Positive contact, self retaining bearing seals

Patent · Tue May 05 04:00:00 EDT 1992

OSTI ID:868269

Johnson, Bruce H ^[1]; Larsen, Lawrence E ^[1]; Welch, Edmund F ^[1]

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1. Kansas City, MO

An ultra-low friction bearing including an inner race, an outer race, bearing elements engaged between the inner and outer races and a seal between the inner and outer races is disclosed. The seal includes first and second sealing washers. The first washer has an outer diameter greater than an inner diameter of the outer race and an inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of the inner race. The second washer has an inner diameter less than the outer diameter of the inner race and an outer diameter less than the inner diameter of the outer race. The first washer slidably engages the outer race, the second washer slidably engages the inner race and the washers overlap and slidably engage one another. One of the washers snap fits into its respective inner or outer race while the other washer engages a stepped surface of the other of the inner and outer races. The grooved and stepped surface are offset from one another in a longitudinal direction of the races such that the washers are conically loaded thus providing a seal between the inner and outer races sufficient to prevent lubricant and contaminating particles from passing therethrough. The washers are made from a non-metallic semi-flexible low-modulus material.

• Research Organization: Kansas City Plant (KCP), Kansas City, MO (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00613
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 5110222
• Application Number: 07/473,800
• OSTI ID: 868269
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

/384/277/
bearing
bearing element
bearing elements
bearing including
conically
contact
contaminating
contaminating particles
diameter
direction
disclosed
elements
engage
engaged
engages
fits
friction
grooved
including
inner
inner diameter
inner race
loaded
longitudinal
longitudinal direction
low-modulus
lubricant
material
non-metallic
offset
outer
outer diameter
outer race
outer races
overlap
particles
passing
passing therethrough
positive
prevent
providing
race
races
respective
retaining
seal
sealing
seals
semi-flexible
slidably
slidably engage
snap
stepped
sufficient
surface
therethrough
ultra-low
washer
washers