Circumferential debris seal for pinned joints

• US 10,228,057 B2
• Filed: 11/25/2015
• Issued: 03/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Hudson, Charles Taylor, Mathew, Sunil I., Chapagain, Pradeep
• Primary Examiner(s): Ferguson, Michael P
• Application Number:
  US14/952,026
• Publication Number:
  US 20170146126A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,203 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 11/045 with at least a pair of arms pivoting relatively to at least one other arm, all arms being mounted on one pin crank-pins F16C11/02
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 11/0614 the female part of the joint being open on two sides
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 11/0666 Sealing means between the socket and the inner member shaft
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/74 of sliding-contact bearings
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/78 with a diaphragm, disc, or ring, with or without resilient members F16C33/761 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/102 characterised by material
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/122 generally parallel to the surfaces

Abstract

A self-adjusting seal for sealing a joint. The joint includes a support member, a mis-alignable component, and a changeable gap between the support member and the mis-alignable component. The seal includes a first part having a generally annular configuration formed of a resiliently crushable material and defining a planar outer seal face to statically seal to the support member and a first seal part opening extending therethrough. A second seal part axially adjoins the first part. The second seal part has a generally annular configuration formed of a rigid material and a second seal part opening extending therethrough in axial alignment with the first seal part opening. The first and second seal part openings define a non-rotation feature to prevent rotation of the seal on the support member, the second seal part defining a planer inner seal face configured to dynamically and sealingly interface with the mis-alignable component.

Claims

1. A self-adjusting seal sealing a joint, the joint including a support member including an axially extending boss comprising a bore for receiving a pivot pin, a mis-alignable component comprising a bore pivotally connectable to the support member about the pivot pin, and a changeable gap defined between the support member and the mis-alignable component, the seal comprising:

a first seal part having a flat generally annular configuration formed of a resiliently crushable material and defining a planar outer seal face and a planar inner seal face, the planar outer seal face being configured to statically seal to the support member, and the first seal part further defining a non-circular first seal part opening extending therethrough along a longitudinal axis, the first seal part opening having a first diameter; and

a second seal part having a planar inner seal face and a planar outer seal face, the second seal planar outer seal face being disposed adjacent the first seal part planar inner seal face, the second seal part formed of a rigid material, the second seal part having a flat generally annular configuration and defining a non-circular second seal part opening extending therethrough along the longitudinal axis in alignment with the first seal part opening, the second seal part opening having a second diameter, the second diameter being greater than the first diameter, the first and second seal part openings defining a keyhole-shaped non-rotation feature configured to non-rotatably fit on the boss and prevent rotation of the seal on the support member, wherein the non-rotation feature includes a rounded portion and a rectangular portion extending radially from the rounded portion defining the first seal part opening and the second seal part opening, the second seal part planar inner seal face being configured to dynamically and sealingly interface with the mis-alignable component.

2. The seal of claim 1, wherein the first seal part is formed of open cell polyurethane.

3. The seal of claim 1, wherein the second seal part is formed of a metal material.

4. The seal of claim 3, wherein the inner seal face of the second seal part includes a low-friction material.

5. The seal of claim 4, wherein the low-friction material is PTFE.

6. The seal of claim 1, wherein the second seal part includes an inner layer of rigid material and an outer layer of PTFE axially adjoining the inner layer.

7. The seal of claim 1, wherein the second seal part is formed of a composite material.

8. The seal of claim 7, wherein the composite material is fiber reinforced plastic.

9. The seal of claim 7, wherein the inner seal face includes a low-friction material.

10. The seal of claim 9, wherein the low-friction material is PTFE.

11. The seal of claim 10, wherein the PTFE is one of a layer of low-friction material and embedded in the composite material.

12. The seal of claim 1, wherein the first and second seal parts each include an outer periphery and a flat formed on the outer periphery, wherein the flat of the first seal part is aligned with the flat of the second seal part.

13. A machine, comprising:

a support structure including an axially extending boss comprising a bore for receiving a pivot pin;

a pivot pin having a longitudinal axis disposed on the support structure and extending through the bore;

a spherical bearing assembly disposed about the pin;

a mis-alignable component comprising a bore movably disposed on the spherical bearing assembly and pivotally connected to the support structure, the mis-alignable component defining at least one changeable gap with the support structure; and

a self-adjusting seal mounted on the support structure and about the boss to seal the changeable gap, the seal comprising;

a first seal part having a flat generally annular configuration formed of a resiliently crushable material and defining a planar inner seal face and a planar outer seal face contacting the support member and configured to statically seal to the support member, the first seal part defining a non-circular first seal part opening extending therethrough along the longitudinal axis, the first seal part opening having a first diameter; and

a second seal part having a planar inner seal face and an outer seal face, the second planar outer seal face being disposed adjoining the first seal part planar inner seal face, the second seal part having a flat generally annular configuration formed of a rigid material, the second seal part defining a non-circular second seal part opening extending therethrough along the longitudinal axis in alignment with the first seal part opening, the second seal part opening having a second diameter, the second diameter being greater than the first diameter, the first and second seal part openings defining a keyhole-shaped non-rotation feature engagingly cooperating with the boss to prevent rotation of the seal on the support member, the second seal part planar inner seal face contacting the mis-alignable component and configured to dynamically and sealingly interface with the mis-alignable component.

14. The machine of claim 13, herein the second seal part includes one of a metal material and a composite material.

15. The machine of claim 14, wherein the inner seal face includes a low-friction material.

16. The machine of claim 13, wherein the non-rotation feature includes a rounded portion and a rectangular portion extending radially from the rounded portion defining the first seal part opening and the second seal part opening.

17. The machine of claim 13, wherein the first and second seal parts each include an outer periphery and a flat formed on the outer periphery, wherein the flat of the first seal part is aligned with the flat of the second seal part.

18. The machine of claim 13, wherein the self-adjusting seal is disposed between the support structure and the mis-alignable component in a compressed state to permit the seal to expand to fill the changeable gap when the changeable gap widens.

19. The machine of claim 18, wherein the self-adjusting seal is axially compressed about 30 percent to about 40 percent when installed.

20. The machine of claim 18, wherein the first and second seal parts each include an outer periphery and a flat formed on the outer periphery, wherein the flat of the first seal part is aligned with the flat of the second seal part.