Seal and seal assembly

Abstract

A seal (16) has a body (38), a leg (40) and first and second sealing areas (42,44). The seal (16) is used in a seal assembly (10) having first and second members (12,14), such as, for example, a frame portion (20) and steering knuckle (27) of a work vehicle. Apparatus (28) such as bearing (30) supports the knuckle (27) in rotation relative to a king pin (24) of the frame portion (20). Foreign matter can enter between the frame portion (20) and steering knuckle (27) and interfere with vehicle steering. In the assembly (10), the sealing surfaces (42,44) contact substantially perpendicular surfaces (32,34) of the frame portion (20) to block passage of foreign matter to the bearing (30). A second end portion (54) of the seal leg (40) can be controllably deflectable in order to permit overfill of lubricant to pass from the bearing cavity between the frame portion (20) and steering knuckle (27).

I claim: 
     
       1. A seal (16), comprising: a body (38);   a leg (40) having first, second and third sides (46,48,50), a middle portion (56) and first and second end portions (52,54) and being connected at the first end portion (52) to the body (38), said first side (46) being linear .Iadd.and straight along its full length .Iaddend.and generally opposed to said second side (48), said second side (48) having a linear .Iadd.and straight .Iaddend.portion (64) intersecting the third side (50) and being .Iadd.oriented to extend .Iaddend.parallel to the first side (46) and an arcuate portion (62) defining an arcuate surface (58) extending curvilinearly inwardly in a direction generally toward the first side (46) and defining a reduced cross-sectional area of said leg (40) at the middle portion (56) relative to the second end portion (54), said third side (50) being .[.linear.]. .Iadd.straight along its full length .Iaddend.and intersecting said first and second sides (46,48) at the second end portion (54), said second end portion (54) being of a construction sufficient for being controllably deflectable relative to said first end portion (52) in response to a force exerted on at least one of the first and third sides (46,50); and   first and second sealing areas (42,44) positioned on said leg (40) adjacent the intersection of the first and third sides (46,50), and the intersection of the second and third sides (48,50), respectively.   
     
     
       2. The seal (16), as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first and second sealing areas (42,44) are located at the intersection of the first and third sides (46,50) and second and third sides (48,50), respectively. 
     
     
       3. The seal (16), as set forth in claim 1, wherein said seal (16) has only a single leg (40). 
     
     
       4. The seal (16), as set forth in claim 1, wherein said third side (50) intersects the first side (46) at an angle (A 1 ) of about 90°. 
     
     
       5. The seal (16), as set forth in claim 1, wherein said third side (50) intersects the second side (48) at an angle .[.(50).]. .Iadd.(A 2 ) .Iaddend.of about 90°. .[.6. The seal (16), as set forth in claim 1, wherein said third side (50) is substantially linear..]. .[.7. The seal (16), as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first side (56) is substantially linear..]. .[.8. The seal (16), as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first side (46) of the leg (40) is substantially parallel to 
     
     
        said linear portion (64) of the second side (48)..]. 9. The seal (16), as set forth in claim 1, wherein said .[.first.]. .Iadd.second .Iaddend.sealing area .[.(42).]. .Iadd.(44) .Iaddend.is on said leg (40) at a location immediately adjacent a point (66) on said second side (48) from which said arcuate surface (58) extends inwardly toward said first 
     
     
        side (46). 10. The seal (16), as set forth in claim 1, wherein said leg (40) has a width (W 1 ) defined by the distance between the first and second sides (46,48) and the arcuate surface (58) of said second side (48) 
     
     
        extends inwardly about one-half of said width (W 1 ). 11. The seal (16), as set forth in claim 1, wherein said arcuate surface (58) extends outwardly from the middle portion (56) toward the first end portion (52) in a direction from the first side (46) and intersects the body (38) of the seal (16) at a location (60) at which said leg (40) connects at the 
     
     
        second side (48) to said body (38). 12. The seal (16), as set forth in claim 1, wherein the length .[.(L 1 ).]. .Iadd.(L 2 ) .Iaddend.of the linear portion (64) of the second side (48) is about one-third the length .[.(L 2 ).]. .Iadd.(L 1 ) .Iaddend.of the first side (46). 
     
