Bearing system with self-lubrication features, seals, grooves and slots for maintenance-free operation

1. An outer seal assembly in a thrust bearing assembly, the outer seal assembly comprising:

a flexible outer annular ring extending between a first outer end and a second outer end and having a radially inward-opening C-shaped cross section comprising:

(a) an anchor leg extending radially inward proximate the first outer end, the anchor leg securing the outer annular ring to an outer receiving area of a rotatable thrust plate of the thrust bearing assembly;

(b) a flexible neck extending between the first outer end and the second outer end; and

(c) a sealing leg extending radially inward proximate the second outer end; and

a sliding ring having a pocket formed therein, the sealing leg being secured in the pocket, the sliding ring comprising a lubricious material and being slideably positioned in a groove of a stationary thrust plate of the thrust bearing assembly and at least one of the sealing leg and the pocket tapers to improve retention of the sealing leg within the groove during rotation of the sliding ring within the stationary thrust plate.

2. The outer seal assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sealing leg is elastically biased radially inward into the pocket.

3. The outer seal assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a lip extending axially away from the second outer end, wherein the lip sealingly and slidingly engages a portion of the stationary thrust plate of the thrust bearing assembly.

4. The outer seal assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a metallic retaining ring secured to the first outer end, the retaining ring having a mounting portion thereon, wherein the mounting portion is press fit into the receiving area.

5. The outer seal assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a shield extending radially away from the first outer end.

6. The outer seal assembly of claim 1 , wherein an axial outward facing upper surface of the sealing leg and an axial inward facing lower surface of the sealing leg both terminate at a radial inward facing engagement surface and at least a portion of at least one of the axial outward facing upper surface and the axial inward facing lower surface is oriented at a draft angle α measured relative to a horizontal reference line and the draft angle α being configured to improve retention of the sealing leg within the pocket as the sliding ring rotates in the groove of the stationary thrust plate.

7. The outer seal assembly of claim 1 , wherein the pocket is defined by a shape comprising a radially outward-opening C-shaped cross section having an axial inward facing upper sliding surface, an axial outward facing lower sliding surface and a radial outward facing pocket surface extending therebetween, at least one of the axial inward facing upper sliding surface and the axial outward facing lower sliding surface is oriented at a draft angle β measured relative to a horizontal reference line and the draft angle β being configured to improve retention of the sealing leg within the pocket as the sliding ring rotates in the groove of the stationary thrust plate.

8. The outer seal assembly of claim 1 , wherein the pocket is defined by a shape comprising a radially outward-opening C-shaped cross section having an axial inward facing upper sliding surface, an axial outward facing lower sliding surface and a radial outward facing pocket surface extending therebetween, at least a portion of the axial inward facing lower sliding surface is oriented at a draft angle β measured relative to a horizontal reference line and the draft angle β being configured to improve retention of the sealing leg within the pocket as the sliding ring rotates in the groove of the stationary thrust plate.

9. The outer seal assembly of claim 8 , wherein the sliding ring rotates against an axial facing surface of the stationary thrust plate, at least a portion of the axial facing surface is oriented at a secondary draft angle γ and the secondary draft angle γ is measured relative to a horizontal reference line, and

wherein at least one of the draft angle β and the secondary draft angle γ being configured to improve retention of the sealing leg within the pocket as the sliding ring rotates in the groove of the stationary thrust plate.

10. An inner seal assembly in a thrust bearing assembly, the inner seal assembly comprising:

(i) a flexible inner annular ring extending between a first inner end and a second inner end, the flexible inner annular ring has a serpentine shape comprising a radially outward-opening C-shaped cross section that transitions into a radially inward-opening C-Shaped cross section, the radially outward-opening C-shaped cross section comprising:

(a) an anchor leg extending radially outward proximate the first inner end, the anchor leg being configured to secure the inner annular ring to an inner receiving area of a rotatable thrust plate of the thrust bearing assembly;

(b) a radially extending transition leg;

(c) a first flexible neck extending between the first inner end and the radially extending transition leg;

the radially inward-opening C-Shaped cross section comprising:

(d) a sealing leg extending radially inward proximate the second inner end; and

(e) a second flexible neck extending between the sealing leg and the radially extending transition leg;

(ii) a face seal ring, the second inner end being secured to the face seal ring, the face seal ring having a pocket formed therein, the sealing leg being secured in the pocket, at least one of the sealing leg and the pocket tapers to improve retention of the sealing leg within the pocket during rotation of the face seal ring, and the face seal ring comprising a lubricious material and being configured to slide on an axial facing surface of a stationary thrust plate of the thrust bearing assembly, the face seal ring having an axially facing groove opposite the axial facing surface of the stationary thrust plate;

(iii) a compression seal disposed in the axially facing groove, the compression seal sealing against the axial facing surface of the stationary thrust plate;

(iv) a biasing unit axially engaging the face seal ring and compressed between the face seal ring and a receiving surface of the rotatable thrust plate, the biasing unit urging the face seal ring towards the axial facing surface of the stationary thrust plate and thereby compressing the compression seal against the axial facing surface of the stationary thrust plate for sealing and engagement with the axial facing surface of the stationary thrust plate.

11. The inner seal assembly of claim 10 , wherein an axial outward facing upper surface of the sealing leg and an axial inward facing lower surface of the sealing leg both terminate at a radial inward facing engagement surface and at least a portion of at least one of the axial outward facing upper surface and the axial inward facing lower surface is oriented at a draft angle α measured relative to a horizontal reference line and the draft angle α being configured to improve retention of the sealing leg within pocket during rotation of the face seal ring.

12. The inner seal assembly of claim 10 , wherein the pocket is defined by a shape comprising a radially outward-opening C-shaped cross section having an axial inward facing upper sliding surface, an axial outward facing lower sliding surface and a radial outward facing pocket surface extending therebetween, at least one of the axial inward facing upper sliding surface and the axial outward facing lower sliding surface is oriented at a draft angle β measured relative to a horizontal reference line and the draft angle β being configured to improve retention of the sealing leg within the pocket during rotation of the face seal ring.

13. The inner seal assembly of claim 10 , further comprising: a retainer ring secured to the anchor leg, the retainer ring being configured to secure the flexible inner annular ring in a shoulder formed in the rotatable thrust plate of the thrust bearing assembly.

14. The inner seal assembly of claim 10 , wherein the biasing unit surrounds the flexible inner annular ring.

15. The inner seal assembly of claim 10 , wherein the retainer ring comprises a metallic core with an elastomeric layer thereon.

16. The inner seal assembly of claim 13 , wherein the retainer ring has an L-shaped cross section.

17. The inner seal assembly of claim 10 , wherein the pocket is radially outward facing and the sealing leg is elastically biased radially inward into the pocket.

18. The inner seal assembly of claim 10 , wherein the compression seal comprises an elastic material and the compressed compression seal is compressed by 10 to 20 percent of a size of the compression seal in a relaxed state.

19. A seal assembly in a thrust bearing assembly comprising:

an outer seal assembly comprising a flexible outer annular ring extending between a first outer end and a second outer end and a sliding ring having a first pocket formed therein, the flexible outer annular ring having a radially inward-opening C-shaped cross section comprising:

(a) a first anchor leg extending radially inward proximate the first outer end, the first anchor leg securing the outer annular ring to an outer receiving area of a rotatable thrust plate of the thrust bearing assembly;

(b) a first flexible neck extending between the first outer end and the second outer end; and

(c) a first sealing leg extending radially inward proximate the second outer end;

the first sealing leg being secured in the first pocket, the sliding ring comprising a lubricious material and being slidable in a groove of a stationary thrust plate of the thrust bearing assembly;

an inner seal assembly disposed radially inward of the outer seal assembly, the inner seal assembly comprising a flexible inner annular ring extending between a first inner end and a second inner end, a face seal ring, a compression seal and a biasing unit;

the flexible inner annular ring has a serpentine shape comprising a radially outward-opening C-shaped cross section that transitions into a radially inward-opening C-Shaped cross section, the radially outward-opening C-shaped cross section comprising:

(a) a second anchor leg extending radially outward proximate the first inner end, the second anchor leg securing the inner annular ring to an inner receiving area of a rotatable thrust plate of the thrust bearing assembly;

(b) a radially extending transition leg;

(c) a second flexible neck extending between the first inner end and the radially extending transition leg;

the radially inward-opening C-Shaped cross section comprising:

(a) a second sealing leg extending radially inward proximate the second inner end; and

