Lubrication method for housing having an exclusion seal
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- providing a bearing housing configured to house a bearing, the bearing housing enclosing a free volume for receiving a lubricant and including a shaft opening;
providing a shaft in the shaft opening;
filling the free volume with the lubricant;
providing an exclusion seal between the shaft opening and the shaft, the exclusion seal being repeatably and non-destructively shiftable from a sealing state in which the exclusion seal substantially prevents the lubricant from leaving the free volume and a release state in which the exclusion seal allows the lubricant to escape between the exclusion seal and the shaft, the exclusion seal being shiftable from the sealing state to the release state by increasing a pressure in the bearing housing to above a first level and being shiftable from the release state to the sealing state by decreasing the pressure to below the first level; and
continuously maintaining a film of the lubricant between the exclusion seal and the shaft by repeatedly causing the pressure of the lubricant in the free volume to rise above and fall below the first level.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method includes providing a bearing housing configured to house a bearing, the bearing housing enclosing a free volume for receiving a lubricant and including a shaft in a shaft opening, filling the free volume with the lubricant, providing an exclusion seal between the shaft opening and the shaft, the exclusion seal being repeatably and non-destructively shiftable from a sealing state and a release state, the exclusion seal being shiftable from the sealing state to the release state by increasing a pressure in the bearing housing to above a first level and being shiftable from the release state to the sealing state by decreasing the pressure to below the first level; and continuously maintaining a film of the lubricant between the exclusion seal and the shaft by repeatedly causing the pressure of the lubricant in the free volume to rise above and fall below the first level.
54 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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providing a bearing housing configured to house a bearing, the bearing housing enclosing a free volume for receiving a lubricant and including a shaft opening; providing a shaft in the shaft opening; filling the free volume with the lubricant; providing an exclusion seal between the shaft opening and the shaft, the exclusion seal being repeatably and non-destructively shiftable from a sealing state in which the exclusion seal substantially prevents the lubricant from leaving the free volume and a release state in which the exclusion seal allows the lubricant to escape between the exclusion seal and the shaft, the exclusion seal being shiftable from the sealing state to the release state by increasing a pressure in the bearing housing to above a first level and being shiftable from the release state to the sealing state by decreasing the pressure to below the first level; and continuously maintaining a film of the lubricant between the exclusion seal and the shaft by repeatedly causing the pressure of the lubricant in the free volume to rise above and fall below the first level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method comprising:
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providing a bearing housing configured to house a bearing, the bearing housing enclosing a free volume for receiving a lubricant and including a shaft opening; providing a shaft in the shaft opening; filling the free volume with the lubricant; providing an exclusion seal between the shaft opening and the shaft, the exclusion seal being repeatably and non-destructively shiftable from a sealing state in which the exclusion seal substantially prevents the lubricant from leaving the free volume and a release state in which the exclusion seal allows the lubricant to escape between the exclusion seal and the shaft, the exclusion seal being shiftable from the sealing state to the release state by increasing a pressure in the bearing housing to a level greater than or equal to 10 psi and being shiftable from the release state to the sealing state by decreasing the pressure to below the level; and providing a pump for pumping the lubricant into the bearing housing, the pump being capable of causing the pressure in the bearing housing to exceed the level; and continuously maintaining a film of the lubricant between the exclusion seal and the shaft by repeatedly operating the pump to cause the pressure of the lubricant to alternately rise above and fall below the level, wherein the only location for the lubricant to exit the bearing housing is between the shaft and the exclusion seal. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. A method comprising:
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providing a bearing housing configured to house a bearing, the bearing housing enclosing a free volume for receiving a lubricant and including a shaft opening; providing a pump for pumping the lubricant into the bearing housing; providing a shaft in the shaft opening; providing an exclusion seal between the shaft opening and the shaft, the exclusion seal being configured to allow the lubricant to escape past the exclusion seal when the pressure is above a first level; providing a controller operably connected to the pump for controlling the pump, and providing a pressure sensor configured to measure a pressure in the bearing housing and to send an output signal to the controller indicative of the measured pressure; adding the lubricant to the bearing housing while measuring the pressure; determining a maximum pressure obtainable by adding the lubricant to the bearing housing; and if the maximum pressure is not greater than a predetermined pressure providing a signal indicative of a worn seal.
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Specification