TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[001] The present invention relates generally to seals provided for preventing leakage. More particularly, the present invention relates to a protective sleeve for an oil seal fitment of various diameters.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[002] Oil seals get damaged during direct insertion over shaft due to various surface conditions of shaft like splines, grooves, chamfer edges, key ways, surface finish etc. While inserting a lip type oil seal, care is to be taken to avoid detoriation of spring tension of oil seal and cutting of lip of oil seal. A protective sleeve is a tool used for insertion of lip type oil seals over shaft. Protective sleeve protects the lip of the oil seal from getting damaged/fold during insertion of the oil seal over shaft. A protective sleeve is thin walled hollow sleeve which is simply pushed in position over another sharp surface, providing counter surface of same diameter as internal diameter of oil seal and outer diameter of oil seal seating position. [003] In a gear box assembly oil seals of different diameters are used on different shafts. While proto building of gear boxes, small variation in the sizes of Protective sleeves causes problems in assembly of oil seals. These variations cannot be corrected in undersize cases immediately which halts the work of assembly since the oil seal cannot be properly inserted without protective sleeve and may lead to leakage.

[004] Therefore, there is a need to overcome one or more abovementioned drawbacks.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[005] Accordingly, an aspect of the present invention discloses a protective sleeve
for seals comprising a body split into a plurality of leaves, separated by at least a
clearance, each said leave have radially extending inner and outer surfaces, said inner
surface is provided with a first portion and at least a contoured second portion, and
said outer surface is provided with at least two radially extending annular grooves
spaced apart in said second portion; and at least two elastomeric members positioned
in said annular grooves for holding said leaves, thereby said sleeve provides radial
sealing engagement over a shaft.
[006] According to an embodiment of the present invention, said at least a
contoured structure extends more than half of axial length of said leaves.
[007] In said embodiment, the elastomeric material includes O-rings or rubber
bands.
[008] In said embodiment, the body is split into at least four leaves.
[009] According to another embodiment, the present invention discloses a protective
kit for a seal comprising a spool configured for axial movement on a screw; a
protective sleeve of a diameter as claimed in one of the preceding claims 1-4,
configured for encasing said spool and screw, whereby each rotation of said spool

axially throughout a length of said screw, ensures uniform expanding and collapsing of said leaves from the initial diameter to at least a pre-determined diameter, adjusting them in a radial sealing engagement over a shaft for pre-determined diameters.
[0010] According to another aspect, the present invention discloses a method of seal comprising the steps of providing a plurality of leaves to form a protective sleeve as claimed in one of the preceding claims 1-4; forming the protective sleeves of a diameter by encasing and holding the leaves over a spool with at least two elastomeric members; adjusting the spool configured for axial movement on the screw that simultaneously expands or collapses the sleeve uniformly from the initial diameter to at least a pre-determined diameter of a shaft; placing the sleeve over the shaft and adjusting the spool for ensuring sealing engagement of the sleeve over the shaft; and placing the seal over the sleeve for preventing leakage of oil.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 shows a front, side and assembled views of protective sleeve for seals according to an aspect of the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a protective kit in an assembled view according to an embodiment of the present invention; and
Figure 3 shows a detailed view of the protective kit according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and may have not been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figure may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.
Throughout the drawings, it should be noted that like reference numbers are used to depict the same or similar elements, features, and structures. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0011] In general, the present invention provides a protective sleeve for an oil seal fitment of pre-determined diameters. The sleeve includes a body split into at least four leaves having radially extending inner and outer surfaces. The inner surface is provided with a first portion and at least a contoured second portion, and the outer surface is provided with at least two radially extending annular grooves. At least two elastomeric members are positioned in that annular grooves for holding said leaves, thereby providing radial sealing engagement over a shaft.
[0012] Further, the present invention discloses a protective kit for a seal. The kit includes the protective sleeve having plurality of leaves encasing a spool and a screw.

