Seal cover for shaft assembly

Abstract

A tool for driving an annular seal into a cavity defined by a shaft assembly housing that surrounds a rotatable shaft includes an elongated body having an interior cavity that opens at a first end of the body for receiving the shaft. The body defines an annular surface at the first end. The annular surface has an inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of the rotatable shaft and forming a removable frictional seal with the inner diameter of the cavity.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A tool for driving an annular seal into a cavity defined by a shaft assembly housing that surrounds a rotatable shaft, said tool comprising an elongated body having an interior cavity that opens at a first end of said body for receiving said shaft, said body defining an annular surface at said first end to abut said seal, and said annular surface having an inner diameter greater than an outer diameter of said shaft and having an outer diameter forming a removable frictional seal with an inner diameter of said interior cavity.  
     
     
         2 . A tool according to  claim 1 , wherein an exterior surface of said body is frusto-conical in shape.  
     
     
         3 . A tool according to  claim 1 , wherein said frusto-conical shape begins at said first end abutting said seal and tapers to a second end opposite said first end.  
     
     
         4 . A tool according to  claim 1 , wherein second end extends beyond a distal end of said shaft when said first end engages said seal so that said tool is removable from said housing by applying force perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said rotatable shaft proximate said second end.  
     
     
         5 . A seal cover for a shaft rotatably disposed in a cavity defined by a housing surrounding the shaft, said seal cover comprising an elongated body having an enclosed, generally cup-shaped, interior cavity that opens at an end of said body for receiving said shaft, said body defining an annular outer surface at said end to abut said housing.  
     
     
         6 . A tool for driving an annular seal into a cavity defined by a shaft assembly housing that surrounds a hollow rotatable shaft, said tool comprising: 
 a body having an interior cavity that opens at an end of said body for receiving said shaft, wherein said body defines an annular surface at said end to abut said seal and wherein said annular surface has an inner diameter greater than an outer diameter of said shaft and an outer diameter forming a removable frictional seal with an inner diameter of said cavity; and    a stem approximately centered with respect to said annular surface of said body that extends axially from said end and has a diameter smaller than an inner diameter of said hollow shaft so that stem is slidably receivable within said hollow shaft.    
     
     
         7 . A tool according to  claim 6 , wherein said body and said stem are integrally formed.  
     
     
         8 . A seal cover for a shaft rotatably disposed in a cavity defined by a housing surrounding the shaft, said seal cover comprising a cup-shaped body having an interior cavity that opens at an end of said body for receiving said shaft, said body defining an annular outer surface at said end to surround and abut a flange attached to said housing.  
     
     
         9 . A seal cover according to  claim 8 , wherein said end abuts a seal.  
     
     
         10 . A shaft assembly, said assembly comprising: 
 a housing having a bore formed therein;    a shaft disposed rotatably in said housing and within said bore;    a seal extending between said shaft and a circumferential surface of said bore; and    a tool for driving said seal into said cavity, said tool including an elongated body having an interior cavity that opens at a first end of said body for receiving said shaft, wherein said body defines an annular surface at said first end to abut said seal, and wherein said annular surface has an inner diameter greater than an outer diameter of said shaft and an outer diameter forming a removable frictional seal with an inner diameter of said interior cavity.    
     
     
         11 . An assembly as in  claim 10 , wherein an exterior surface of said body is frusto-conical in shape.  
     
     
         12 . An assembly as in  claim 10 , wherein said frusto-conical shape begins at said first end abutting said seal and tapers to a second end opposite said first end.