Labyrinth seal and method of making same

Details Labyrinth seal and method of making same Labyrinth seal and method of making same

1999-06-11

2001-06-05

Knight, Anthony (Department: 3626)

Seal for a joint or juncture

Seal between relatively movable parts

Diverse and distinct dynamic seals

C277S346000, C277S351000, C277S421000, C277S412000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06241252

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND AND FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to seals, and more particularly relates to a novel and improved labyrinth-type seal specifically adapted for use between a rotating shaft and outer stationary housing.
Various types of seal assemblies have been devised for installation between relatively moving members, such as, for example, an inner rotating shaft and outer stationary housing. Among other requisites is the ability to seal the shaft from contamination as well as to assure that the seal assembly is positively locked or fixed to the shaft for rotation. Moreover, in certain environments in which the seal assembly is exposed to oil mist or vapors, it is desirable to establish proper sealing characteristics between an outer sealing member which remains stationary with the housing and inner relatively rotating member on the shaft and thus permit the entry of oil mist or vapor to some extent but preclude the entry of contaminants. For this reason, a seal assembly which combines a lip seal and facial seal is highly desirable and which will maintain requisite sealing characteristics notwithstanding at least a limited degree of relative movement in an axial direction between the housing and shaft.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide for a novel and improved seal assembly which is highly efficient, durable and reliable in use.
It is another object of the present invention to provide for a novel and improved radial and facial seal assembly which is specifically adaptable for use between a rotating shaft and outer stationary housing, and specifically wherein the seal is effectively locked to the shaft and maintains sealed engagement with the shaft notwithstanding axial play between the shaft and outer housing.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide in a seal assembly for a novel and improved resilient seating member between relatively moving members to be sealed and which is so mounted with respect to a rotating element as to efficiently exclude contaminants and which incorporates a lip seal having the ability to increase its sealing force in response to increasing liquid or fluid pressure along the outside of the lip seal during operation.
In accordance with the present invention, a seal assembly has been devised for mounting between radially inner and outer relatively rotating members comprising a first sleeve member in sealed engagement with the inner relatively rotating member, a second sleeve member having an external portion in sealed engagement with the outer relatively rotating member and an inner portion in sealed engagement with a complementary portion on the first sleeve, there being labyrinth grooves formed between the inner and outer sleeves, an excluder ring mounted on an upper surface of the second sleeve, and a lock ring having a wedge-shaped extension between the first sleeve and inner relatively rotating member. In the preferred form, the inner relatively rotating member has a rotating shaft and the outer relatively rotating member is defined by a stationary housing, the lock ring imparting rotation of the shaft to the first sleeve member. The excluder ring follows the rotation of the lock ring and rotates with respect to the second sleeve while forming a facial seal along an upper grooved surface of the second sleeve member. An additional feature of the seal assembly resides in the lip seal which forms an extension of the second sleeve member and is contracted against the outer surface of the first sleeve member. The second sleeve member is further characterized by having an inner seating surface bearing against a complementary surface on the first sleeve member and being somewhat spring-loaded against the beveled surface to cooperate with the lip seal in forming a sealed labyrinth area between the first and second sleeve members. At the same time, the loading of the second sleeve member against the first sleeve member will force the upper grooved surface of the second sleeve member into firm bearing relationship against the excluder ring. Still another characteristic and desirable feature of the seal assembly is the method of making the seal assembly, specifically the mounting of the second sleeve member onto the first sleeve member, the second sleeve member being preferably composed of a graphite-filled Teflon material which when heated to a temperature on the order of 400° F. to 450° F. will expand sufficiently to be placed over the first sleeve and, in the process of cooling, will contract into snug-fitting engagement along the complementary seating surfaces and the lip seal.
In the foregoing, the more important features of the present invention have been outlined as a preliminary to the detailed description, but it is to be understood that additional features of the present invention are hereinafter described in conjunction with the detailed description and will at least in part form the subject matter of one or more of the claims. It is further to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings and is capable of other embodiments and applications. The phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of illustration but not limitation, and those skilled in the art should appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for designing other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the present invention. It is therefore important that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions to the extent that they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
The above and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more readily appreciated and understood from a consideration of the following detailed description of preferred and modified forms of the present invention when taken together with the accompanying drawings in which:


REFERENCES:
patent: 5316317 (1994-05-01), Federovich et al.
patent: 5503407 (1996-04-01), McNickle
patent: 6024362 (2000-02-01), Fedorovich
patent: 6059292 (2000-05-01), Firestone

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