Shaft assembly having improved seal arrangement
US6290234A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 27, 1999 |
| Grant date | Sep 18, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 27, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S277/924
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A sealed, rotatable shaft assembly includes a housing that defines a bore that extends from an area exterior to the housing to an area interior to the housing. A shaft is rotatably disposed in the housing about an axis of the bore. The shaft extends through the bore between the interior area and the exterior area. An annular lip seal is disposed in the bore and is attached to one of the shaft and the housing. The lip seal extends from the one of the shaft and the housing to the other of the shaft and the housing in a contact seal so that rotation of the shaft with respect to the housing wears the lip seal to form a zero-clearance non-contacting seal. A labyrinth seal stage extends between the shaft and the housing. The labyrinth seal stage is disposed outward of the lip seal, with respect to the interior area and in communication with the lip seal.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.