Bearings – Rotary bearing – Antifriction bearing
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-25
2001-04-17
Bonck, Rodney H. (Department: 3681)
Bearings
Rotary bearing
Antifriction bearing
C384S470000, C384S485000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06217223
ABSTRACT:
This application corresponds to and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 with respect to German Patent Application No. P 198 13 587.4 filed on Mar. 27, 1998, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to rolling bearings. More particularly, the present invention pertains to a cage-guided seal used in rolling bearings.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
DE 27 53 340 discloses an elastomer seal that is attached with snap-on elements to the cage of a tapered rolling bearing. The one-piece seal is provided with long-armed sealing lips and for this reason can only be guided in a rather imprecise manner on the sealing surfaces. Because of this, large-surface starting sections are also provided on the seal to impart a certain positioning guidance to the seal, but the seal exhibits a rather poor sealing function. In situations where pressure differentials exist between the bearing chamber and the environment, for example if there are temperature fluctuations in the bearings, the sealing and guidance function performed by the seal is less than adequate. It is also necessary that the cage be equipped with retention devices for the seal, thus requiring a specially outfitted cage.
A need thus exists for a cage-guided seal used in rolling bearings having improved stability, sealing function, and starting behavior, while at the same time permitting the use of standard series cages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a seal that includes a support body of a hard material with molded-on or integrally formed retention sections. The retention sections are adapted to be snap-fit onto the cage of the rolling bearing to retain the seal in place on the rolling bearing. By producing the support body from a hard material, for example from sheet metal, and by virtue of the rigid connection with the cage, highly flexible and quite fine sealing lips that start in a linear shape and in axial direction require extremely small starting surfaces can be used at the sealing places. The seal is able to provide the necessary sealing and guidance function even in the presence of a pressure differential.
According to one aspect of the invention, a rolling bearing includes inner and outer rings, at least one rolling element disposed between the inner and outer rings, and a cage which holds the rolling element. A cage-guided seal is mounted on the cage and includes a support portion formed of a first material and sealing lips formed of a second material. The sealing lips engage the inner and outer rings, and the first material is more rigid than the second material. The support portion is provided with at least one retention section which retains the seal in place on the cage.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a cage-guided seal for rolling bearings having inner and outer rings and a cage for holding at least one rolling element between the inner and outer rings includes a support body, a sealing lip provided on the support body for engaging the inner ring, and a sealing lip provided on the support body for engaging the outer ring. The support body is fabricated of a material that is more rigid than the sealing lips, and the support body includes at least one integral retention section for being snapped in on the cage.
Another aspect of the present invention includes a cage-mounted seal for rolling bearings having inner and outer rings and a cage for holding at least one rolling element between the inner and outer rings. The seal includes a support portion and a sealing portion, with the support portion being fabricated of a material that is more rigid than the material from which the sealing portion is fabricated. The sealing portion is provided on the support portion and includes a sealing lip provided at one free end of the support portion for engaging the inner ring and a sealing lip provided at an opposite free end of the support portion for engaging the outer ring. The support portion has at least one punched out portion forming a retention section that is adapted to be snapped into place on the cage.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2557476 (1951-06-01), Schwitter
patent: 2856246 (1958-10-01), Gaubatz
patent: 3113812 (1963-12-01), Dotter
patent: 3524237 (1970-08-01), Elmore
patent: 4325591 (1982-04-01), Otto
patent: 4692040 (1987-09-01), Ebaugh et al.
patent: 4699529 (1987-10-01), Scholl et al.
patent: 5618488 (1997-04-01), Tadic et al.
patent: 27 53 340 (1979-05-01), None
patent: 3835315 (1988-10-01), None
patent: 2585420 (1987-01-01), None
patent: 2049070 (1990-12-01), None
Brockmuller Uwe
Katsaros Padelis
Schurger Rainer
Bonck Rodney H.
Burns Doane Swecker & Mathis L.L.P.
Lewis Tisha D.
SKF GmbH
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