Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
199 words
A seal assembly, comprising: an annular radially inner seal case having an axially extending radially inner wall, a first flange extending radially outwardly from said inner wall, and a first axial flange connected to the first flange and spaced from the inner wall; an annular radially outer seal case having an axially extending outer wall, a second flange extending radially inwardly from said outer wall, and a second axial flange connected to the second flange and spaced from the outer wall; a first annular wafer having a radially inner portion secured to said inner seal case at a position spaced radially outwardly from said inner wall and having a radially outer portion extending between the first axial flange and said outer wall, said radially outer portion circumferentially contacting said outer wall; and a second annular wafer having a radially outer portion secured to said outer seal case at a position spaced radially inwardly from said outer wall and having a radially inner portion extending between the second axial flange and said inner wall, said radially inner portion circumferentially contacting said inner wall, said first and second wafers being spaced apart from one another in a non-contacting relationship during use.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
199 words
A seal assembly, comprising: an annular radially inner seal case having an axially extending radially inner wall, a first flange extending radially outwardly from said inner wall, and a first axial flange connected to the first flange and spaced from the inner wall; an annular radially outer seal case having an axially extending outer wall, a second flange extending radially inwardly from said outer wall, and a second axial flange connected to the second flange and spaced from the outer wall; a first annular wafer having a radially inner portion secured to said inner seal case at a position spaced radially outwardly from said inner wall and having a radially outer portion extending between the first axial flange and said outer wall, said radially outer portion circumferentially contacting said outer wall; and a second annular wafer having a radially outer portion secured to said outer seal case at a position spaced radially inwardly from said outer wall and having a radially inner portion extending between the second axial flange and said inner wall, said radially inner portion circumferentially contacting said inner wall, said first and second wafers being spaced apart from one another in a non-contacting relationship during use.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The unitized seal of claim 1, wherein said first annular wafer is bonded to said inner seal case.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The unitized seal of claim 1, wherein said second annular wafer is bonded to said outer seal case.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The unitized seal of claim 1, wherein said first wafer is clamped to said inner seal case.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The unitized seal of claim 1, wherein said second wafer is clamped to said outer seal case.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
56 words
In the unitized cartridge oil seal of claim 1, a first lip forming a distal end of said first axial flange and a second lip forming a distal end of the second axial flange, said first and second wafers being secured to said first and second axial flanges respectively at said first and second lips, respectively.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
The seal assembly of claim 1, wherein said first annular wafer comprises a first free end portion and said second annular wafer comprises a second free end portion and wherein said first and second free end portions are disposed in opposed axial directions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
202 words
A seal assembly, comprising: an annular radially inner seal case having an axially extending radially inner wall, a first radial flange extending radially outwardly from said inner wall, and a first flange member having an end portion extending away from said first radial flange and spaced radially outwardly from the inner wall; an annular radially outer seal case having an axially extending radially outer wall, a second radial flange extending radially inwardly from said outer wall, and a second flange member having an end portion extending away from said second radial flange and spaced radially inwardly from the outer wall; a first annular wafer having a radially inner portion secured to said end portion of said first flange member and a radially outer portion extending between the first flange member and said outer wall, said outer portion sealingly engaging said outer wall; and a second annular wafer having a radially outer portion secured to said end portion of said second flange member and a radially inner portion extending between said second flange member and said inner wall, said inner portion sealingly engaging said inner wall, said first and second wafers being spaced apart from one another in a non-contacting relationship during use.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
202 words
A seal assembly, comprising: an annular radially inner seal case having an axially extending radially inner wall, a first radial flange extending radially outwardly from said inner wall, and a first flange member having an end portion extending away from said first radial flange and spaced radially outwardly from the inner wall; an annular radially outer seal case having an axially extending radially outer wall, a second radial flange extending radially inwardly from said outer wall, and a second flange member having an end portion extending away from said second radial flange and spaced radially inwardly from the outer wall; a first annular wafer having a radially inner portion secured to said end portion of said first flange member and a radially outer portion extending between the first flange member and said outer wall, said outer portion sealingly engaging said outer wall; and a second annular wafer having a radially outer portion secured to said end portion of said second flange member and a radially inner portion extending between said second flange member and said inner wall, said inner portion sealingly engaging said inner wall, said first and second wafers being spaced apart from one another in a non-contacting relationship during use.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
