Seal for a joint or juncture – Seal between relatively movable parts – Diverse and distinct dynamic seals
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-06
2001-12-04
Knight, Anthony (Department: 3626)
Seal for a joint or juncture
Seal between relatively movable parts
Diverse and distinct dynamic seals
Reexamination Certificate
active
06325379
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Shaft assemblies such as motors and speed reducers generally include a housing in which a shaft is rotatably disposed. Motors generally include means for rotationally driving the shaft, which extends out of the housing through a bore. Speed reducers generally include a driven input shaft that rotationally drives one or more output shafts through gearing that controls the rotational speed of the output shaft(s). The input and output shafts extend into and out of the housing through respective bores.
Such assemblies often include a lip seal at the housing bore that extends between the housing and the shaft. The lip seal typically includes a rigid outer portion secured within the bore by an interference fit between the seal's outer circumferential surface and the bore's inner circumference. An elastomeric portion extends inward from the rigid outer portion to engage the shaft. This elastomeric lip bends axially inward toward the shaft assembly's interior, thus preventing the escape of lubricant from the interior area while providing an effective seal preventing entrance of exterior contaminants.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention recognizes and addresses disadvantages of prior art construction and methods.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a shaft assembly having an improved seal structure.
It is a further object of preferred embodiments of the present invention to provide a shaft assembly having an improved seal structure wherein an elastomeric seal deflects axially inward to engage either the shaft or the housing bore inner circumference.
Some of these objects are achieved in certain preferred embodiments of the present invention by a shaft assembly comprising a housing having a bore formed therein. A shaft is disposed rotatably in the housing and within the bore. A seal assembly extends between the shaft and a circumferential surface of the bore. The seal assembly includes a first annular seal member rotationally fixed to one of the shaft and the housing and extends therefrom to engage the other of the shaft and the housing. A second annular seal member is rotationally fixed to the other of the shaft and the housing axially outward of the point at which the first member engages the other of the shaft and the housing. A third annular seal member is rotationally fixed to one of the shaft and the housing and extends therefrom to the second member.
In certain other preferred embodiments of the present invention, a shaft assembly includes a housing having a bore form therein. A shaft is disposed rotatably in the housing and within the bore. A seal assembly extends between the shaft and a circumferential surface of the bore and includes a first annular seal member having a rigid outer portion rotationally fixed to one of the shaft and the housing and an elastomeric inner portion engaging the other of the shaft and the housing. The inner portion deflects axially inward, with respect to the shaft, as it extends from the rigid outer portion to engage the other of the shaft and the housing. A second annular seal member is rotationally fixed to the other of the shaft and the housing axially outward of the point at which the elastomeric inner portion engages the other of the shaft and the housing and extends radially outward from the other of the shaft and the housing so that the second member covers the elastomeric inner portion.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate one or more embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
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Catalog 4000 US, pp. 722, 723, 1991, United States.
Reliance Electric Company, 2 pages from catalog, 1996, United States.
Beres John L.
Farr Lloyd
Gerasimow Alexander M.
Knight Anthony
Reliance Electric Technologies LLC
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