Patent · US Expired

Hydrodynamic rotary seal with opposed tapering seal lips

US6767016B2 · kind B2 · utility

47Cited by
36References
37Claims
0Family size

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 12, 2001
Grant dateJul 27, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 12, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF16J15/3244
  • WIPO fieldMechanical elements
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A hydrodynamically lubricating rotary seal for partitioning a lubricant from an environment has a generally circular seal body and sloping, generally opposed projecting static and dynamic sealing lips. The dynamic sealing lip is provided for establishing compressed sealing relation with a relatively rotatable surface, and has a sloping dynamic sealing surface that varies in width, and also has a hydrodynamic inlet curvature that varies in position around the circumference of the seal.When the seal is installed against a relatively rotatable surface, the dynamic sealing lip deforms to define a variable width interfacial contact footprint against the relatively rotatable surface that is wavy on the lubricant side, and wedges a film of lubricating fluid into the interface in response to relative rotation. The environment edge of the interfacial contact footprint is substantially circular, and therefore does not produce a hydrodynamic wedging action in response to relative rotation.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.