     
            The seal (16), as set forth in claim 1, wherein said seal (16) has a 
     
     
        carrier element (68) connected to the body (38). 14. The seal (16), as set forth in claim 1, wherein said body (38), leg (40) and first and second 
     
     
        sealing areas (42,44) are of unitary, elastomeric construction. 15. The seal (16), as set forth in claim 1, wherein said seal (16) is of an 
     
     
        annular configuration. 16. The seal (16), as set forth in claim 1, including means (63) for biasing said second end portion (54) of the leg (40) relative to said first end portion (52) of the leg (40) in a direction (D 1 ) from the second .[.(34).]. .Iadd.(48) .Iaddend.toward 
     
     
        the first side .[.(32).]. .Iadd.(46) .Iaddend.of the leg (40). 17. The seal (16), as set forth in claim 16, wherein said biasing means (63) is a spring (65) positioned on the second side .[.(34).]. .Iadd.(48) 
     
     
        .Iaddend.of the leg (40). 18. A seal assembly (10) for blocking passage of foreign matter through an annular opening (36), comprising: a first member (12) having first and second surfaces (32,34) oriented substantially perpendicular one relative to the other;   a second member (14) positioned adjacent said first member (12), said first and second members (12,14) being rotatable one relative to the other and defining the annular opening (36) between said second member (14) and the first and second surfaces (32,34) of said first member (12);   means (28) for supporting said first and second members (12,14) in rotation one relative to the other.Iadd., said means (28) being a bearing (38) positioned between said first and second members (12,14) in said annular opening (36) .Iaddend.;   a seal body (38) connected to said second member (14) and positioned adjacent and extending about said annular opening (36);   a seal leg (40) having first, second and third sides (46,48,50) and first and second end portions (52,54) and being connected at the first end portion (52) to the body (38) and extending outwardly from said body (38) about .Iadd.and across .Iaddend.the annular opening (36) and in a direction toward said first and second surfaces (32,34) of the first member (14) .Iadd.to form a first channel (90) adjacent the bearing (30) and a second channel (92) exposed to the environment.Iaddend., said first and second sides (46,48) being generally opposed, said third side (50) intersecting said first and second sides (46,48) at the second end portion (54), said second end portion (54) being of a configuration sufficient for being controllably deflectable in response to a force exerted on at least one of the first and third sides (46,50) of said leg (40); and   first and second sealing areas (42,44) positioned on said leg (40) adjacent the intersection of the first and third sides .[.(46,48).]. .Iadd.(46,50) .Iaddend.and the second and third sides (48,50), respectively, and being in sealing, slidable contact with said first surface (32) and said second surface (34), respectively, of the first member (12) at a location sufficient for blocking access .Iadd.of the foreign matter .Iaddend.through the annular opening (36) .Iadd.from the second channel (92) into the first channel (90) to the bearing (30) .Iaddend.in response to forces exerted on the second side (48) of the leg (40), said first and second sealing areas (42,44) being both removable together from contact with said respective first and second surfaces (32,34) of the first member .[.(14).]. .Iadd.(12) to relieve lubricant flow at the bearing (30) and in the first channel (90) through the annular opening (36) into the second channel (92) .Iaddend.in response to controllably deflecting said second   
     
     
        end portion (54). 19. The seal assembly (10), as set forth in claim 18, wherein said leg (40) has a middle portion (56) and said second side of the leg (40) is of a configuration sufficient for defining a reduced crosssectional area of said leg (40) at the middle portion (56) relative 
     
     
        to the second end portion (54) of said leg (40). 20. The seal assembly (10), as set forth in claim 19, wherein said second side (48) has an arcuate surface (58) extending curvilinearly inwardly from the second end portion (54) toward the middle portion (56) in a direction generally 
     
     
        toward the first side (46). 21. The seal assembly (10), as set forth in claim 18, wherein the first and second sealing areas (42,44) are located at the intersection of the first and third sides (46,50) and the second 
     
     
        and third sides (48,50), respectively. 22. The seal assembly (10), as set forth in claim 18, wherein said seal assembly (10) has only a single leg 
     
