Seal

Claim 2

A shaft seal comprising: A U-shaped cross-section housing; a J-shaped cross-section ring member received in said housing having a long leg and a bight section; the long leg thereof in contact with a radial wall of the said housing; the bight section having its inner diameter in contact with the shaft to be sealed; a second J-shaped cross-section ring member in said housing; said second ring member having a long leg and a bight section; said long leg of said second member in contact with a second radial wall of said housing; and the said bight section of the said second seal member in nestled overlying relation with the said bight section of the said first seal member.

Claim 3

In a circumferential seal, the improvement of two J-shaped cross-section seal ring members having radial legs and axially extending curved bights, the said rings positioned in bight overlapping nestled relation and the inner diameter of one of said bights forming a seal with a member to be sealed, the legs of the rings being axially spaced apart with the axially extending bight of each ring projecting towards the radial leg of the other ring.

Claim 4

In a circumferential seal, the improvement of two J-shaped cross-section seal ring members having radial legs and axially extending curved bights, the said rings positioned in bight overlapping nestled relation and the inner diameter of one of said bights forming a seal with a member to be sealed, the legs of the rings being axially spaced apart with the axially extending bight of each ring projecting towards the radial leg of the other ring.

Claim 5

The device of claim 2 wherein at least portions of the rings are received in a U-shaped cross-section ring housing.

Claim 6

The device of claim 3 wherein axially non-facing radial sides of the radial legs have portions thereof in sealing contact with inside faces of opposed portions of the said U-shaped cross-section ring.

Claim 7

The device of claim 4 wherein the said opposed portions have axial ledges formed therein by the intersection of axially thicker and axially thinner radially extending portions of the said opposed portions and the said radial legs of the said ring members terminate at their non-bight ends in axially thicker portions forming axial projections away from one another and cooperating with the ledges to form abutment members restraining movement of the said legs within the said housing towards the open end of the said housing.

Claim 8

The device of claim 5 wherein the said ring members contact the closed end wall of the said housing to restrain radial movement of the said ring members in the said housing.

Claim 9

A shaft seal comprising a substantially U-shaped cross-section housing open to the inner diameter, a first and second J-shaped cross-section ring members received in said housing with the bight section of at least one of said members projecting from the inner diameter of said housing, the bight section of the other of said members in nestled overlapping relation with the bight section of the one member interior thereof, the long legs of said first and second members in spaced apart relationship with the said housing contacting opposed faces of the radial walls of said housing, spacer means maintaining the spaced apart positioning of the long legs, constricting means urging the said bight sections radially inwardly, and the said members radially movable in said housing and movable with regard to one another.

Claim 10

A shaft seal comprising a substantially U-shaped cross-section housing open to the inner diameter, a first and second J-shaped cross-section ring members received in said housing with the bight section of at least one of said members projecting from the inner diameter of said housing, the bight section of the other of said members in nestled overlapping relation with the bight section of the one member interior thereof, the long legs of said first and second members in spaced apart relationship with the said housing contacting opposed faces of the radial walls of said housing, spacer means maintaining the spaced apart positioning of the long legs, constricting means urging the said bight sections radially inwardly, and the said members radially movable in said housing and movable with regard to one another.

Claim 11

The shaft seal of claim 7 wherein means are provided to retain the said members within the said housing limiting radial movement thereof.

Claim 12

The seal of claim 8 wherein the said means for limiting comprises axial ledges on opposed faces of the housing and axial projections adjacent the non-bight ends of the long legs.

Claim 13

The seal of claim 9 wherein at least one of the said ring members is radially segmented.

Claim 14

The seal of claim 7 wherein the said one of the said ring members has an axial projection thereOn extending exteriorly of the said housing, the said projection forming a lip seal with a radial projection on a shaft received through the said housing.

Claim 15

A shaft seal comprising a substantially U-shaped cross section ring housing having opposed radial faces, the said radial faces being stepped intermediate their ends, two substantially J-shaped cross section seal members received in said housing, the said seal members having a substantially radial leg and a bight section at one end thereof, the said radial legs terminating in a stepped portion forming an axially outer rib portion, the said J-shaped members assembled in the said ring in concentric overlapping nestled relation with the said legs spaced from one another, the said ribs cooperating with the said ledges on the said housing to maintain the said J-shaped shaped ring members freely in the said housing allowing limited radial movement thereof, a spacer means in said housing interposed between the said legs of the said J-shaped members to maintain the said legs in spaced-apart relation and to maintain the said ribs in contact with portions of the said opposed radial walls of the said housing, a constricting means in said housing nestled in the bight of one of said J-shaped cross section ring members, and the said J-shaped cross section ring members being flexible.

Claim 16

A shaft seal comprising a substantially U-shaped cross section ring housing having opposed radial faces, the said radial faces being stepped intermediate their ends, two substantially J-shaped cross section seal members received in said housing, the said seal members having a substantially radial leg and a bight section at one end thereof, the said radial legs terminating in a stepped portion forming an axially outer rib portion, the said J-shaped members assembled in the said ring in concentric overlapping nestled relation with the said legs spaced from one another, the said ribs cooperating with the said ledges on the said housing to maintain the said J-shaped shaped ring members freely in the said housing allowing limited radial movement thereof, a spacer means in said housing interposed between the said legs of the said J-shaped members to maintain the said legs in spaced-apart relation and to maintain the said ribs in contact with portions of the said opposed radial walls of the said housing, a constricting means in said housing nestled in the bight of one of said J-shaped cross section ring members, and the said J-shaped cross section ring members being flexible.

Claim 17

The seal of claim 12 wherein the said housing is open to the inner diameter thereof and portions of the said J-shaped seal members project out of the said housing beyond the inner diameter thereof.

Claim 18

The seal of claim 12 wherein the said housing is open to the outer diameter thereof and portions of the bights of the said J-shaped ring members project radially outwardly thereof.

Claim 19

The seal of claim 12 wherein the non-bight ends of the said legs of the said J-shaped cross section seal members contact an inside face of the closed end of the said U-shaped cross section housing.