US3680873A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Axially and rotationally locked bearing seal
Assignee: Smith International Inc
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Filing: 1970-07-06
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Granted: 1972-08-01
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Expires: 1990-07-06
Abstract
Abstract A seal for use between relatively rotatable parts including an inner annular ring, preferably metallic, and an outer annular element of yieldable seal material, the inner resilient ring having a weakened break point which will remain unbroken during the bonding of the annular yieldable material to the ring, the ring being separable at the break point when forced over an abutment on one of the relatively rotatable parts, the ring and yieldable material returning approximately to their original diameters after passing the abutment, and the yieldable material being subjected to pressure deformation to tightly secure the resilient ring radially inwardly about the relatively rotatably part and axially outwardly against the abutment.
Inventors
- 👤 Lloyd L Garner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 04:00
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B10/00; E21B10/08; E21B10/22; E21B10/25; F; F16; F16J; F16J15/00; F16J15/16; F16J15/34; F16J15/3436; F16J15/3456
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
203 words
In a rock bit assembly, an axially and rotationally locked rock bit seal assembly including relatively rotatable parts on an axis of rotation wherein said parts have opposed faces and one part has a cylindrical wall portion about said axis of rotation and having an inner and an outer end, wherein the improvement comprises: the cylindrical portion having an outer free end, and an abutment on the outer end of said cylindrical portion defining a diameter and facing inwardly from said free end, said one part having an enlargement at the inner end of the cylindrical portion, an axially and rotationally secured seal element for use between said opposed faces comprising a continuous resilient annular retaining ring having at least one weakened portion, a continuous annular element of resilient seal material bonded to said retaining ring and extending outwardly therefrom, said retaining ring, in its free state condition, being of a diameter less than that defined by said abutment and being positioned by deformation inwardly of said abutment relative to the free end of said cylindrical portion, such that said retaining ring will press said resilient seal material in gripping contact with said cylindrical portion and in sealing engagement between said opposed faces.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
203 words
In a rock bit assembly, an axially and rotationally locked rock bit seal assembly including relatively rotatable parts on an axis of rotation wherein said parts have opposed faces and one part has a cylindrical wall portion about said axis of rotation and having an inner and an outer end, wherein the improvement comprises: the cylindrical portion having an outer free end, and an abutment on the outer end of said cylindrical portion defining a diameter and facing inwardly from said free end, said one part having an enlargement at the inner end of the cylindrical portion, an axially and rotationally secured seal element for use between said opposed faces comprising a continuous resilient annular retaining ring having at least one weakened portion, a continuous annular element of resilient seal material bonded to said retaining ring and extending outwardly therefrom, said retaining ring, in its free state condition, being of a diameter less than that defined by said abutment and being positioned by deformation inwardly of said abutment relative to the free end of said cylindrical portion, such that said retaining ring will press said resilient seal material in gripping contact with said cylindrical portion and in sealing engagement between said opposed faces.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The structure in claim 1, and means confining said continuous annular element of resilient seal material between said confining means and said abutment, and said annular retaining ring being in contact with said abutment under a load imposed by said confining means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
84 words
The structure in claim 1, and said cylindrical portion of said one relatively rotatable part being located inwardly from said inwardly facing abutment and being defined by said abutment and an outwardly facing abutment spacEd rearwardly from said inwardly facing abutment, said element of resilient seal material having a portion lying inwardly behind said annular retaining ring and being under axial compression with said annular retaining ring disposed between said abutments, said annular retaining ring being in pressure contact with said rearwardly facing abutment.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
138 words
In a rock bit, an axially rotationally locked rock bit seal assembly including relatively rotatable parts on an axis of rotation, said parts having opposed faces and one part having a cylindrical wall portion about said axis of rotation, the cylindrical portion having an outer free end and an abutment on the outer end thereof defining a diameter and facing inwardly from said free end, wherein the improvement comprises: a seal element comprising a resilient retaining ring and a connected radially outwardly extending continuous annular element of yieldable seal material, a portion of the resilient retaining ring being weakened to provide a break point to permit said resilient retaining ring to be ruptured at said break point when the ring is forced over said abutment, the normal diameter of said ring being less than that of said abutment.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
138 words
In a rock bit, an axially rotationally locked rock bit seal assembly including relatively rotatable parts on an axis of rotation, said parts having opposed faces and one part having a cylindrical wall portion about said axis of rotation, the cylindrical portion having an outer free end and an abutment on the outer end thereof defining a diameter and facing inwardly from said free end, wherein the improvement comprises: a seal element comprising a resilient retaining ring and a connected radially outwardly extending continuous annular element of yieldable seal material, a portion of the resilient retaining ring being weakened to provide a break point to permit said resilient retaining ring to be ruptured at said break point when the ring is forced over said abutment, the normal diameter of said ring being less than that of said abutment.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
The structure in claim 4, and said annular element of yieldable seal material having axially flexible spring means of continuous annular shape embedded therein, the spring means being spaced from said resilient retaining ring by a portion of said annular element of yieldable seal material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The structure in claim 4, and said seal material having sufficient yieldability to maintain its annular continuity without breaking under an expansive force sufficient to break said resilient ring at said weakened break point.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The structure in claim 4, and the weakened portion of said resilient ring comprising a gap extending partially through the ring from the inner circumference thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The structure in claim 4, and the weakened portion of said ring comprising a gap extending partially through the ring from the outer circumference thereof.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-08-01 | 1976-01-31 | 1976-08-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-08-01 | 1980-01-31 | 1980-08-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-08-01 | 1984-01-31 | 1984-08-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |