Roller bearing seal
View Patent ↗A bearing assembly is presented having a novel bearing seal design that, in one embodiment, combines the sealing advantages of both a labyrinth-like seal in combination with a contact seal. The seal is held perpendicularly to the sealing surface, and in one embodiment, substantially divides the sealing forces equally between the lubricant seal portion and the dust seal portion of the seal by virtue of the symmetry of the seal geometry and the application of the resisting force substantially along the seal body's centerline. The seal departs from the cantilever geometry of prior art seal designs, and in one embodiment, provides an inherently stiffer seal.
1. A bearing assembly affixed to a shaft, the shaft having a shoulder spaced from a free end, a journal of smaller diameter than the shaft between the shoulder and the free end, and a fillet leading from the journal to the shoulder, the bearing assembly comprising:
a bearing cup having a radially inward directed outer raceway;
a bearing cone affixed to the journal, the bearing cone having a radially outward directed inner raceway;
a plurality of rollers captured between the outer raceway of the bearing cup and the inner raceway of the bearing cone;
an inner seal case having:
an inner cylindrical section of the inner seal case affixed to the bearing cone;
an outer cylindrical section of the inner seal case in parallel with the inner cylindrical section of the inner seal case; and
an intermediate circular section of the inner seal case extending radially outward at an oblique angle from the inner cylindrical section of the inner seal case; and
an outer seal case having:
an outer cylindrical section of the outer case affixed to the bearing cup;
an inner cylindrical section of the outer seal case in parallel with the outer cylindrical section of the outer seal case;
an outer circular section of the outer seal case connecting the outer cylindrical section of the outer seal case with the inner cylindrical section of the outer seal case; and
an inner circular section of the outer seal case extending substantially perpendicularly from the inner cylindrical section of the outer seal case; and
a seal body affixed to the inner circular section of the outer seal case, the seal body extending substantially perpendicularly to the inner cylindrical section of the inner seal case;
wherein the outer cylindrical section of the inner seal case is radially inward of the inner cylindrical section of the outer seal case and
wherein the intermediate circular section of the inner seal case is axially inward and in spaced cooperation with the inner circular section of the outer seal case to form a channel.
2. The bearing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the seal body comprises:
a dust seal portion; and
a lubricant seal portion;
wherein the lubricant seal portion extends axially inward and the dust seal portion extends axially outward.
3. The bearing assembly of claim 2 , wherein the dust seal portion further comprises:
a primary dust seal;
a secondary dust seal disposed axially inward from the primary dust seal; and
an auxiliary dust seal disposed axially inward of the secondary dust seal;
wherein the primary dust seal, secondary dust seal, and auxiliary dust seal extend radially inward from the dust seal portion to contact the inner cylindrical section of the inner seal case.
4. The bearing assembly of claim 2 , wherein the lubricant seal portion further comprises a lubricant seal extending radially inward to contact the inner cylindrical section of the inner seal case.
5. The bearing assembly of claim 4 , wherein the lubricant sealing portion further comprises a plurality of lubricant deflectors disposed axially inward of the lubricant seal.
6. The bearing assembly of claim 4 , wherein the lubricant sealing portion further comprises a plurality of hydrodynamic surfaces disposed axially outward of the lubricant seal.
7. The bearing assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a backing ring affixed around the fillet to affix the bearing assembly against axially inward displacement; and
a bearing retaining cap affixed to the shaft free end to affix the bearing assembly against axially outward displacement.
8. The bearing assembly of claim 7 , further comprising a cage to separate the plurality of rollers.