Abstract A bearing seal assembly includes a seal case having large and small diameter circumferential walls, a radial connecting wall interconnecting the circumferential walls, and a radial end wall at the outermost end of the small circumferential wall. The free end of the large circumferential wall is press fitted into a socket at the end of a bearing cup so that the small diameter wall projects away from the bearing cup and the bearing cone encircled by that cup. The seal assembly further includes an elastomeric seal having a supporting portion which is bonded to the inner surfaces of the small circumferential wall and the radial end wall. The supporting portion is joined to a seal lip through a web, and that lip engages a wear surface as the cone and cup of the bearing rotate relative to one another. The supporting portion is provided with a shoulder which faces the interior of the bearing and provides a seat against which a removal tool bears for detaching the seal assembly from the bearing cup. The supporting portion is bonded to the seal case for substantial distances on each side of the shoulder so that the removal force does not separate the seal case and the seal.
A process for removing a seal assembly from a bearing, the seal assembly including a seal case having a first circumferential wall frictionally engaged with a component of the bearing and a second circumferential wall located axially outwardly from the first circumferential wall and projecting away from the bearing, the seal assembly also including an elastomeric seal having a supporting portion which is bonded to the second circumferential wall and a seal lip connected to the supporting portion, the supporting portion having a shoulder formed thereon and facing the interior of the bearing; said process comprising: inserting a jaw-type removal tool into the bearing; positioning the jaws of the tool so that they are presented to engage the shoulder on the elastomeric supporting portion of the seal; and applying an axially directed force to the tool, whereby the force is transmitted to the seal assembly at the shoulder on the supporting portion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
152 words
A process for removing a seal assembly from a bearing, the seal assembly including a seal case having a first circumferential wall frictionally engaged with a component of the bearing and a second circumferential wall located axially outwardly from the first circumferential wall and projecting away from the bearing, the seal assembly also including an elastomeric seal having a supporting portion which is bonded to the second circumferential wall and a seal lip connected to the supporting portion, the supporting portion having a shoulder formed thereon and facing the interior of the bearing; said process comprising: inserting a jaw-type removal tool into the bearing; positioning the jaws of the tool so that they are presented to engage the shoulder on the elastomeric supporting portion of the seal; and applying an axially directed force to the tool, whereby the force is transmitted to the seal assembly at the shoulder on the supporting portion.