Seal for a joint or juncture – Seal between relatively movable parts – Relatively rotatable radially extending sealing face member
Reexamination Certificate
1998-09-01
2001-05-01
Knight, Anthony (Department: 3626)
Seal for a joint or juncture
Seal between relatively movable parts
Relatively rotatable radially extending sealing face member
C285S121600, C285S190000, C285S272000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06224063
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to seals used between a cylindrical shaft and a bore of a housing and, more particularly, to seals used to isolate a lubricant path between the housing and the shaft.
In automobile transmissions as well as other applications, lubricant may be required to flow between a lubricant passage within a housing and a lubricant passage within a shaft located in a bore of the housing. For example, the lubricant may be used for lubricating bearings, gear sets and one-way clutches, and for actuating multi-plate clutch packs. Typically, two separate seals are used between the housing bore and the shaft to prevent the lubricant from flowing axially along the bore of the housing over the outside surface of the shaft.
Present designs generally require grooves to be machined in the shaft to form a seat for the seals and to provide a circumferential lubricant path, thereby reducing the strength of the shaft and requiring costly machining. In addition, such designs may not be suitable for automated assembly and may result in wear or leakage of the seals. Furthermore, those designs may not be suitable for applications where the shaft or housing is made of aluminum or other material without acceptable wear properties for sealing.
The foregoing illustrates limitations known to exist in present devices and methods. Thus, it is apparent that it would be advantageous to provide an alternative directed to overcoming one or more of the limitations set forth above. Accordingly, a suitable alternative is provided including features more fully disclosed hereinafter.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect of the invention, this is accomplished by providing a seal pack to be positioned between a housing bore and a cylindrical shaft located within the housing bore. The seal pack comprises an annular retainer dimensioned for an interference fit with one of the housing bore and the shaft, and has two axially spaced apart annular grooves facing and radially spaced from the other of the housing bore and the shaft. The annular retainer includes at least one opening located between the annular grooves such that lubricant may pass therethrough. A resilient seal ring is located within each annular groove of the annular retainer and dimensioned for sealing engagement with the annular retainer and with said other of the housing bore and the shaft.
In another aspect of the invention, this accomplished by providing a combination of a housing, a cylindrical shaft within a bore of the housing, and a seal pack between the housing and the shaft.
The foregoing and other aspects will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures.
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Bigler John C.
Knight Anthony
Schwing Karlena D.
The Torrington Company
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