cut may be reduced, to provide a channel of constant volume for the first few turns, followed by a channel portion of reduced volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul World Wide, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward W. Mellet, David M. Toth, Carole L. Straub
  • Patent number: 6688603
    Abstract: A radial shaft sealing ring, comprising a sealing member made of plastics, especially PTFE compound material, and including a sealing lip which has a portion in sealing engagement with the surface of a shaft towards the medium side is characterized in that a contact pressure means is provided at the medium side of the sealing lip for applying a force with a radially inwardly directed component to said portion of the sealing lip, keeping it pressed against the surface of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Dichtungstechnik G. Bruss GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Michael vom Schemm
  • Patent number: 6685194
    Abstract: A hydrodynamically lubricating seal has a generally circular seal body defining a static sealing surface and having a dynamic sealing lip projecting from the seal body for establishing sealing relation with a relatively rotatable surface. When compressed against a relatively rotatable surface, dynamic sealing lip defines a hydrodynamic geometry which wedges a film of lubricating fluid into the interface between the seal and the relatively rotatable surface in response to relative rotation. The dynamic sealing lip geometry maintains interfacial contact pressure within the dynamic sealing interface for efficient hydrodynamic lubrication and environmental exclusion, which enhances lubrication and environmental exclusion while permitting relatively high initial compression and relatively low torque. In abrasive environments, the improved exclusionary action results in a dramatic reduction of seal and shaft wear, compared to prior art, and provides a significant increase in seal life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Inventors: Lannie Dietle, Manmohan S. Kalsi, Jeffrey D. Gobeli
  • Patent number: 6679335
    Abstract: A method for preparing casing for use in a wellbore such as for example, in preparation, for use to line a borehole through a formation or to act as a drill string and thereafter to remain in hole. In the method, a device supporting the use of the wellbore casing is crimped onto the outer surface of the casing. The device supporting casing use can be to facilitate run in through the borehole, to maintain positioning relative to the borehole, to accommodate wear against the wall of the borehole into which the casing is run or to enhance the results of cementing. The devices supporting the use of the casing are attached by crimping to the casing to create a connection having structurally significant axial and torque load transfer capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Tesco Corporation
    Inventors: Maurice William Slack, Trent Michael Victor Kaiser
  • Publication number: 20030222407
    Abstract: A rotation shaft seal to seal liquid, which is poor of lubricant liquid, stably for a long time. In a rotation shaft seal, provided with a rubber lip portion having a sliding inner peripheral edge portion which contacts a rotation shaft to seal liquid on a pressure chamber side, a lubricant liquid well portion is disposed near the sliding inner peripheral edge portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2003
    Publication date: December 4, 2003
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Cable Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Hosokawa, Tomoya Inagaki
  • Patent number: 6592337
    Abstract: A shaft seal seals a rotary shaft surface to prevent fluid from moving between a high-pressure area and a low-pressure area. The shaft seal has a lip type ring fitted on the side of the high-pressure area of the rotary shaft. The lip type ring further includes a lip ring, a plurality of first portions and a plurality of second portions. The lip ring is located around the rotary shaft. The lip ring has a ring surface. The first portions are formed on the ring surface to slidably contact the rotary shaft surface. The first portions guide the fluid towards a space between the ring surface and the rotary shaft surface as the rotary shaft is rotated. The second portions are formed on the ring surface. The second portions prevent the fluid in the space from leaking into the low-pressure area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
    Inventors: Takeshi Yamada, Takayuki Imai, Naoya Yokomachi
  • Publication number: 20030098549
