Seal construction including a compressible spring mechanism for bearing preload

1. A seal assembly adapted for use in creating a seal between an axially extending shaft and a support member defining an axial passage through which the shaft extends, wherein a bearing assembly is mounted to the support member and includes a stationary outer race and an inner race which rotates along with the shaft, said seal assembly comprising:

a rigid ring defining an axial passage through which the shaft extends;

a resilient material carried by said ring, said resilient material defining an inner sealing section adapted to engage the shaft and an outer sealing section located radially outwardly of the inner sealing section and adapted to engage an outer sealing surface associated with the support member; and

an axial biasing member embedded in said resilient material between the inner and outer sealing sections, wherein the axial biasing member is adapted to provide an axial preloading force on the inner race relative to the outer race.

2. The seal assembly of claim 1 , wherein the ring includes a radially extending flange, and at least one spring finger extends from said flange to form said axial biasing member.

3. The seal assembly of claim 1 , wherein the resilient material forming the inner sealing section includes a plurality of inwardly facing, axially spaced ribs adapted to engage the shaft.

4. The seal assembly of claim 1 , wherein the outer sealing section includes at least one outwardly facing lip adapted to engage the outer sealing surface associated with the support member.

5. The seal assembly of claim 4 , including a radial biasing member engaging said at least one outwardly facing lip and urging said at least one outwardly facing lip radially outwardly to sealingly engage the outer sealing surface associated with the support member.

6. The seal assembly of claim 1 , wherein said resilient sealing material is bonded to the ring.

7. The seal assembly of claim 1 , wherein the outer sealing surface associated with the support member comprises an annular wear member engaged within a recess formed in the support member.

8. The seal assembly of claim 7 , wherein the annular wear member is press-fit within the recess and engaged with an inwardly facing wall defined by the support member and forming at least a portion of the recess.

9. A seal assembly adapted to provide a seal between an axially extending shaft and a hub member defining an axial passage through which the shaft extends, wherein an end of the hub member includes an outwardly opening recess having a shoulder which is adapted to support an outer race of a bearing assembly which includes an inner race engageable with the shaft, said seal assembly comprising:

a wear member defining an inwardly facing wear surface spaced radially from the shaft, wherein the wear member is adapted to be received within the recess in the end of the hub member;

a seal member including an inner sealing section adapted to engage the shaft, and an outer sealing section located radially outwardly of the inner sealing section and adapted to engage the wear surface defined by the wear member; and

an axial biasing member embedded in said seal member and located between the inner and outer sealing sections, wherein the biasing member is adapted to exert an axial force against the inner race of the bearing assembly so as to provide an axial preloading force on the inner race of the bearing assembly relative to the outer race.

10. The seal assembly of claim 9 , wherein the seal member comprises a rigid ring, and resilient sealing material is bonded to the rigid ring member to form the inner and outer sealing sections, and said axial biasing member is embedded in said resilient sealing material.

11. The seal assembly of claim 9 , wherein the rigid ring member further includes a radial flange and the axial biasing member extends from the radial flange of the rigid ring member.

12. The seal assembly of claim 9 , wherein the outer sealing section includes at least one outwardly facing lip adapted to engage the wear member.

13. The seal assembly of claim 12 , including a radial biasing member engaging said at least one outwardly facing lip and urging said at least one outwardly facing lip radially outwardly to sealingly engage the wear member.

14. A seal assembly adapted to provide a seal between an axially extending shaft and a first surface spaced radially from the shaft, the seal assembly comprising:

a rigid ring defining an axial passage through which the shaft extends;

a resilient material carried by said ring, said resilient material defining an inner sealing section adapted to engage the shaft and an outer sealing section located radially outwardly of the inner sealing section and adapted to engage the first surface spaced radially from the shaft; and

an axial biasing member embedded in said resilient material between the inner and outer sealing sections, wherein the axial biasing member is adapted to exert an axial force on a second surface axially abutting the seal assembly.

15. The seal assembly of claim 14 , wherein the outer sealing section includes at least one outwardly facing lip adapted to engage the first surface, and said seal assembly includes a radial biasing member engaging said at least one outwardly facing lip and urging said at least one outwardly facing lip radially outwardly to sealingly engage the first surface.