Shaft sealing assembly

1. A shaft sealing assembly for providing a seal between a shaft and a housing within which the shaft rotates, said assembly comprising a sealing component adapted to be mounted to the housing and to participate in sealing the interface between the housing and the shaft;

wherein the sealing component carries at least one electrical-path-establishing element for forming an electrically conductive path between the shaft and an electrical ground; and

wherein the electrical-path-establishing element extends through a radial passage in the sealing component and has a tip portion for contacting the shaft during rotation thereof.

2. A shaft sealing assembly as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the electrical-path-establishing element is permanently mounted to the sealing component.

3. A shaft sealing assembly as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the electrical-path-establishing element can be selectively inserted and withdrawn from the sealing component without disassembly thereof.

4. A shaft sealing assembly as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the tip portion of the electrical-path-establishing element comprises flexible electrically conductive filaments adapted to brush against the shaft during rotation therewith.

5. In combination, a shaft, a housing within which the shaft rotates, and the shaft sealing assembly set forth in claim 1 , wherein the at least one electrical-path-establishing element forms an electrically conductive path between the shaft and the housing.

6. A motor comprising a shaft, a housing within which the shaft rotates, a support structure electrically connecting the housing to an electrical ground, and the shaft sealing assembly set forth in claim 1 , wherein the at least one electrical-path-establishing element forms an electrically conductive path between the shaft and the housing.

7. A shaft sealing assembly for providing a seal between a shaft and a housing within which the shaft rotates, said assembly comprising a sealing component adapted to be mounted to the housing and to participate in sealing the interface between the housing and the shaft;

wherein the sealing component carries at least one electrical-path-establishing element for forming an electrically conductive path between the shaft and an electrical ground; and

wherein the electrical-path-establishing element comprises a lip extending radially inward from a main body and/or flange of the sealing component and having a tip portion positioned to contact the shaft during rotation thereof.

8. A shaft sealing assembly as set forth in claim 7 , wherein the electrical-path-establishing element is formed in one piece with the sealing component.

9. A shaft sealing assembly for providing a seal between a shaft and a housing within which the shaft rotates, said assembly comprising a sealing component adapted to be mounted to the housing and to participate in sealing the interface between the housing and the shaft;

wherein the sealing component carries a plurality of electrical-path-establishing elements for forming an electrically conductive path between the shaft and an electrical ground;

wherein each of the electrical-path-establishing elements extend through a respective radial passage in the sealing component and can be selectively inserted/withdrawn without disassembly of the sealing component; and

wherein each of the electrical-path-establishing elements has a tip portion comprising flexible electrically conductive filaments adapted to brush against the shaft during rotation therewith.

10. A shaft sealing assembly for providing a seal between a shaft and a housing within which the shaft rotates,

said shaft sealing assembly comprising a rotor adapted to be mounted to the shaft and a stator adapted to be mounted to the housing and to participate in sealing the interface between the housing and the shaft;

wherein the stator carries at least one electrical-path-establishing element for forming an electrically conductive path between the shaft and an electrical ground,

wherein the rotor and the stator are interlocked and an interface therebetween forms a labyrinth chamber for lubricant; and

wherein the rotor and the stator each comprise recesses and/or projections which mate and interlock to form the labyrinth chamber.

11. A shaft sealing assembly as set forth in claim 10 , wherein the electrical-path-establishing element is permanently mounted and/or formed in one piece with the stator.

12. A shaft sealing assembly as set forth in claim 11 , wherein the electrical-path-establishing element comprises a lip extending radially inward from a main body and/or flange of the stator and having a tip portion positioned to contact the shaft during rotation thereof.

13. A shaft sealing assembly as set forth in claim 10 , wherein the electrical-path-establishing element extends through a radial passage in the stator and has a tip portion for contacting the shaft during rotation thereof.

14. A shaft sealing assembly as set forth in claim 13 , wherein the electrical-path-establishing element can be selectively inserted into and withdrawn from the passages without disassembly of the stator.

15. A shaft sealing assembly as set forth in claim 14 , wherein the tip portion of the electrical-path-establishing element comprises electrically conductive flexible filaments adapted to brush against the shaft during rotation therewith.

16. A shaft sealing assembly as set forth in claim 10 , comprising a plurality of the electrical-path-establishing elements;

wherein each of the electrical-path-establishing elements extend through a respective radial passage in the stator and can be selectively inserted/withdrawn without disassembly of the stator; and

wherein each of the electrical-path-establishing elements has a tip portion comprising flexible electrically conductive filaments adapted to brush against the shaft during rotation therewith.

17. In combination, a shaft, a housing within which the shaft rotates, and the shaft sealing assembly set forth in claim 10 , wherein the at least one electrical-path-establishing element forms an electrically conductive path between the shaft and the housing.

18. A motor comprising a shaft, a housing within which the shaft rotates, a support structure electrically connecting the housing to an electrical ground, and the shaft sealing assembly set forth in claim 10 , wherein the at least one electrical-path-establishing element forms an electrically conductive path between the shaft and the housing.