    Abstract: A hydrodynamic shaft seal formed with a spiral hydrodynamic channel in which successive turns of the channel are of progressively diminishing volume toward an air side of the seal. The channel is made by forming a spirally extending first cut in a surface of the seal, and forming a spirally extending second cut in the surface of the seal adjacent to the first cut such that the first and second cuts intersect below the surface of the seal to produce a spiral channel. The spiral of the first cut has a lead different from the lead of the second cut such that the channel is of progressively diminishing volume along its length. Alternatively, the second cut may have the same lead as the first cut for the first few turns, after which the lead of the second cut may be reduced, to provide a channel of constant volume for the first few turns, followed by a channel portion of reduced volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2001
    Publication date: May 29, 2003
    Applicant: Federal-Mogul World Wide, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward W. Mellet, David M. Toth, Carole L. Straub
  • Patent number: 6561520
    Abstract: A rotary seal is provided that operates hydrodynamically in response to relative rotation even when subjected to exposure to a high fluid pressure from either side, and provides low breakout and running torque. A dynamic sealing lip having a wavy geometry provides hydrodynamic lubrication in response to relative rotation when little or no differential pressure is acting across the seal. When differential pressure exists, controlled fluid pressure-induced distortion results in a distorted dynamic sealing lip configuration that is suitable for hydrodynamic lubrication, regardless of which direction the differential pressure acts from.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Kalsi Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Manmohan S. Kalsi, Lannie M. Dietle, William Conroy, John E. Schroeder
  • Patent number: 6520507
    Abstract: A sealing sleeve made of a polymer material especially for small-dimension installation spaces, the sealing sleeve having a retaining segment and a sealing segment, the retaining segment being connected to a supporting body and the sealing segment on the peripheral side encircling a shaft to be sealed or a barrel ring in a sealing manner under radial biasing and having on the side facing the shaft a surface profiling for recirculating the lubricant, wherein the connecting diameter (interior diameter (D) of the enclosing part (31)) is 1.0 to 1.05 times the shaft diameter (W) plus four times the sleeve thickness (d).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Firma Carl Freudenberg
    Inventors: Gilbert Pataille, Boris Tchilingurian
  • Patent number: 6517083
    Abstract: First pumping threads are formed on an inner circumferential surface of the seal lip portion of an elastomer lip member. The first pumping threads generate a pumping action in a leakage direction when a shaft rotates. A first resin lip member is arranged at a rear side of the elastomer lip member. Second pumping threads generate a pumping action in a direction opposite to the leakage direction when the shaft rotates. The second pumping threads are formed from an inner circumferential surface of a seal lip portion of the first resin lip member to a rear portion of a bent portion thereof. A second resin lip member is arranged at a rear side of the first resin lip member and has a surface sliding on the shaft, which is formed smoothly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho, Eagle Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Yamada, Takayuki Imai, Takanobu Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 6517082
    Abstract: An elastomer lip member with its rear supported by a pressure resisting back-up ring, and a synthetic resin lip member arranged on a rear side of the elastomer lip are comprised, and on the inner circumferential surface of the seal lip portion of the elastomer lip member, helical grooves generating a pumping action of a fluid introducing direction from an inner space of machine side when a shaft rotates are formed. When a pressure in the inner space of machine is MPa (gage), by making a contact width between the seal lip portion of the elastomer lip member and a shaft at least 0.6 mm, so that a surface pressure maximum portion of the seal lip portion of the elastomer lip member to the shaft is biased or maldistributed toward its rear side whereby a fluid introduction by said helical grooves is performed satisfactorily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho, Eagle Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Yamada, Takayuki Imai, Yasuhiro Ikeda
  • Patent number: 6494462
