Seal assembly

Abstract

A seal assembly ( 46 ) for sealing the interface between a shaft ( 16 ) and a bore-defining wall ( 22 ). The seal assembly ( 46 ) comprises a sealing element ( 50 ), a reinforcing insert ( 52 ), and an elastomeric casing ( 54 ). The sealing element ( 50 ) has a shaft-contacting portion ( 56 ) positioned adjacent the shaft ( 16 ) and an insert-engaging portion ( 58 ) positioned substantially parallel to the bore-defining wall ( 22 ). The reinforcing insert ( 52 ) has a seal-engaging portion ( 66 ) positioned substantially parallel to the bore-defining wall ( 22 ) and positioned radially outward from the insert-engaging portion ( 58 ) of the sealing element ( 50 ). The elastomeric casing ( 54 ) surrounds the radially outer sides of the engaging portions ( 58,66 ) of the sealing element ( 50 ) and the reinforcing insert ( 52 ), to thereby urge the insert-engaging portion ( 58 ) of the sealing element ( 50 ) radially inward towards the seal-engaging portion ( 66 ) of the reinforcing insert ( 52 ).

1 . A seal assembly for sealing the interface between a shaft and a bore-defining wall, said seal assembly comprising a sealing element, a reinforcing insert and an elastomeric casing;
 wherein the sealing element has a shaft-contacting portion positioned adjacent the shaft and an insert-engaging portion positioned substantially parallel to the bore-defining wall;   wherein the reinforcing insert has a seal-engaging portion positioned substantially parallel to the bore-defining wall and positioned radially outward from the insert-engaging portion of the sealing element; and   wherein the elastomeric casing surrounds the radially outer sides of the engaging portions of the sealing element and the reinforcing insert and urges the insert-engaging portion of the sealing element radially inward towards the seal-engaging portion of the reinforcing insert.   
   
   
       2 . A seal assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the sealing element has a second insert-engaging portion and the reinforcing insert has a second insert-engaging portions, these second engaging portions being positioned substantially perpendicular to the first engaging portions of the sealing element and the reinforcing insert, and wherein the elastomeric casing surrounds at least one of the air-side and oil-side of the second engaging portions. 
   
   
       3 . A seal assembly as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the second insert-engaging portion of the sealing element is positioned on the air-side of the second seal-engaging portion of the reinforcing insert. 
   
   
       4 . A seal assembly as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the second insert-engaging portion of the sealing element is positioned on the oil-side of the second seal-engaging portion of the reinforcing insert. 
   
   
       5 . A seal assembly as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the second insert-engaging portion of the sealing element connects its first insert-engaging portion to its shaft-engaging portion. 
   
   
       6 . A seal assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the sealing element includes openings that the elastomeric casing extends through to the reinforcing insert. 
   
   
       7 . A seal assembly as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the sealing element includes openings that the elastomeric casing extends through to the reinforcing insert, and wherein the these openings are positioned on the second insert-engaging portion of the sealing element. 
   
   
       8 . A seal assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric casing forms a lip adjacent the air-side edge of the shaft-contacting portion of the sealing element. 
   
   
       9 . A seal assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing insert further comprises an anchoring portion extending from its first seal-engaging portion. 
   
   
       10 . A seal assembly as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the anchoring portion is positioned generally parallel to the bore-defining wall of the housing. 
   
   
       11 . A seal assembly as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the anchoring portion of the reinforcing element is positioned radially outward from its first seal-engaging portion. 
   
   
       12 . A seal assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the sealing element is made of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). 
   
   
       13 . A seal assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the sealing element is made in one-piece. 
   
   
       14 . A seal assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing insert is made of metal. 
   
   
       15 . A seal assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing insert is made in one-piece. 
   
   
       16 . A seal assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the sealing element is made in one piece and is made of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and wherein the reinforcing insert is made in one piece and is made of metal. 
   
   
       17 . In combination, a crankshaft, a bore-defining wall, and the seal assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the seal assembly is installed on one end of the crankshaft. 
   
   
       18 . The combination set forth in  claim 17 , wherein the seal assembly is installed on the front end of the seal assembly. 
   
   
       19 . The combination set forth in  claim 17 , wherein the seal assembly is installed on the rear end of the seal assembly. 
   
   
       20 . An engine comprising an engine block, pistons, a crankshaft, and a seal assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the seal assembly seals the interface between an end of the crankshaft and a bore-defining wall in the engine block or in a cover/housing mounted thereto.