Sealing device for a bearing mounted on a shaft

Claim 2

In a universal joint comprising means defining a cross having four journals, two yokes interconnected by the journals of the cross which are engaged in bores in branches of the yokes with interposition of bearings and a sealing device interposed between a shoulder on each journal and an end flange of the corresponding bearing, said device consisting of an elastically yieldable single-piece ring having a portion surrounding with a tight fit an outer face of the corresponding journal and axially gripped between a face of the bearing and the shoulder on the journal, said ring portion having an annular face in direct-sealing contact with a minor part of said bearing end flange and annular faces in contact with said journal and said shoulder, the feature that said ring has a nonmetallic surface and an annular flange integral with said ring portion, and each bearing has a portion which extends beyond the inner face of the corresponding branch of the yoke radially inwardly of the universal joint and is combined to cooperate with the corresponding annular flange which extends first radially and then axially of the bearing directly from said face of said ring portion which is in direct-sealing contact with the bearing end flange, said outer face of said extending portion being cylindrical and said annular flange having a substantially cylindrical portion which surrounds said extending portion of the bearing and defines a free edge of said annular flange and has in a free state an inside diameter no less than the outside diameter of said extending portion of the bearing so as to be unstretched by said extending portion.

Claim 3

In a universal joint comprising means defining a cross having four journals, two yokes interconnected by the journals of the cross which are engaged in bores in branches of the yokes with interposition of bearings and a sealing device interposed between a shoulder on each journal and an end flange of the corresponding bearing, said device consisting of an elastically yieldable single-piece sealing ring having a portion surrounding with a tight fit an outer face of the corresponding journal and axially gripped between a face of the bearing and the shoulder on the journal, said ring portion having an annular face in direct-sealing contact with a minor part of said bearing end flange and annular faces in contact with said journal and said shoulder, the feature that said ring has a nonmetallic surface and a first annular flange integral with said ring portion, and each bearing has a portion which extends beyond the inner face of the corresponding yoke branch radially inwardly of the universal joint and is combined to cooperate with said first annular flange which extends axially of the bearing end flange directly from saiD face of said ring portion which is in direct-sealing contact with the bearing, said outer face of said extending portion being cylindrical and said annular flange having a substantially cylindrical portion which surrounds said extending portion of the bearing and defines a free edge of said annular flange and has in a free state an inside diameter no less that the outside diameter of said extending portion of the bearing so as to be unstretched by said extending portion, and a second annular flange which is integral with the ring and extends directly from said face of said ring portion in direct-sealing contact with said shoulder and includes an annular portion which surrounds a cylindrical outer portion of the journal which is beyond said shoulder relative to said bearing.

Claim 4

In a universal joint comprising means defining a cross having four journals, two yokes interconnected by the journals of the cross which are engaged in bores in branches of the yokes with interposition of bearings and a sealing device interposed between a shoulder on each journal and an end flange of the corresponding bearing, said device consisting of an elastically yieldable single-piece sealing ring having a portion surrounding with a tight fit an outer face of the corresponding journal and axially gripped between a face of the bearing and the shoulder on the journal, said ring portion having an annular face in direct-sealing contact with a minor part of said bearing end flange and annular faces in contact with said journal and said shoulder, the feature that said ring has a nonmetallic surface and a first annular flange integral with said ring portion, and each bearing has a portion which extends beyond the inner face of the corresponding yoke branch radially inwardly of the universal joint and is combined to cooperate with said first annular flange which extends axially of the bearing end flange directly from saiD face of said ring portion which is in direct-sealing contact with the bearing, said outer face of said extending portion being cylindrical and said annular flange having a substantially cylindrical portion which surrounds said extending portion of the bearing and defines a free edge of said annular flange and has in a free state an inside diameter no less that the outside diameter of said extending portion of the bearing so as to be unstretched by said extending portion, and a second annular flange which is integral with the ring and extends directly from said face of said ring portion in direct-sealing contact with said shoulder and includes an annular portion which surrounds a cylindrical outer portion of the journal which is beyond said shoulder relative to said bearing.

Claim 5

A universal joint as claimed in claim 1, wherein said flange has a radial thickness less than the radial thickness of said portion of said ring and is more flexible than said portion of said ring.

Claim 6

A universal joint as claimed in claim 2, wherein the outer face of said second annular flange is conical and tapers from an end of said second annular flange which is adjacent said portion of said ring.

Claim 7

A universal joint as claimed in claim 1, wherein said flange is in radially spaced relation to said cylindrical outer face of said extending portion of the bearing.

Claim 8

A universal joint as claimed in claim 2, wherein said second flange of the ring is in close contact with said cylindrical outer portion of the journal.

Claim 9

A universal joint as claimed in claim 1, wherein said portion of the ring has an outside diameter less than the outside diameter of the bearing and comprises an outer annular recess between said flanges.

Claim 10

A universal joint as claimed in claim 2, wherein said second flange and said portion of the ring have outside diameters less than the outside diameter of the bearing, a substantially V-sectioned annular recess existing between said flanges.