    Abstract: A hydrodynamic seal for location in a seal groove of a structure, such as a housing and for dynamic sealing engagement with a relatively rotatable surface. Elevated contact pressure zones caused by pressure manipulation features located at least partially on the dynamic sealing surface of the seal provide for controlled lubricant movement within the dynamic sealing interface between the seal and the relatively rotatable surface for enhanced lubrication of the seal even when the seal defines a wide sealing footprint with the relatively rotatable surface. The pressure manipulation feature may be defined by projections at least partially from the dynamic sealing lip which are compressed against the relatively rotatable surface or depressions which define pressure manipulating edges which react with the lubricant in the dynamic sealing interface responsive to relative rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Kalsi Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Lannie L. Dietle
  • Patent number: 6481720
    Abstract: The invention provides a stern tube sealing apparatus which prevents an abrasion by cooling and lubricating a sliding contact surface of a first seal ring, prevents a foreign substance and a seawater from entering so as to further improve a durability of a seal ring and a liner, intends to make the sealing apparatus compact and reduce a cost by using no pressurizing apparatus, and has a high reliability of a seal system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Japan Marine Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisashi Yoshida, Minoru Takayasu
  • Publication number: 20020163138
    Abstract: A hydrodynamic seal for location in a seal groove of a structure, such as a housing and for dynamic sealing engagement with a relatively rotatable surface. Elevated contact pressure zones caused by pressure manipulation features located at least partially on the dynamic sealing surface of the seal provide for controlled lubricant movement within the dynamic sealing interface between the seal and the relatively rotatable surface for enhanced lubrication of the seal even when the seal defines a wide sealing footprint with the relatively rotatable surface. The pressure manipulation feature may be defined by projections at least partially from the dynamic sealing lip which are compressed against the relatively rotatable surface or depressions which define pressure manipulating edges which react with the lubricant in the dynamic sealing interface responsive to relative rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2000
    Publication date: November 7, 2002
    Inventor: Lannie L. Dietle
  • Patent number: 6471211
    Abstract: An improved unitized bearing seal assembly employs a resilient primary seal lip, a secondary seal lip and an excluder lip carried by a first seal case. The seal lips contact surfaces of a second seal case. One of the seal cases rotates relative to the other. The bearing seal assembly also includes a labyrinth seal positioned radially inboard of the resilient seal lips. The labyrinth seal has two axially-extending gaps. One of the axially extending gaps is defined by a resilient axial lip. The two axial gaps are joined by a radial gap. One of the surfaces defining the radial gap comprises chaplets with recessed surfaces between the chaplets. The chaplets include radially directed surfaces and inclined surfaces joining the radially directed surfaces with the recessed surfaces. These surfaces are shaped to provide hydrodynamic pumping action. A lubricant cavity is located between the labyrinth seal and the primary seal lip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Brenco, Incorporated
    Inventors: Mark W. Garnett, Danny R. Sink
  • Patent number: 6428013
    Abstract: An improved dual lip radial shaft seal is disclosed. The free end of the dual lip seal extends toward the air side of the seal. Optionally, the dual lip seal has an oil side excluder lip seal, an air side dust excluder lip seal, an elastomeric static seal extending from the elastomeric portion of the dual lip seal. In another optional embodiment, a relief groove is formed in the seal. A unitized seal version is also disclosed with two embodiments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Freudenberg-Nok General Partnership
    Inventors: David E. Johnston, Milton Griswold, David Sakata
  • Patent number: 6428015
    Abstract: A liquid seal structure has a tapered seal land provided on an outer circumference of a rotation shaft with an outer circumference on a sealing liquid side being diametrally larger than an outer circumference opposite to the liquid side, a tapered seal lip in contact with the outer circumference of the tapered seal land, and a seal lip support member for supporting the tapered seal lip. As a result, even when liquid invades into a seal surface between the tapered seal land and the tapered seal lip, the liquid moves elevationally by a centrifugal force in accordance with rotation of the rotation shaft to be returned to the sealing liquid side on account of sealing by a tapered surface. Therefore, the liquid does not leak to a gas side, so that sealability can be secured for a long time to perform stable sealing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Komatsu, Ltd.
