Seal for a joint or juncture – Seal between fixed parts or static contact against... – Contact seal for a pipe – conduit – or cable
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-08
2001-02-20
Melius, Terry Lee (Department: 3628)
Seal for a joint or juncture
Seal between fixed parts or static contact against...
Contact seal for a pipe, conduit, or cable
C277S399000, C277S400000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06189896
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates generally to a rotating seal ring, and more particularly, to a rotating seal ring that allows a controlled amount of leakage in cooperation with elements or means for receiving and holding a lubricant at at least one interface between the seal ring and an opposing surface of a housing or case containing the seal ring for improved operation, particularly under high pressure and high rotational speed conditions.
BACKGROUND ART
Currently, rotating seal rings are used in applications such as in transmissions, particularly for preventing or substantially limiting fluid leakage and pressure loss from portions of the transmissions subject to high pressure conditions, such as the clutch packs, wherein pressure can be as high as 400 pounds per square inch (PSI). Generally, the known rotating seal rings for sealing transmission clutch packs are “wet seals”, that is, both the high pressure and low pressure faces or sides thereof are exposed to or are in communication with a liquid such as a transmission oil or the like typically having lubricating properties. The rotating seal rings further often include at least one face or side that is positioned in opposing, face-to-face relation with a non-rotating surface of the transmission case for forming a sealed or substantially sealed condition therewith. The known rotating seal rings are typically made of a metal or hard polymer such as polyimide, and the opposing surfaces of the transmission case are typically metal, such as cast iron or the like.
A problem that can occur with the known rotating seal rings when subject to the above referenced high pressure conditions, is that they can be forced by the pressure against the non-rotating metal surface or surfaces of the transmission case without adequate lubrication therebetween, resulting in possible damage to the seal ring, and operational problems including excessive leakage and parasitic power losses, clutch slippage, and eventual failure of the associated clutch pack and/or the transmission. This problem is particularly acute at higher rotational speeds wherein higher temperatures are generated between the seal ring and the opposing surface or surfaces due to friction resulting from the inadequate lubrication.
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems as set forth above.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the invention, a rotating seal ring is disclosed, the rotating seal ring including elements or means for receiving and holding a lubricant on at least one face thereof for providing lubrication between the at least one face and a non-rotating surface of a transmission case or the like located in face-to-face relation therewith during relative rotation of the seal ring and the surface. According to a further aspect of the invention, the seal ring includes a gap therethrough adapted for allowing a controlled amount of liquid to pass through the seal ring for supplying the lubricant to the at least one face and for providing a desired cooling effect.
According to a preferred aspect of the invention, the means for receiving and holding a lubricant include a substantially uniform pattern of cavities in or on the at least one face spaced from a radial outer circumferential face of the seal ring.
According to another preferred aspect of the invention the cavities are arranged in a cross-hatch pattern and extend radially outwardly from a radial inner circumferential face of the seal ring to a location spaced from a radial outer circumferential face thereof. Optionally, the cavities are of varying depth, being deeper adjacent to the inner circumferential face and shallower adjacent to the outer circumferential face.
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Dickey Alan M.
Johnson Kristy J.
Perry David K.
Caterpillar Inc.
Matthews Stephen R.
Melius Terry Lee
Miller William L.
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