Coating for seal assembly

• US 10,442,480 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2017
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Haas, Connor J., Spangler, John M., Marcu, Anca I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Morano, S. Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): Charleston, Jean W
• Application Number:
  US15/639,015
• Publication Number:
  US 20190002044A1
• Time in Patent Office: 837 Days
• Field of Search: 305100
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 5/106 Tube or ring forms
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/0887 Track-articulation sealings against dust, water, mud or the like sealing of bearings in general F16C33/72; chain bushings in general F16G15/00
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/15 Mounting devices, e.g. bushings, axles, bearings, sealings with lubrication means B62D55/092
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/32 Assembly, disassembly, repair or servicing of endless-track systems
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 7/61 inorganic
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 18/1254 Sol or sol-gel processing
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 28/00 Coating for obtaining at least two superposed coatings either by methods not provided for in a single one of groups C23C2/00 - C23C26/00 or by combinations of methods provided for in subclasses C23C and C25C or C25D
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/74 of sliding-contact bearings

Abstract

A seal having a body defining an inner surface and an outer surface. The seal includes a layer of coating deposited on the body, the layer of coating including a material exhibiting oleophobic and hydrophobic properties for both the inner surface and the outer surface.

Claims

1. A seal comprising:

a body defining an inner surface and an outer surface; and

a layer of coating deposited on the body, the layer of coating including a material exhibiting oleophobic and hydrophobic properties for both the inner and outer surfaces, wherein the layer of coating is a first layer of coating, the seal further including a second layer of coating between the surface and the first layer of coating.

2. The seal of claim 1 wherein the layer of coating forms a sealing surface of the seal.

3. The seal of claim 1 wherein the second layer of coating is a coating made of one of zinc, manganese phosphate, primer material and paint.

4. The seal of claim 1 wherein the second layer of coating is a layer of powdered coating.

5. The seal of claim 1 wherein the layer of coating includes one of a sol-gel, fluorocarbon based material, hydrocarbon based materials and ceramic coatings.

6. The seal of claim 1 wherein the seal is a seal ring of one of a track seal, duo-cone seal, elastomeric face seal, and metal face seal.

7. The seal of claim 1 wherein the layer of coating has a thickness of less than 20 μ

m and provides a flexible coated surface.

8. A seal assembly comprising:

a seal ring defining an outer circumferential surface and an inner circumferential surface; and

a layer of coating deposited on the outer circumferential surface and the inner circumferential surface, the layer of coating including a material exhibiting oleophobic and hydrophobic properties, wherein the layer of coating is a first layer of coating, the seal assembly further including a second layer of coating between the outer circumferential surface and/or the inner circumferential surface, and the first layer of coating.

9. The seal assembly of claim 8 wherein a portion of the layer of coating above the inner circumferential surface forms a sealing surface.

10. The seal assembly of claim 8 wherein a portion of the layer of coating above the outer circumferential surface forms a load ring receiving surface.

11. The seal assembly of claim 10 further comprising a load ring disposed on the load ring receiving surface.

12. The seal assembly of claim 8 wherein the second layer of coating is a coating made of one of zinc, manganese phosphate, primer material and paint.

13. The seal assembly of claim 8 wherein the layer of coating includes one of a sol-gel, fluorocarbon based material, hydrocarbon based materials and ceramic coatings.

14. The seal assembly of claim 8 wherein the layer of coating has a thickness of less than 20 nm and provides a flexible coated surface.

15. The seal assembly of claim 8 further comprising a seal housing configured to partially encapsulate the seal ring.

16. The seal assembly of claim 15 wherein the layer of coating is deposited on the seal housing.