US3743068A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dual seal arrangement
Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
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Filing: 1971-12-20
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Granted: 1973-07-03
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Expires: 1991-12-20
Abstract
Abstract A dual seal arrangement for a drive mechanism of the type having a rotating member and a radially spaced stationary member with a bearing mounting the rotating member on the stationary member, as in a clutch assembly for an air conditioning compressor. The seal arrangement includes a seal support member carried by the rotating member on one side of the bearing, and a rotary fluoroplastic-coated felt seal member secured to the support member for sealing engagement with the stationary member. A stationary seal member is mounted on the stationary member in spaced relationship to the rotary seal member and on the opposite side of the bearing from the rotary seal member for sealing engagement with the rotating member. The dual seal arrangement thus provides a protective barrier against the entrance of foreign matter into the bearing from either side.
Inventors
- 👤 R Westervelt
- 👤 L Fratzke
- 👤 R Stump
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 07:13
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16D; F16D27/00; F16D27/10; F16D27/108; F16D27/112
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
65 words
In a drive mechanism comprising a pulley assembly, disposed for rotation about a longitudinal axis thereof, a spindle and bearing means rotatably mounting said pulley assembly on said spindle, the invention comprising first and second radially disposed sealing means mounted at respective axial sides of said bearing means and positioned in abutting, sealing relationship with end surface portions of said spindle and pulley assemblies respectively.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
65 words
In a drive mechanism comprising a pulley assembly, disposed for rotation about a longitudinal axis thereof, a spindle and bearing means rotatably mounting said pulley assembly on said spindle, the invention comprising first and second radially disposed sealing means mounted at respective axial sides of said bearing means and positioned in abutting, sealing relationship with end surface portions of said spindle and pulley assemblies respectively.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The drive mechanism of claim 1 wherein said first sealing means is further positioned to extend radially inwardly from said pulley assembly past an end surface portion of the spindle assembly in sealing engagement therewith.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
62 words
The drive mechanism of claim 1 wherein said first sealing means includes a cup secured to the pulley assembly to extend radially inwardly toward and past the spindle in closely spaced relationship with an end of the spindle, and a first seal member bonded to said radially extending portion of said cup and in sealing engagement with the end of the spindle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
The drive mechanism of claim 3 wherein a shaft is disposed within the spindle in coaxial relationship therewith and has a hub mounted thereon and where the first seal member extends radially inwardly and engages the outer periphery of the hub.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The drive mechanism of claim 3 further comprising an annular retainer secured to the spindle and having a radially extending portion engaging the first seal member and urging it against the end of the spindle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The drive mechanism of claim 3 wherein the first seal member comprises an annular felt ring.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The drive mechanism of claim 6 wherein the side of the seal member which engages the end of the spindle includes a thin layer of polytetrafluororthylene on the surface thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
74 words
The drive mechanism of claim 3 wherein the drive mechanism includes means forming a flange member which extends radially outward from the spindle in parallel, spaced relationship with a face portion of the pulley and wherein the second seal means is disposed against the spindle and the flange member and in sealing engagement with the face portion of the pulley, and wherein the roller bearing is disposed between said first and second seal members.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The drive mechanism of claim 8 wherein the second seal member comprises an annular felt ring.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
The drive mechanism of claim 9 wherein the portion of the second seal member which engages the face portion of the pulley includes a thin layer of polytetrafluoroethylene on the surface thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
The drive mechanism of claim 3 wherein the pulley is provided with means forming a groove adjacent the roller bearing and wherein the cup snaps into the groove to axially retain the bearing with respect to the pulley.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
182 words
A compressor drive mechanism having an electro-magnet, a clutch plate, a rotating member intermediate the clutch plate and the electro-magnet, a stationary member radially spaced from the rotating member, a normally sealed bearing having an outer race rotatable with the rotating member and an inner race mounted on the stationary member, a hub in driven relationship to the clutch plate ,a rotatable shaft disposed within said stationary member and mounting said hub for driving the compressor , and sealing means for preventing ingress of contaminants to said normally sealed bearing comprising: a seal support and bearing retaining cup having a radially extending wall, and an axially extending wall secured to the rotating member; a rotating seal secured to the radially extending wall of the cup and in sealing engagement with the stationary member; and, a stationary seal axially spaced from and on an opposite side of the bearing from the rotating seal and in sealing relation to the stationary member and the rotating member, whereby entry of foreign matter to the bearing between the rotating member and the stationary member is impeded.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
