Axle seal having a multi-edge contact

Abstract

An axle seal is provided and includes a seal element having a seal element top, a seal element bottom, a seal element mounting lip which extends downwardly from the seal element bottom, and a seal element sleeve, wherein the seal element sleeve is securely and sealingly associated with the seal element mounting lip, and wherein the seal element includes a circumferential outer edge portion which extends outwardly from at least one of seal element mounting lip and the seal element sleeve to form a circumferential lip around the seal element sleeve and wherein the seal element defines a seal element opening which communicates the seal element top with the seal element bottom.

I claim: 
     
         1 . An axle seal, comprising:
 a seal element having
 a seal element top, 
 a seal element bottom, 
 a seal element mounting lip which extends downwardly from the seal element bottom, and 
 a seal element sleeve, wherein the seal element sleeve is securely and sealingly associated with the seal element mounting lip, and 
 wherein the seal element includes a circumferential outer edge portion which extends outwardly from at least one of seal element mounting lip and the seal element sleeve to form a circumferential lip around the seal element sleeve and wherein the seal element defines a seal element opening which communicates the seal element top with the seal element bottom. 
   
     
     
         2 . The axle seal of  claim 1 , wherein the seal element includes a substantially flat center portion, a first raised portion and a second raised portion separated by a first valley portion, wherein the first raised portion and second raised portion are located inward from the circumferential outer edge toward the center portion. 
     
     
         3 . The axle seal of  claim 2 , further including a gradual transition between the first valley portion and the first and second raised portions. 
     
     
         4 . The axle seal of  claim 1 , wherein the seal element opening is configured to sealingly associate with an axle having an axle diameter and wherein the seal element opening includes a opening diameter D, wherein the opening diameter D is sized to be between about 10% to about 40% smaller than the axle diameter. 
     
     
         5 . The axle seal of  claim 1 , wherein the seal element opening is configured to sealingly associate with an axle having an axle diameter and wherein the seal element opening includes a opening diameter D, wherein the opening diameter D is sized to be about 20% smaller than the axle diameter. 
     
     
         6 . The axle seal of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the seal element is constructed from a polymer material. 
     
     
         7 . The axle seal of  claim 6 , wherein the polymer material includes at least one of nitrile, neoprene, plastic, rubber or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The axle seal of  claim 1 , wherein the seal element is constructed from a resilient and flexible material. 
     
     
         9 . The axle seal of  claim 1 , wherein the circumferential outer edge portion is angled downwardly at an angle β ranging between about 1 degree and about 20 degrees. 
     
     
         10 . An axle seal, comprising:
 an axle seal body having a first seal body end and a second seal body end, wherein the axle seal body defines a seal body cavity, a first seal body end opening and second seal body end opening, wherein the first seal body end opening is communicated with the second seal body end opening via the seal body cavity; and   a seal element having
 a seal element top, 
 a seal element bottom, 
 a seal element mounting lip which extends downwardly from the seal element bottom, and 
 a seal element sleeve, wherein the seal element sleeve is securely and sealingly associated with the seal element mounting lip, and 
 wherein the seal element includes a circumferential outer edge portion which extends outwardly from the seal element mounting lip to form a circumferential lip around the seal element sleeve and wherein the seal element defines a seal element opening which communicates the seal element top with the seal element bottom, and 
 wherein the seal element is securingly and sealingly associated with the axle seal body to cover the first seal body end opening. 
   
     
     
         11 . The axle seal of  claim 10 , wherein the seal element includes a substantially flat center portion, a first raised portion and a second raised portion separated by a first valley portion, wherein the first raised portion and second raised portion are located inward from the circumferential outer edge toward the center portion. 
     
     
         12 . The axle seal of  claim 11 , further including a gradual transition between the first valley portion and the first and second raised portions. 
     
     
         13 . The axle seal of  claim 10 , wherein the seal element opening is configured to sealingly associate with an axle having an axle diameter and wherein the seal element opening includes a opening diameter D, wherein the opening diameter D is sized to be between about 10% to about 40% smaller than the axle diameter. 
     
     
         14 . The axle seal of  claim 10 , wherein the seal element opening is configured to sealingly associate with an axle having an axle diameter and wherein the seal element opening includes a opening diameter D, wherein the opening diameter D is sized to be about 20% smaller than the axle diameter. 
     
     
         15 . The axle seal of  claim 10 , wherein at least a portion of the seal element is constructed from a polymer material. 
     
     
         16 . The axle seal of  claim 15 , wherein the polymer material includes at least one of nitrile, neoprene, plastic, rubber or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The axle seal of  claim 10 , wherein the seal element is constructed from a resilient and flexible material. 
     
     
         18 . The axle seal of  claim 10 , wherein the circumferential outer edge portion is angled downwardly at an angle β ranging between about 1 degree and about 20 degrees. 
     
     
         19 . The axle seal of  claim 10 , further comprising a second seal element, wherein the second seal element is securingly and sealingly associated with the axle seal body to cover the second seal body end opening. 
     
     
         20 . The axle seal of  claim 19 , wherein the seal element opening of the first seal element is communicated with the first seal body end opening and wherein the seal element opening of the second seal element is communicated with the second seal body end opening.