The seal assembly of claim 8, wherein said first annular wafer comprises a first free end portion and said second annular wafer comprises a second free end portion and wherein said first and second free end portions are disposed in opposed axial directions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
208 words
A seal assembly comprising: an annular radially inner seal case having a radially inner axial wall, a first flange extending radially outwardly from said inner axial wall and a first frustoconical flange spaced radially outwardly from said inner axial wall and supported by said first flange; an annular radially outer seal case having a radially outer axial wall, a second flange extending radially inwardly from said outer wall, and a second frustoconical flange spaced radially inwardly from said outer axial wall and supported by said second flange; a first annular wafer having a radially inner portion secured to said first frustoconical flange and a radially outer portion extending between said first axially and radially extending flange and said outer axial wall, and engaging and extending along said outer axial wall; and a second annular wafer having a radially outer portion secured to said second frustoconical flange and a radially inner portion extending between said second axially and radially extending flange and said inner axial wall, said inner portion sealingly engaging said inner axial wall and extending in a direction axially opposed to said radial outer portion of said first annular wafer, said first and second wafers being spaced apart from one another in a non-contacting relationship during use.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
208 words
A seal assembly comprising: an annular radially inner seal case having a radially inner axial wall, a first flange extending radially outwardly from said inner axial wall and a first frustoconical flange spaced radially outwardly from said inner axial wall and supported by said first flange; an annular radially outer seal case having a radially outer axial wall, a second flange extending radially inwardly from said outer wall, and a second frustoconical flange spaced radially inwardly from said outer axial wall and supported by said second flange; a first annular wafer having a radially inner portion secured to said first frustoconical flange and a radially outer portion extending between said first axially and radially extending flange and said outer axial wall, and engaging and extending along said outer axial wall; and a second annular wafer having a radially outer portion secured to said second frustoconical flange and a radially inner portion extending between said second axially and radially extending flange and said inner axial wall, said inner portion sealingly engaging said inner axial wall and extending in a direction axially opposed to said radial outer portion of said first annular wafer, said first and second wafers being spaced apart from one another in a non-contacting relationship during use.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
180 words
A method of making a unitized oil seal comprising the steps of: forming an inner seal case having an axially extending radially inner wall and a first axial flange interconnected by a first radial flange; securing a radially inner circumferential portion of a first frustoconical portion of a first frustoconical wafer of polymeric seal material to said inner seal case at a position spaced radially outwardly from said inner wall; forming an outer seal case having an axially extending radially outer wall and a second axial flange interconnected by a second-radial flange; securing a radially outer circumferential portion of a second frustoconical wafer of polymeric seal material to said outer seal case at a position spaced radially inwardly from said outer wall; and assembling said inner seal case and said outer seal case together coaxially by moving said first axial flange between said second axial flange and said outer wall until said first frustoconical wafer engages a radially inwardly facing surface of said outer wall and said second frustoconical wafer engages a radially outwardly facing surface of said inner wall.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
180 words
A method of making a unitized oil seal comprising the steps of: forming an inner seal case having an axially extending radially inner wall and a first axial flange interconnected by a first radial flange; securing a radially inner circumferential portion of a first frustoconical portion of a first frustoconical wafer of polymeric seal material to said inner seal case at a position spaced radially outwardly from said inner wall; forming an outer seal case having an axially extending radially outer wall and a second axial flange interconnected by a second-radial flange; securing a radially outer circumferential portion of a second frustoconical wafer of polymeric seal material to said outer seal case at a position spaced radially inwardly from said outer wall; and assembling said inner seal case and said outer seal case together coaxially by moving said first axial flange between said second axial flange and said outer wall until said first frustoconical wafer engages a radially inwardly facing surface of said outer wall and said second frustoconical wafer engages a radially outwardly facing surface of said inner wall.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said step of securing said first and second wafers to said inner and outer seal cases respectively is accomplished by bonding.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said step of securing said first and second wafers to said inner and outer seal cases respectively is accomplished by clamping.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
104 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said step of assembling said inner seal case and said outer seal case together further comprises: camming said first frustoconical wafer radially inwardly over a radially inwardly extending lip formed on said outer wall as said first wafer is moved toward said second radial flange and locking said first wafer against movement by said inwardly extending lip; and camming said second frustoconical wafer radially outwardly over a radially outwardly extending lip formed said inner wall as said second wafer is moved toward said first radial flange and locking said second wafer against movement by said outwardly extending lip.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
In the method of claim 11 further comprising the step of preforming first and second frustoconical wafers into a frustoconical shape by applying heat and pressure to an annular ring of polymeric sealing material.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said first and second frustoconical wafers are formed of PTFE.