Rotating seal assembly

Claim 2

A seal assembly for use between relatively rotatable inner and outer members comprising: a resilient element for circumscribing the inner member; a slipper seal for circumscribing the inner member and engageable with both of said members, said slipper seal holding said resilient element substantially out of contact with the inner and outer members; and means forming a driving connection between said slipper seal and at least one of said members to thereby cause said slipper seal and said resilient element to rotate together relative to both of the members at a velocity intermediate the velocities of the members to thereby reduce wear on the slipper seal.

Claim 3

A seal assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said slipper seal is generally U-shaped and said resilient element is positioned between the legs of the U-shaped slipper seal, said U-shaped slipper seal opening generally axially.

Claim 4

A seal assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said resilient element includes an elastomeric seal ring and said slipper seal is constructed of a plastic material.

Claim 5

A seal assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for causing includes friction drive means between said slipper seal and said members.

Claim 6

A seal assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for causing includes the surfaces of said slipper seal which engage the members, the coefficients of friction of said surfaces being selected to cause said members to drive said slipper seal at said intermediate velocity.

Claim 7

A seal assembly and associated structure comprising: an inner member; an outer member circumscribing said inner member, said members being relatively rotatable; one of said members having first and second axially spaced, radial walls and a circumferential wall cooperating with said radial walls to define a circumferentially extending groove; a seal assembly in said groove; said seal assembly including first and second axially spaced elastomeric seal ring means circumscribing the inner member and a retaining element extending between said elastomeric seal rings means to maintain said elastomeric seal ring means in axially spaced relationship; and said seal assembly including first and second slipper seal means for substantially holding the first and second elastomeric seal ring means, respectively, out of contact with said members, said first and second slipper seal means engaging both of said members.

Claim 8

A seal assembly and associated structure comprising: an inner member; an outer member circumscribing said inner member, said members being relatively rotatable; one of said members having first and second axially spaced, radial walls and a circumferential wall cooperating with said radial walls to define a circumferentially extending groove; a seal assembly in said groove; said seal assembly including first and second axially spaced elastomeric seal ring means circumscribing the inner member and a retaining element extending between said elastomeric seal rings means to maintain said elastomeric seal ring means in axially spaced relationship; and said seal assembly including first and second slipper seal means for substantially holding the first and second elastomeric seal ring means, respectively, out of contact with said members, said first and second slipper seal means engaging both of said members.

Claim 9

A seal assembly and associated structure as defined in claim 6 wherein the surface finish of the surfaces of said members which engage said slipper seal means are controlled so as to cause said seal assembly including said retaining element to rotate relative to both of said members at a velocity intermediate the velocities of said members.

Claim 10

A seal assembly and associated structure as defined in claim 6 wherein each of said elastomeric sealing ring means includes inner and outer elastomeric seal rings with said inner seal ring being positioned radially inwardly of said outer seal ring, said retaining element including a separating portion separating the inner and outer seal rings.

Claim 11

A seal assembly and associated structure as defined in claim 6 wherein said retaining element and said first slipper seal means cooperate to substantially completely confine said first elastomeric seal ring means.

Claim 12

A seal assembly and associated structure as defined in claim 6 including means for defining a passage through both of said members and said retaining element whereby material can flow through the seal assembly between said members, said passage extending through said retaining element intermediate said first and second elastomeric seal ring means.

Claim 13

A seal assembly and associated structure comprising: an inner member; an outer member circumscribing said inner member, said members being relatively rotatable; one of said members having first and second axially spaced, radial walls and a circumferential wall cooperating with said radial walls to define a circumferentially extending groove; a seal in said groove, said seal including a resilient element and a slipper element, each of said elements circumscribing the inner member; said slipper element having circumferentially extending inner and outer surfaces engaging cooperating surfaces on the inner and outer members, respectively, said slipper element substantially isolating the resilient elements from contact with said members; and the surface finish of said cooperating surfaces of said members being selected so as to cause said seal to rotate relative to both of said members at a velocity intermediate the velocities of said members.

Claim 14

A seal assembly and associated structure comprising: an inner member; an outer member circumscribing said inner member, said members being relatively rotatable; one of said members having first and second axially spaced, radial walls and a circumferential wall cooperating with said radial walls to define a circumferentially extending groove; a seal in said groove, said seal including a resilient element and a slipper element, each of said elements circumscribing the inner member; said slipper element having circumferentially extending inner and outer surfaces engaging cooperating surfaces on the inner and outer members, respectively, said slipper element substantially isolating the resilient elements from contact with said members; and the surface finish of said cooperating surfaces of said members being selected so as to cause said seal to rotate relative to both of said members at a velocity intermediate the velocities of said members.

Claim 15

A seal assembly and associated structure as defined in claim 11 wherein the velocity of said seal is approximately one-half the relative velocity between said members.

Claim 16

A seal assembly defined in claim 11 wherein said slipper element includes inner and outer leg portions defining said circumferentially extending inner and outer surfaces, respectively, said resilient element being at least partially between said leg portions and urging at least one of said inner and outer surfaces into engagement with the associated member, one of said cooperating surfaces being said circumferential wall.

Claim 17

A seal assembly as defined in claim 13 wherein said slipper element is constructed of a plastic material and said resilient element is constructed of elastomeric material, said leg portions being joined by a generally radially extending web which generally confronts one of said radial walls.