182 words
A compressor drive mechanism having an electro-magnet, a clutch plate, a rotating member intermediate the clutch plate and the electro-magnet, a stationary member radially spaced from the rotating member, a normally sealed bearing having an outer race rotatable with the rotating member and an inner race mounted on the stationary member, a hub in driven relationship to the clutch plate ,a rotatable shaft disposed within said stationary member and mounting said hub for driving the compressor , and sealing means for preventing ingress of contaminants to said normally sealed bearing comprising: a seal support and bearing retaining cup having a radially extending wall, and an axially extending wall secured to the rotating member; a rotating seal secured to the radially extending wall of the cup and in sealing engagement with the stationary member; and, a stationary seal axially spaced from and on an opposite side of the bearing from the rotating seal and in sealing relation to the stationary member and the rotating member, whereby entry of foreign matter to the bearing between the rotating member and the stationary member is impeded.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The drive mechanism of claim 12 wherein the axially extending wall of the retaining cup retains the outer race of the bearing in the rotating member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
43 words
The drive mechanism of claim 13 wherein said rotating member is provided with means forming an annular groove member therein, and the axially extending wall of the retainer cup includes a bead formed integrally therewith which is adapted to snap into said groove.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The drive mechanism of claim 12 further comprising means secured to said stationary member for urging the rotating seal against said stationary member.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
43 words
The drive mechanism of claim 12 wherein the rotating seal extends past an end of the stationary member and engages the hub in sealing relationship therewith whereby the rotating seal will also prevent ingress of contaminants between the stationary member and the hub.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
186 words
In a clutch drive mechanism for a vehicle compressor or the like, an annular spindle, a pulley assembly having a clutch face provided thereon, a roller bearing assembly mounting the pulley on the spindle, a rotatable shaft disposed within the spindle for driving the compressor, a hub mounted on the shaft in driving relationship therewith and including a flange extending radially outward therefrom, a clutch plate carried by the flange in spaced, parallel relationship with the clutch face provided on the pulley assembly, and an electric-magnet energizable to move the clutch plate into engagement with the pulley assembly, seal means for preventing environmental contaminants from communicating with the roller bearing assembly along a path between the pulley assembly and the spindle, comprising a retainer cup secured to the pulley assembly and having an annular radial flange which extends inwardly therefrom toward the spindle and a seal member secured to said radial flange and disposed in sealing engagement with the spindle, and wherein the distal end of the spindle is provided with a seal face, and the seal member is in sealing engagement with said seal face.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
186 words
In a clutch drive mechanism for a vehicle compressor or the like, an annular spindle, a pulley assembly having a clutch face provided thereon, a roller bearing assembly mounting the pulley on the spindle, a rotatable shaft disposed within the spindle for driving the compressor, a hub mounted on the shaft in driving relationship therewith and including a flange extending radially outward therefrom, a clutch plate carried by the flange in spaced, parallel relationship with the clutch face provided on the pulley assembly, and an electric-magnet energizable to move the clutch plate into engagement with the pulley assembly, seal means for preventing environmental contaminants from communicating with the roller bearing assembly along a path between the pulley assembly and the spindle, comprising a retainer cup secured to the pulley assembly and having an annular radial flange which extends inwardly therefrom toward the spindle and a seal member secured to said radial flange and disposed in sealing engagement with the spindle, and wherein the distal end of the spindle is provided with a seal face, and the seal member is in sealing engagement with said seal face.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
43 words
The mechanism defined in claim 17 wherein the seal member extends inward of the seal face and terminates in sealing engagement with the hub whereby the seal means also seals the space between the spindle and the hub against entry of foreign material.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
The mechanism defined in claim 17 further comprising means attached to the spindle for urging the seal member against the seal face.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
The mechanism defined in claim 17 wherein the retainer cup is also a retainer for at least a portion of the roller bearing assembly in the pulley assembly.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
28 words
The mechanism defined in claim 20 wherein the pulley assembly has an annular groove provided therein and the retainer cup includes snap ring means for engaging said groove.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
The mechanism defined in claim 17 wherein the seal member comprises an annular felt ring.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
27 words
The mechanism defined in claim 22 wherein the portion of the seal member which engages the spindle includes a thin layer of polytetrafluororthylene on the surface thereof.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
The mechansim defined in claim 24 wherein the retainer cup urges the seal member against the seal face.
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) | 1976-07-02 | 1977-01-01 | 1977-07-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-02 | 1981-01-01 | 1981-07-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-02 | 1985-01-01 | 1985-07-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |