Shaft seal assembly with retaining ring and washer
View Patent ↗A shaft seal assembly ( 10 ) features an annular carrier ( 14 ), an annular shaft seal element ( 16 ) and an annular felt washer ( 18 ) in an integral assembly that can be installed in one step using a simple push-on tool. The washer ( 18 ) is fixed to the carrier ( 14 ), such that the carrier ( 14 ), shaft seal element ( 16 ) and washer ( 18 ) are unitized.
1. A seal assembly ( 10 ), comprising;
an annular carrier ( 14 ) establishing an axial direction;
a radially acting annular shaft seal element ( 16 ) mounted on said carrier ( 14 ) for encircling a rotating shaft ( 13 ) to be sealed, said shaft seal element ( 16 ) including a laydown seal member ( 48 ) fabricated of polytetrafluoroethylene for axially bending to extend along the shaft ( 13 ) and a radial lip member ( 50 ) fabricated of rubber and extending in axially and radially spaced relation to said laydown seat member ( 48 ) to engage the shaft ( 13 );
an annular felt washer ( 18 ) fixed to said carrier ( 14 ) axially proximate said laydown seal member ( 48 ) such that said laydown seal member ( 48 ) is axially interposed between said felt washer ( 18 ) and said radial lip member ( 50 ),
an adhesive disposed between said felt washer ( 18 ) and said carrier ( 14 ), such that said carrier ( 14 ), said shaft seal element ( 16 ) and said felt washer ( 18 ) are unitized, and
an annular retainer ( 20 ) for retaining said shaft seal element ( 16 ) in engagement with the shaft ( 13 ),
wherein said carrier ( 14 ) includes an inner case ( 26 ) and an outer case ( 28 ) extending in axially and radially spaced relation to one another to define a recess ( 30 ) therebetween for receiving said retainer ( 20 ) to maintain said shaft seal element ( 16 ) in engagement with the shaft ( 13 ).
2. A seal assembly ( 10 ) as set forth in claim 1 and including a retaining portion ( 72 ) extending from said retainer ( 20 ) into said recess ( 30 ) for retaining said retainer ( 20 ) in engagement with a bore ( 12 ) through which the shaft ( 13 ) extends.
3. A seal assembly ( 10 ) as set forth in claim 2 wherein said retaining portion ( 72 ) engages said laydown seal member ( 48 ).
4. A seal assembly ( 10 ) as set forth in claim 2 wherein said retaining portion ( 72 ) engages said laydown seal member ( 48 ) and said lip member ( 50 ).
5. A seal assembly ( 10 ) as set forth in claim 2 wherein said retaining portion ( 72 ) is wedged between said laydown seal member ( 48 ) and said lip member ( 50 ).
6. A seal assembly ( 10 ) as set forth in claim 2 wherein said retainer ( 20 ) includes an inner edge ( 22 ) and said retaining portion ( 72 ) includes a cylindrical wall ( 82 ) extending perpendicularly from said inner edge ( 74 ) toward said lip member ( 50 ) to an interior edge ( 84 ).
7. A seal assembly ( 10 ) as set forth in claim 6 wherein said retainer ( 20 ) includes an outer edge ( 76 ) with a plurality of spaced peripheral tabs ( 78 ) extending therefrom for engaging the bore ( 12 ).
8. A seal assembly ( 10 ) as set forth in claim 6 wherein said retaining portion ( 72 ) includes a plurality of spaced spring tabs ( 86 ) extending at an acute angle from said interior edge ( 84 ) into said recess ( 30 ) to engage said laydown seal member ( 48 ).
9. A seal assembly ( 10 ) as set forth in claim 8 wherein said interior edge ( 84 ) engages said lip element ( 50 ) to wedge said spring tabs ( 86 ) between said laydown seal member ( 48 ) and said lip member ( 50 ).
10. A seal assembly ( 10 ) as set forth in claim 2 wherein said washer ( 18 ) includes an annular flange ( 88 ) extending axially under said retaining portion ( 72 ) to said lip member ( 50 ).