    Inventor: Keisaku Iwakata
  • Publication number: 20020084594
    Abstract: An annular seal (10) for a rolling roll (12) able to be assembled rotatable on at least one supporting oil-film bearing (15), comprising an annular body (20) made of flexible material, shaped in such a manner as to define a central cavity (21) able to be coupled with a tapered end (11) of the rolling roll (12), between the supporting bearing (15) and a front surface (16) of the rolling roll (12), and a pair of substantially parallel radial appendices (22, 23), which define an outer annular compartment (25) in which, during use, a separation element (26) of a fixed supporting flange (27) is able to be arranged; in the seal (10) at least the terminal lips (29, 30) of the radial appendices (22, 23), at least on the side arranged towards the annular compartment (25), are provided with anti-wear elements (31) able to contact, during use, a sliding surface (32) of the fixed supporting flange (27).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2001
    Publication date: July 4, 2002
    Inventors: Fausto Drigani, Riccardo Melchior, Marco Di Giacomo
  • Patent number: 6409177
    Abstract: A radial shaft seal with a membrane is disclosed. The surface of the membrane is in sealing contact with the shaft. A plurality of inclined waves are formed in the surface in response to shear stresses formed by movement of one of the support rings relative to the other. The inclined waves are generally elliptical in shape and form an undulating surface. The direction of the inclined waves can be changed in response to shaft rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Freudenberg-Nok General Partnership
    Inventor: David E. Johnston
  • Patent number: 6382634
    Abstract: A hydrodynamically lubricating seal has a generally circular seal body defining a static sealing surface and having a dynamic sealing lip projecting from the seal body and defining a dynamic sealing surface, a non-hydrodynamic edge and a non-circular angulated flank having a flank angle. The flank angle and the dynamic sealing surface have theoretical intersection being positioned from the non-hydrodynamic edge by a variable distance having a minimum dimension being greater than {fraction (1/16)} inch and also having a maximum dimension. The circular seal body defines a theoretical center-line and, when viewed in a longitudinal cross-section taken along the theoretical center-line, a hydrodynamic inlet curve is shown that blends the theoretical intersection between the flank angle and the dynamic sealing surface. This hydrodynamic inlet curve is tangent to the dynamic sealing surface at a location of tangency and has a rate of curvature less than the rate of curvature of a ⅛ inch radius.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Kalsi Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Lannie L. Dietle, Manmohan S. Kalsi
  • Publication number: 20020043770
    Abstract: On a radially inner surface of a sealing lip of an oil seal, radiation ray is irradiated to induce chemical reaction in the materials of the sealing lip, to form hard helical portions. The hard helical portions act like a helical groove or rib to pump oil back to oil-side to show an excellent sealing property when there is a relative rotational movement between the sealing lip and a shaft to be sealed, as well as even static sealing ability at the time there is no relative rotative movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2001
    Publication date: April 18, 2002
    Applicant: NOK Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Ohta, Hironori Minagawa
  • Patent number: 6364316
    Abstract: An annular sealing apparatus is disclosed for disposition in cooperation with a body defining a bore and a rotating member rotatably received in the bore, the bore and rotating member bounding a high fluid pressure region and a relatively lower pressure fluid region therebetween, the sealing apparatus inhibiting fluid leakage between the high and lower fluid pressure regions, the sealing apparatus has a fore cover plate disposed in the high fluid pressure region and aft cover plate disposed in the lower pressure fluid region. A sealing element comprised of a plurality of comb-like diaphragm members is disposed between the two cover plates. Each of the diaphragm members has a foot portion with a groove. At low rotational speeds the foot portion abuts against the rotating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Gulshan K. Arora
  • Publication number: 20020003336
    Abstract: First pumping threads 125 are formed on an inner circumferential surface of the seal lip portion 124 of an elastomer lip member 12. The first pumping threads 125 generate a pumping action in a leakage direction when a shaft 2 rotates. A first resin lip member 14 is arranged at a rear side of the elastomer lip member 12. Second pumping threads 144 generate a pumping action in a direction opposite to the leakage direction when the shaft 2 rotates. The second pumping threads 144 are formed from an inner circumferential surface of a seal lip portion 143 of the first resin lip member 14 to a rear portion of a bent portion 142 thereof. A second resin lip member 18 is arranged at a rear side of the first resin lip member 18 and has a surface sliding on the shaft 2, which is formed smoothly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2001