     
        (40). 23. The seal assembly (10), as set forth in claim 18, including a line (78) passing through said first and second sealing areas (42,44), said line (78) intersecting the first surface (32) of the first member (12) at an angle (A 5 ) in a range of about 45° to about 
     
     
        90°. 24. The seal assembly (10), as set forth in claim 23, wherein 
     
     
        said angle (A 5 ) is about 45°. 25. The seal assembly (10), as set forth in claim 23, wherein said third side (50) defines the line (78) passing through said first and second sealing surfaces (42,44). .[.26. The seal assembly (10), as set forth in claim 18, wherein said first side (46) intersects the first surface (32) of the first member (12) at an angle 
     
     
        (A 6 ) of about 60°..]. 27. The seal assembly (10), as set forth in claim 20, wherein said second side (48) has a substantially linear .Iadd.and straight .Iaddend.portion (64) intersecting the third side (50) and an arcuate portion (62) defining the arcuate surface (58) of said 
     
     
        second side (48). 28. The seal assembly (10), as set forth in claim 27, wherein said linear .Iadd.and straight .Iaddend.portion (64) of the second side (48) intersects the second surface (34) of the first member (12) at 
     
     
        an angle (A 7 ) of about 60°. 29. The seal assembly (10), as set forth in claim 18, wherein said first and second surfaces (32,34) of the first member (12) define first and second substantially perpendicular intersecting planes (32',34'), respectively, and including a line (78) passing between said first and second sealing areas (42,44), said line (78) defining a chord (80) of a circle (82) having a radial line (84), said radial line (84) substantially bisecting said chord (80) and passing 
     
     
        immediately adjacent the intersection (86) of said planes (32',34'). 30. The seal assembly (10), as set forth in claim 27, .Iadd.wherein .Iaddend.said first side (46) of the leg (40) is substantially parallel to said linear .Iadd.and straight .Iaddend.portion (64) of the second side 
     
     
        (48). 31. The seal assembly (10), as set forth in claim 18, wherein said first and second sealing areas (42,44) urge against said first and second 
     
     
        surfaces (32,34) of the first member (12), respectively. 32. The seal assembly (10), as set forth in claim 18, wherein said seal body (38), leg (40) and first and second sealing areas (42,44) are of unitary, 
     
     
        elastomeric construction. 33. The seal assembly (10), as set forth in claim 18, wherein the third side (50) of the leg (40) extends between said first and second sealing areas (42,44) and said leg (40) forms an annular chamber (88) with said first member (12), said annular chamber (88) being defined by the first and second surfaces (32,34) of said first member (12) and the third side (50) of the leg (40). .[.34. The seal assembly (10), as set forth in claim 33, wherein the leg (40) forms first and second channels (90,92) with said first member (12), said first and second channels (90,92) being defined by the first side (46) of the leg (40) and first surface (32) of the first member (12) and the second side (48) of the leg (40) and the second surface (34) of the first member (12), respectively, and being of a construction sufficient for being positionable in communication one with the other in response to removing the first and second sealing areas (42,44) from contact with the first and 
     
     
        second surfaces (32,34), respectively..]. 35. The seal assembly (10), as set forth in claim 18, including means (63) for biasing the second end portion (54) of the leg (40) relative to the first end portion (52) of the leg (40) in a direction (D 2 ) toward the first surface (32) of the 
     
     
        first member (12). 36. The seal assembly (10), as set forth in claim 35, wherein said biasing means (63) is a spring (65) positioned on the second side (48) of the leg (40).