11. A seal assembly ( 10 ) as set forth in claim 10 wherein said flange ( 88 ) engages said retaining portion ( 72 ) to wedge said retaining portion ( 72 ) between said laydown seal member ( 48 ) and said lip member ( 50 ).
12. A seal assembly ( 10 ) as set forth in claim 11 wherein said cylindrical wall ( 82 ) is secured to said flange ( 88 ).
13. A seal assembly ( 10 ), comprising:
an annular carrier ( 14 ) establishing an axial direction;
a radially acting annular shaft seal element ( 16 ) mounted on said carrier ( 14 ) for encircling a rotating shaft ( 13 ) to be sealed, said shaft seal element ( 16 ) including a laydown seal member ( 48 ) fabricated of polytetrafluoroethylene for axially bending to extend along the shaft ( 13 ) and a radial lip member ( 50 ) fabricated of rubber and extending in axially and radially spaced relation to said laydown seal member ( 48 ) to engage the shaft ( 13 );
an annular felt washer ( 18 ) fixed to said carrier ( 14 ) axially proximate said laydown seal member ( 48 ) such that said laydown seal member ( 48 ) is axially interposed between said felt washer ( 18 ) and said radial lip member ( 50 ),
an adhesive disposed between said felt washer ( 18 ) and said carrier ( 14 ), such that said carrier ( 14 ), said shaft seal element ( 16 ) and said felt washer ( 18 ) are unitized, and
an annular retainer ( 20 ) for retaining said shaft seal element ( 16 ) in engagement with the shaft ( 13 ),
wherein said washer ( 18 ) includes an annular flange ( 88 ) axially underlying said retainer ( 20 ).
14. A shaft seal assembly ( 10 ), comprising:
an annular carrier ( 14 );
a radially acting annular shaft seal element ( 16 ) mounted on said carrier ( 14 ) for encircling a rotating shaft ( 13 ) to be sealed;
an annular retainer ( 20 ) integral with said carrier ( 14 ) for retaining said shaft seal element ( 16 ) in engagement with the shaft ( 13 ) and including an inner edge ( 74 ) and an outer edge ( 76 ) having a plurality of spaced peripheral tabs ( 78 ) extending therefrom for engaging a bore ( 12 ) through which the shaft ( 13 ) extends;
said shaft seal element ( 16 ) including a laydown seal member ( 48 ) fabricated of polytetrafluoroethylene for axially bending to extend along the shaft ( 13 ) and a radial lip member ( 50 ) fabricated of rubber;
said carrier ( 14 ) including an inner case ( 26 ) and an outer case ( 28 ) extending in axially and radially spaced relation to one another to define a recess ( 30 ) therebetween for receiving said retainer ( 20 ) to maintain said shaft seal element ( 16 ) in engagement with the shaft ( 13 );
a retaining portion ( 72 ) extending from said retainer ( 20 ) into said recess ( 30 ) and wedged in engagement between said laydown seal member ( 48 ) and said lip member ( 50 ) for retaining said retainer ( 20 ) in engagement with the bore ( 12 );
said retaining portion ( 72 ) including a cylindrical wall ( 82 ) extending perpendicularly from said inner edge ( 84 ) toward said lip member ( 50 ) to an interior edge ( 84 ) engaging said lip member ( 50 ) for wedging said spring tabs ( 86 ) between said laydown seal member ( 48 ) and said lip member ( 50 );
a plurality of spaced spring tabs ( 86 ) extending at an acute angle from said interior edge ( 84 ) into said recess ( 30 ) to engage said laydown seal member ( 48 ); and
an annular felt washer ( 18 ) fixed by adhesion to said carrier ( 14 ), such that said carrier ( 14 ), said shaft seal element ( 16 ) and said felt washer ( 18 ) are unitized, and including an annular flange ( 88 ) engaging said retaining portion ( 72 ) and extending axially thereunder to said lip member ( 50 ) for wedging said retaining portion ( 72 ) between said laydown seal member ( 48 ) and said lip member ( 50 ).