    Publication date: January 10, 2002
    Inventors: Takeshi Yamada, Takayuki Imai, Takanobu Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20020003337
    Abstract: An elastomer lip member 12 that its rear is supported with a pressure resisting back-up ring 13, and a synthetic resin lip member 14 arranged on a rear side of the elastomer lip 12 are comprised, and on the inner circumferential surface of the seal lip portion 124 of the elastomer lip member 12, helical grooves 125 generating a pumping action of a fluid introducing direction from an inner space S1 of machine side when a shaft 2 rotates are formed. When a pressure in the inner space of machine S1 is 1 MPa [gage], by making a contact width between the seal lip portion 124 of the elastomer lip member 12 and a shaft 2 at least 0.6 mm, so that a surface pressure maximum portion of the seal lip portion 124 of the elastomer lip member 12 to the shaft 2 is biased or maldistributed toward its rear side whereby a fluid introduction by said helical grooves 125 is performed satisfactorily.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2001
    Publication date: January 10, 2002
    Inventors: Takeshi Yamada, Takayuki Imai, Yasuhiro Ikeda
  • Patent number: 6336638
    Abstract: A radial shaft seal with a sealing disk made of a polymer material which curves towards a space that is sealed as the sealing disk radially approaches a shaft with respect to which it forms a seal. The sealing disk has a first surface profiling on the side facing the shaft and a second surface profiling on the side facing away from the shaft, the first surface profiling being formed by sawtooth recesses arranged adjacent to one another axially at a distance. The first bordering surfaces of the recesses facing the space to be sealed form a smaller angle with the shaft than second bordering surfaces of the recesses facing away from the space to be sealed. The second surface profiling is formed by essentially U-shaped recesses which are open on the side facing away from the shaft and are arranged adjacent to one another with an axial distance between them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2002
    Assignee: Firma Carl Freudenberg
    Inventors: Wolfgang Guth, Werner Hufnagel
  • Patent number: 6334618
    Abstract: On a radially inner surface of a sealing lip of an oil seal, radiation ray is irradiated to induce chemical reaction in the materials of the sealing lip, to form hard helical portions. The hard helical portions act like a helical groove or rib to pump oil back to oil-side to show an excellent sealing property when there is a relative rotational movement between the sealing lip and a shaft to be sealed, as well as even static sealing ability at the time there is no relative rotative movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2002
    Assignee: NOK Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Ohta, Hironori Minagawa
  • Patent number: 6334619
    Abstract: A hydrodynamically lubricated rotary seal or packing assembly which provides environmental exclusion, lubricant retention and hydrodynamic interfacial lubrication in applications where the environment pressure may be higher than the lubricant pressure. The invention is particularly suitable for oilfield drilling swivels and rotary mining equipment, and for applications such as artificial lift pump stuffing box assemblies and centrifugal pumps where a rotating shaft penetrates a pressurized reservoir which is filled with abrasive-laden liquids, mixtures or slurries. The invention provides a unique sealing mechanism which controls high pressure abrasive fluids, and which accomplishes hydrodynamic lubricant pumping activity to maintain efficient lubrication at the dynamic sealing interfaces thereof to thus significantly enhance service life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2002
    Assignee: Kalsi Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Lannie Dietle, Manmohan S. Kalsi
  • Patent number: 6315302
    Abstract: A novel hydrodynamically lubricated compression type rotary seal that is suitable for lubricant retention and environmental exclusion. Particularly, the seal geometry ensures constraint of a hydrodynamic seal in a manner preventing skew-induced wear and provides adequate room within the seal gland to accommodate thermal expansion. The seal accommodates large as-manufactured variations in the coefficient of thermal expansion of the sealing material, provides a relatively stiff integral spring effect to minimize pressure-induced shuttling of the seal within the gland, and also maintains interfacial contact pressure within the dynamic sealing interface in an optimum range for efficient hydrodynamic lubrication and environment exclusion. The seal geometry also provides for complete support about the circumference of the seal to receive environmental pressure, as compared the interrupted character of seal support set forth in U.S. Pat. Nos.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Kalsi Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: William T. Conroy, Lannie L. Dietle, Jeffrey D. Gobeli, Manmohan S. Kalsi
  • Patent number: 6203024
    Abstract: A bellows for encasing the connecting region of a tie bar of a motor vehicle is provided. The inner surface of the mounting collar is provided with projections that extend at an oblique angle to the axis of the mounting collar. Free spaces that remain next to and between the projections can be filled with a lubricant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: ContiTech Formteile GmbH
    Inventors: Charl Liebich, Helmut Ganswindt
  • Patent number: 6199869
    Abstract: A sealing device comprising an annular support structure, a first annular sealing lip made of rubber and supported by the annular support structure, and a second annular sealing lip adjacent to the first annular sealing lip, the second annular sealing lip being made of resin and supported by the annular support structure. The first sealing lip made of rubber is located on the side to be scaled of the second sealing lip made of resin, and grease is held in a space formed by the first and second sealing lips and a shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Nok Corporation
    Inventors: Hideyuki Furuyama, Kaoru Anzue, Kouichi Mizunoya, Satoshi Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 6182975
    Abstract: The follow-up performance to the operation of a shaft is improved by forming an annular space between a rubber seal lip formed of a rubber-like elastic material and a resin seal lip so as to prevent the resin seal lip from interfering with the rubber seal lip. The follow-up performance to the shaft is further improved by increasing the flexibility of the resin seal lip by forming a plurality of annular grooves parallel to one another to the side surface of the annular gap side of the resin seal lip. A PTFE sheet is inserted as in the form of a flat washer shape into a mold, it is adhesively baked to a first seal member formed of rubber together with the vulcanization formation, a plurality of annular grooves and a helical groove are formed to the PTFE sheet by utilizing a mold clamping pressure, and the PTFE sheet is bent at the mold separation time after the molding process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: NOK Corporation
    Inventors: Noboru Matsushima, Satoshi Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 6170834
    Abstract: A sealing arrangement, including a surface to be sealed off of a rotationally symmetrical machine element and a radial shaft sealing ring. The sealing ring has a sealing lip made of polymer material, which contacts the surface along a sealing edge that is formed of two mutually intersecting conical surfaces, the first conical surface, facing the space to be sealed off, forming a steeper angle with the axis of rotation than the conical surface facing away from it. A spiral-shaped groove having a rounded groove bottom is recessed into the surface, the groove bottom has a radius of curvature of 0.4 to 1.6 mm, and the depth of the groove is less than 15 &mgr;m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Firma Carl Freudenberg
    Inventor: Rolf Vogt
  • Patent number: 6170833
    Abstract: A hub seal for installation on the wheel end of a heavy duty trailer or truck is disclosed which includes an annular casing, an elastomeric sealing ring supported within the annular casing and including an axially extending sealing lip, an annular sleeve mounted coaxial with the annular casing, the annular sleeve having an axially extending sealing surface, and a spring for biasing the axially extending sealing lip against the axially extending sealing surface such that a substantial portion of the sealing lip is in sealing engagement with the sealing surface over a substantial contact area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Stemco Inc
    Inventors: Jon A. Cox, C. Leon Lovett, Mark N. Gold, Laurence B. Winn
  • Patent number: 6168164
    Abstract: A hydrodynamic shaft seal assembly and method of forming hydrodynamic grooves involves forming a spiraling open channel portion in the face of the seal element, and cutting a flex-enhancing portion extending from the open channel portion further into the seal element to enhance the flexibility of the seal without further enlarging the open channel portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul World Wide, Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Toth, Stanley N. Smith
  • Patent number: 6123514
    Abstract: A sealing structure for the shaft of a compressor. The sealing apparatus includes an inner ring, and outer ring, and a support ring. The inner ring and the outer rings have flexible annular lips that contact the surface of the rotary shaft. The support ring supports the inner lip and determines the position of the inner lip. The first lip permits fluid leakage along the surface of the shaft, while the second lip forms a fluid-tight seal with the shaft. The support ring prevents the internal pressure of the compressor from pressing the first lip against the shaft with excessive force, which extends the life of the sealing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakushi
    Inventors: Masahiro Kawaguchi, Hiroshi Kubo, Tomohiko Yokono, Shintaro Miura, Takuya Okuno, Eiji Tokunaga, Atsuyuki Morishita, Ken Suitou
  • Patent number: 6120036
    Abstract: A hydrodynamically lubricated interference type rotary shaft seal suitable for environmental exclusion and high pressure lubricant retention which incorporates composite multiple modulus construction and a non-planar flexible environmental edge heel geometry which cooperate to resist high pressure extrusion damage while minimizing interfacial contact pressure and accommodating radial shaft motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: KALSI Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Manmohan S. Kalsi, Lannie Dietle
  • Patent number: 6109618
    Abstract: A resilient, ring shaped interference-type hydrodynamic rotary seal having waves on the lubricant side which provide increased film thickness and flushing action by creating contact pressure induced angulated restrictions formed by abrupt restrictive diverters. The angulated restrictions are defined by projecting ridges, corners at the trailing edge of the waves, or simply by use of a converging shape at the trailing edge of the waves which is more abrupt than the gently converging hydrodynamic inlet shape at the leading edge of the waves. The abrupt restrictive diverter performs two functions; a restricting function and a diverting function.The angulated restrictions cause a local film thickness restriction which produces a damming effect preventing a portion of the lubricant from leaking out of the dynamic sealing interface at the trailing edge of the wave, and results in a much thicker lubricant film thickness under the waves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: KALSI Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Lannie L. Dietle
  • Patent number: 6102409
    Abstract: A sealing device including an annular support structure, a first annular sealing lip made of rubber and supported by the annular support structure, and a second annular sealing lip adjacent to the first annular sealing lip, the second annular sealing lip being made of resin and supported by the annular support structure. The first sealing lip made of rubber is located on the side to be sealed of the second sealing lip made of resin, and grease is held in a space formed by the first and second sealing lips and a shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Nok Corporation
    Inventors: Hideyuki Furuyama, Kaoru Anzue, Kouichi Mizunoya, Satoshi Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 6036193
    Abstract: Lip-type oil seals (10) having helical pumping ribs (40) are manufactured by preparing a molded foreproduct of the seal and by trimming a hat portion (62) to form a sharp sealing edge (32). Each of the pumping ribs (40) is configured to include a first section (50) of a uniform cross-section and a bilge-shaped second section (52). Trimming is made along a trim line (68) that intersects in between the length of the first sections (50) to ensure that a length of the first sections (52) is preserved between the sealing edge (32) and the second sections (52) regardless of the tolerance of positioning of a trimming knife. Oil seals having an improved initial static and dynamic sealing performance is obtained. The second sections (52) achieves a satisfactory pumping action even after a substantial wear has taken place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: NOK Corporation
    Inventors: Tsunehisa Onuma, Hideyuki Furuyama
  • Patent number: 6036192
    Abstract: A hydrodynamically lubricated squeeze packing type rotary shaft seal suitable for lubricant retention and environmental exclusion which incorporates one or more resilient protuberances which and cooperate with the gland walls to hold the seal straight in its installation groove in unpressurized and low pressure lubricant retention applications thereby preventing skew-induced wear caused by impingement of abrasive contaminants present in the environment, and which also serve as radial bearings to prevent tipping of the seal within its installation gland. Compared to prior art, this invention provides a dramatic reduction of seal and shaft wear in abrasive environments and provides a significant increase in seal life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Kalsi Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Lannie Dietle, Manmohan Singh Kalsi
  • Patent number: 6029980
    Abstract: A radial shaft seal for use on a shaft, said radial shaft seal including a rigid insert generally having a L-shaped cross section. The shaft seal including a circumferential seal body molded around the insert. The shaft seal further including an exclusion lip integral with the seal body, the exclusion lip having a venting mechanism. The venting mechanism allows fluid transfer into the primary sealing lip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: Freudenberg-NOK General Partnership
    Inventor: Michael Downes