Seal assembly

Claim 2

A seal assembly for use in a cable cylinder to form an effective seal about a generally cylindrical cable, said seal assembly comprising: a gland having a centrally located bore extending around said generally cylindrical cable; first and second seal members disposed within the central bore of said gland for forming an effective seal with the inner surface of said central bore and the outer surface of said generally cylindrical cable; an alignment sleeve having a center opening extending around said generally cylindrical cable and disposed within the central bore of said gland between said first and second seal members; and a retaining sleeve member having a center opening extending around said generally cylindrical cable and mechanical lock means cooperating with corresponding mechanical lock means of said gland for forming a mechanical lock between said retaining sleeve member and said gland upon insertion of said retainer sleeve into a portion of the central bore of said gland for retaining said seal members and said alignment sleeve in operative position within the central bore of said gland.

Claim 3

The seal assembly of claim 1 wherein one of said mechanical lock means includes a circumferential rib and the other of said mechanical lock means includes a circumferential groove for engagement by said circumferential rib.

Claim 4

The seal assembly of claim 2 wherein the central bore of said gland includes a circumferential rib and said retainer sleeve member includes a circumferential groove for engagement by said rib.

Claim 5

The seal assembly of claim 3 wherein said retaining sleeve includes a flange portion extending radially outwardly therefrom and spaced from the end of said gland when said retaining sleeve is inserted within said gland.

Claim 6

The seal assembly of claim 4 wherein said gland includes a plurality of slots extending longitudinally along the gland for a limited distance from the forward end of said gland to give a portion of said gland flexibility and to permit said retaining sleeve member to be inserted into said central bore and said circumferential rib to seat in said circumferential groove.

Claim 7

The seal assembly of claim 1 wherein said first seal member is a primary seal member positioned adjacent to said retainer sleeve member and forming an effective seal between the outer surface of said cable and the interior surface of said central bore and wherein said second seal member is a secondary seal member positioned downstream from said primary seal member and forming an effective seal between the outer surface of said cable and the interior surface of said central bore.

Claim 8

The seal assembly of claim 6 having a drain port between said primary and secondary seals.

Claim 9

The seal assembly of claim 7 wherein said centrally located bore includes a plurality of generally cylindrical bore portions and wherein said secondary seal member is disposed within a first generally cylindrical bore portion, said primary seal member and said alignment sleeve are disposed within a second generally cylindrical bore portion and said retaining sleeve member is partially disposed within a third generally cylindrical bore portion.

Claim 10

The seal assembly of claim 8 wherein said primary seal member is supported and retained by a rearward annular surface of said retaining sleeve member and a forward annular surface of said alignment sleeve and said secondary seal member is supported and retained by a rearward annular surface of said alignment sleeve and a shoulder portion in said gland.

Claim 11

A cable cylinder comprising: a cylinder; a piston disposed within said cylinder and defining at least one hydraulic chamber; a generally cylindrical cable connected with said piston and extending through said hydraulic chamber; and a seal assembly for forming an effective seal about said cylindrical cable comprising: a gland having a centrally located bore extending around said generally cylindrical cable; first and second seal members disposed within the central bore of said gland for forming an effective seal with the inner surface of said central bore and the outer surface of said generally cylindrical cable; an alignment sleeve having a center opening extending around said generally cylindrical cable and disposed within the central bore of said gland between said first and second seal members; and a retaining sleeve member having a center opening extending around said generally cylindrical cable and mechanical lock means cooperating with corresponding mechanical lock means of said gland for forming a mechanical lock between said retaining sleeve member and said gland upon insertion of said retainer sleeve into a portion of the central bore of said gland for retaining said seal members and said alignment sleeve in operating position within the central bore of said gland.

Claim 12

A cable cylinder comprising: a cylinder; a piston disposed within said cylinder and defining at least one hydraulic chamber; a generally cylindrical cable connected with said piston and extending through said hydraulic chamber; and a seal assembly for forming an effective seal about said cylindrical cable comprising: a gland having a centrally located bore extending around said generally cylindrical cable; first and second seal members disposed within the central bore of said gland for forming an effective seal with the inner surface of said central bore and the outer surface of said generally cylindrical cable; an alignment sleeve having a center opening extending around said generally cylindrical cable and disposed within the central bore of said gland between said first and second seal members; and a retaining sleeve member having a center opening extending around said generally cylindrical cable and mechanical lock means cooperating with corresponding mechanical lock means of said gland for forming a mechanical lock between said retaining sleeve member and said gland upon insertion of said retainer sleeve into a portion of the central bore of said gland for retaining said seal members and said alignment sleeve in operating position within the central bore of said gland.