Double lip axial radial bearing seal
A bearing assembly, including: an axis of rotation; an outer bearing ring; an inner bearing ring; and a seal. The seal includes: an annular-shaped body made of a flexible material and including a radially outermost segment in contact with the outer bearing ring and sealed against the outer bearing ring, a radially innermost segment in contact with a first portion of the inner bearing ring and sealed against the first portion of the inner bearing ring and a lip segment. The lip segment extends from the body in a first axial direction parallel to the axis of rotation, is located between the radially outermost and innermost segments in a radial direction orthogonal to the axis of rotation, and, is in contact with and sealed against a second portion of the inner bearing ring. The seal includes a reinforcing brace at least partially embedded in the body.
1. A bearing assembly arranged to rotate about an axis of rotation, comprising:
an outer bearing ring;
an inner bearing ring including a first portion including a first radially disposed surface, orthogonal to the axis of rotation; and,
a seal including:
an annular-shaped body made of a flexible material and including:
a radially outermost segment in contact with the outer bearing ring;
a radially innermost segment including a second radially disposed surface, in contact with the first radially disposed surface of the inner bearing ring; and,
a lip segment:
extending from the body in a first axial direction, parallel to the axis of rotation;
located between the radially outermost and innermost segments in a radial direction, orthogonal to the axis of rotation; and,
in contact with a second portion of the inner bearing ring; and,
a reinforcing brace at least partially embedded in the body.
2. The bearing assembly recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the inner bearing ring includes a radially outermost surface facing the outer bearing ring; and,
the radially outermost surface includes the second portion.
3. The bearing assembly recited in claim 2 , wherein the radially outermost surface is parallel to the axis of rotation and located at a uniform distance from the axis of rotation in the radial direction.
4. The bearing assembly recited in claim 2 , further comprising:
an enclosed space at least partially bounded by the lip segment, the radially outermost surface, and the radially innermost segment.
5. The bearing assembly recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the inner bearing ring includes a radially outermost surface facing the outer bearing ring; and,
the lip segment includes a first surface in contact with the radially outermost surface.
6. The bearing assembly recited in claim 5 , wherein the lip segment includes:
a second surface tapering, in a second axial direction, opposite the first axial direction, away from the axis of rotation between the first surface and the annular-shaped body; and,
a third surface:
radially inward of the second surface; and,
tapering in the second axial direction away from the axis of rotation between the first surface and the annular-shaped body.
7. The bearing assembly recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the first radially disposed surface is co-planar with a first plane, orthogonal to the axis of rotation.
8. The bearing assembly recited in claim 7 , wherein:
the second radially disposed surface is radially inward of the lip segment; and,
at least a portion of the lip segment is located further in the first axial direction than the second radially disposed surface.
9. The bearing assembly recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the outer bearing ring includes a first radially disposed surface co-planar with a first plane, orthogonal to the axis of rotation; and,
the radially outermost segment includes a second radially disposed surface in contact with the first radially disposed surface.
10. A bearing assembly arranged to rotate about an axis of rotation, comprising:
an outer bearing ring;
an inner bearing ring including:
a radially outermost surface facing the outer bearing ring in a radial direction, orthogonal to the axis of rotation; and,
a first radially disposed surface, co-planar with a first plane, orthogonal to the axis of rotation;
a seal including:
an annular-shaped body made of a flexible material and including:
a radially outermost segment in contact with the outer bearing ring;
a radially innermost segment including a second radially disposed surface in contact with the first radially disposed surface; and,
a lip segment:
extending from the body in a first axial direction parallel to the axis of rotation; and,
including a first surface in contact with the radially outermost surface of the inner bearing ring and sealed against the radially outermost surface of the inner bearing ring; and,
a reinforcing brace at least partially embedded in the body.
11. The bearing assembly recited in claim 10 , wherein the radially outermost surface is parallel to the axis of rotation and located at a uniform distance from the axis of rotation in the radial direction.
12. The bearing assembly recited in claim 10 , further comprising:
an enclosed space at least partially bounded by the lip segment, the radially outermost surface, and the radially innermost segment.
13. The bearing assembly recited in claim 10 , wherein the lip segment includes:
a second surface tapering, in a second axial direction, opposite the first axial direction, away from the axis of rotation, between the first surface and the annular-shaped body; and,
a third surface:
radially inward of the second surface; and,
tapering in the second axial direction, away from the axis of rotation, between the first surface and the annular-shaped body.
14. The bearing assembly recited in claim 10 , wherein:
the outer bearing ring includes a second radially disposed surface co-planar with a second plane, orthogonal to the axis of rotation; and,
the radially outermost segment includes a third radially disposed surface in contact with the second radially disposed surface.
15. A seal for a bearing assembly, comprising:
a longitudinal axis;
an annular-shaped body made of a flexible material and including:
a radially outermost segment arranged to contact an outer bearing ring for the bearing assembly;
a radially innermost segment including a first radially disposed surface arranged to contact a first radially disposed portion of an inner bearing ring for the bearing assembly; and,
a lip segment:
extending from the body in a first axial direction, orthogonal to the longitudinal axis;
located between the radially outermost and innermost segments in a radial direction, parallel to the longitudinal axis; and,
including a first surface:
substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis; and,
arranged to contact a second portion of the inner bearing ring; and,
a reinforcing brace at least partially embedded in the body.
16. The seal recited in claim 15 , further comprising:
a space at least partially bounded by the lip segment and a radially outermost surface of the inner bearing ring and opening away from the longitudinal axis in the axial direction.
17. The seal recited in claim 15 , wherein the first surface:
terminates at a distal end of the lip segment; and,
is arranged to contact a radially outermost surface of the inner bearing ring.
18. The seal recited in claim 15 , wherein the lip segment includes:
a second surface tapering, in a second axial direction, opposite the first axial direction, away from the longitudinal axis, from the first surface to the annular-shaped body; and,
a third surface:
radially inward of the second surface; and,
tapering in the second axial direction, away from the longitudinal axis, from the first surface to the annular-shaped body.
19. The seal recited in claim 15 , wherein the radially disposed surface is co-planar with a plane, orthogonal to the longitudinal axis.
20. The seal recited in claim 15 , wherein the radially outermost segment includes a radially disposed surface:
co-planar with a plane, parallel to the longitudinal axis; and,
arranged to contact with the outer bearing ring.