Shaft seal with grease retainer

• US 7,086,608 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2005
• Issued: 08/08/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nelson Irrigation Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nelson Irrigation Corporation
• Inventors: Perkins, Lee A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ganey, Steven J.
• Application Number:
  US11/257,154
• Publication Number:
  US 20060038036A1
• Time in Patent Office: 287 Days
• Field of Search: 239/201, 239/222.11, 239/222.17, 239/223, 239/224, 239/251, 239/259, 239/DIG.4, 285/94, 277/605, 277/616, 277/625, 277/627, 277/645
• US Class Current: 239/222.17
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 3/005 using viscous dissipation, e.g. a rotor movable in a chamber filled with oil
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 3/0486 the spray jet being generated by a rotary deflector rotated by liquid discharged onto it in a direction substantially parallel its rotation axis

Abstract

A seal arrangement for a rotatable shaft that is secured at one end thereof in a housing, and that mounts a water distribution plate on an opposite end thereof, the shaft seal comprising a flexible annular member having a radially inner portion including at least one tapered lip extending in one direction along the shaft and adapted to engage the shaft, and a radially outer portion seated on a support in the housing; and at least one retainer overlying the seal and holding the seal in position on the support, the at least one retainer having a radially inner portion that substantially encloses the at least one tapered lip.

Claims

1. A sprinkler comprising a sprinkler body supporting a nozzle and a cap assembly axially spaced from said nozzle, said cap assembly having a housing supporting a rotatable water distribution plate in alignment with said nozzle for distributing water emitted from said nozzle and impinging on said plate;

a shaft seal comprising a pair of lip seals extending in opposite directions from a radially outer portion of said shaft seal, said radially outer portion of the shaft seal seated on a support fixed within said housing;

a first retainer overlying said radially outer portion of said shaft seal and a second retainer overlying said first retainer and including a radially inner portion substantially enclosing one of said lip seals, and wherein at least a space between said first and second retainers contains lubricant to thereby lubricate said one of said lip seals.

2. The seal arrangement of claim 1 wherein said shaft passes through a center hub of said support comprising a plain bearing for said shaft.

3. The seal arrangement of claim 2 and further wherein a space between one of said pair of lip seals and said plain bearing contains lubricant.

4. The seal arrangement of claim 1 wherein said housing contains a viscous fluid and a rotor is fixed to said shaft to retard speed of rotation of said shaft.

5. The seal arrangement of claim 1 wherein said shaft seal is composed of rubber.

6. A seal arrangement for a rotatable shaft that is secured at one end thereof in a housing, and that mounts a water distribution plate on an opposite end thereof, the shaft seal comprising a flexible annular member having a radially inner portion including at least one tapered lip extending in one direction along said shaft and adapted to engage the shaft, and a radially outer portion seated on a support in said housing;

a first retainer overlying the seal and holding the seal in position on said support; and

a second retainer overlying said first retainer, and wherein a reservoir is created between said first and second retainers, said reservoir containing a lubricant.

7. The seal arrangement of claim 6 wherein said shaft seal is composed of rubber.

8. The seal arrangement of claim 6 wherein said shaft seal has a second tapered lip extending in a direction opposite that of said at least one tapered lip.

9. The seal arrangement of claim 6 wherein said housing contains a viscous fluid and a rotor is fixed to said shaft within said housing to retard speed of rotation of said shaft.