(b) a third flexible neck extending between the second sealing leg and the radially extending transition leg;

the face seal having an axially facing groove therein opposite the axial facing surface of the stationary thrust plate and the second inner end being secured to the face seal ring, the face seal ring having a second pocket formed therein, the second sealing leg being secured in the second pocket, the face seal ring comprising a lubricious material and being configured to slide on an axial facing surface of a stationary thrust plate of the thrust bearing assembly;

the compression seal disposed in the axially facing groove, the compression seal being configured to seal against the axial facing surface of the stationary thrust plate;

the biasing unit axially engaging the face seal ring and urging the face seal ring axially away from the first inner end and compressing the compression seal compressed between the face seal ring and a receiving surface of the rotatable thrust plate, the biasing unit urging the face seal ring towards the axial facing surface of the stationary thrust plate and thereby compressing the compression seal against the axial facing surface of the stationary thrust plate for sealing and engagement with the axial facing surface of the stationary thrust plate,

wherein at least one of the first sealing leg and the first pocket tapers to improve retention of the first sealing leg within the first pocket during rotation of the sliding ring within the stationary thrust plate, and

at least one of the second sealing leg and the second pocket tapers to improve retention of the second sealing leg within the second pocket during rotation of the face seal ring.

20. The seal assembly of claim 19 , wherein an axial outward facing upper surface of the first sealing leg and an axial inward facing lower surface of the first sealing leg both terminate at a radial inward facing engagement surface and at least a portion of at least one of the axial outward facing upper surface and the axial inward facing lower surface is oriented at a draft angle α measured relative to a horizontal reference line and the draft angle α being configured to improve retention of the first sealing leg within the first pocket as the sliding ring rotates in the groove of the stationary thrust plate.

21. The seal assembly of claim 19 , wherein the first pocket is defined by a shape comprising a radially outward-opening C-shaped cross section having an axial inward facing upper sliding surface, an axial outward facing lower sliding surface and a radial outward facing first pocket surface extending therebetween, at least one of the axial inward facing upper sliding surface and the axial outward facing lower sliding surface is oriented at a draft angle β measured relative to a horizontal reference line and the draft angle β being configured to improve retention of the first sealing leg within the first pocket as the sliding ring rotates in the groove of the stationary thrust plate.

22. The seal assembly of claim 19 , wherein the first pocket is defined by a shape comprising a radially outward-opening C-shaped cross section having an axial inward facing upper sliding surface, an axial outward facing lower sliding surface and a radial outward facing first pocket surface extending therebetween, at least a portion of the axial inward facing lower sliding surface is oriented at a draft angle β measured relative to a horizontal reference line and the draft angle β being configured to improve retention of the first sealing leg within the first pocket as the sliding ring rotates in the groove of the stationary thrust plate.

23. The seal assembly of claim 19 , wherein the sliding ring rotates against an axial facing surface of the stationary thrust plate, at least a portion of the axial facing surface is oriented at a secondary draft angle γ and the secondary draft angle γ is measured relative to a horizontal reference line, and

wherein at least one of the draft angle β and the secondary draft angle γ being configured to improve retention of the first sealing leg within the first pocket as the sliding ring rotates in the groove of the stationary thrust plate.

24. The seal assembly of claim 19 , wherein an axial outward facing upper surface of the second sealing leg and an axial inward facing lower surface of the second sealing leg both terminate at a radial inward facing engagement surface and at least a portion of at least one of the axial outward facing upper surface and the axial inward facing lower surface is oriented at a draft angle α measured relative to a horizontal reference line and the draft angle α being configured to improve retention of the second sealing leg within second pocket during rotation of the face seal ring.

25. The seal assembly of claim 19 , wherein the second pocket is defined by a shape comprising a radially outward-opening C-shaped cross section having an axial inward facing upper sliding surface, an axial outward facing lower sliding surface and a radial outward facing second pocket surface extending therebetween, at least one of the axial inward facing upper sliding surface and the axial outward facing lower sliding surface is oriented at a draft angle β measured relative to a horizontal reference line and the draft angle β being configured to improve retention of the second sealing leg within the second pocket during rotation of the face seal ring.

26. An outer seal assembly comprising:

a flexible outer annular ring extending between a first outer end and a second outer end and having a radially inward-opening C-shaped cross section comprising:

(a) an anchor leg extending radially inward proximate the first outer end;

(b) a flexible neck extending between the first outer end and the second outer end; and

(c) a sealing leg extending radially inward proximate the second outer end; and

a sliding ring having a pocket formed therein, the sealing leg being secured in the pocket, the sliding ring comprising a lubricious material;

a lip extending axially away from the second outer end; and

at least one of the sealing leg and the pocket has a taper thereon.