Each of the leaves are separated by at least a clearance. At least two elastomeric members positioned in the annular grooves, hold the leaves, ensure uniform expanding and collapsing of the leaves from an initial diameter to at least a pre-determined diameter. When the spool rotates on the screw, the sleeve is adjusted ensuring a radial sealing engagement over a shaft for pre-determined diameters. [0013] According to the present invention, a tool provided enables protective sleeve for an oil seal fitment adjust for various diameters over various shafts without any hassle.
[0014] According to the present invention, the leaves are made of soft material not limited to a Polypropylene (PP) material.
[0015] According another aspect, the present invention discloses a method of seal comprising the steps of providing a plurality of leaves to form a protective sleeve; forming the protective sleeves of a diameter by encasing and holding the leaves over a spool with at least two elastomeric members; adjusting the spool configured for axial movement on the screw that simultaneously expands or collapses the sleeve uniformly from the initial diameter to at least a pre-determined diameter of a shaft; placing the sleeve over the shaft and adjusting the spool for ensuring sealing engagement of the sleeve over the shaft; and placing the seal over the sleeve for preventing leakage of oil.
Other aspects, advantages, and salient features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which,

taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses exemplary embodiments of the invention.
The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings is provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of exemplary embodiments of the invention as defined by the claims and their equivalents. It includes various specific details to assist in that understanding but these are to be regarded as merely exemplary. Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications of the embodiments described herein can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. In addition, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions are omitted for clarity and conciseness.
The terms and words used in the following description and claims are not limited to the bibliographical meanings, but, are merely used by the inventor to enable a clear and consistent understanding of the invention. Accordingly, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the following description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention are provided for illustration purpose only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
Figures discussed below, and the various embodiments used to describe the principles of the present disclosure in this patent document are by way of illustration only and should not be construed in any way that would limit the scope of the disclosure. Terms first, second, and the like are used to differentiate between objects

having the same terminology and are in no way intended to represent a chronological order, unless where explicitly stated otherwise.
[0016] Referring Figure 1 shows a front, side and assembled views of protective sleeve for seals according to an aspect of the present invention. As seen in Figure 1, the sleeve (100) is configured to prevent the oil seal from being damaged. The protective seal can be installed for oil seal over grooves, threads or splines. The sleeve can be used for oil seals and shafts of different diameter for diameter range. A body (100) is split into a plurality of leaves (110), separated by at least a clearance each said leave have radially extending inner (120, 130) and outer surfaces (140), said inner surface provided with a first portion (120) and at least a contoured second portion (130), and said outer surface (140) provided with at least two radially extending annular grooves (150) spaced apart in said second portion. At least two elastomeric members positioned in said annular grooves holding the leaves, thereby the sleeve provides radial sealing engagement over a shaft. The sleeve (100) has a diameter (D), which is an initial diameter.
[0017] According to an embodiment of the invention, said at least a contoured structure (130) extends more than half of axial length of said leaves (110). [0018] According to an embodiment of the invention, the elastomeric material includes O-rings or bands and sleeve (100) includes at least four leaves (110). [0019] Referring Figure 2 through Figures 2(a) and 2(b) shows a protective kit (200) in an assembled view and a detailed view according to an embodiment of the present

invention, As seen in Figure 2(b) a spool (210) is configured for axial movement on a screw (220). The protective sleeve (100) is split into plurality of leaves (230) configured for encasing the spool (210) and screw (220), each said leaves (230) have radially extending inner and outer surfaces, said inner surface provided with a first portion (240) and at least a contoured second portion (250), and said outer surface provided with at least two radially extending annular grooves (260) spaced apart in said second portion (250). At least two elastomeric members (270) are positioned in said annular grooves (260) for holding said leaves (230), whereby each rotation of said spool (210) axially throughout a length of said screw (220), ensures uniform expanding and collapsing of said leaves (230) from an initial diameter to at least a pre-determined diameter, adjusting them in a radial sealing engagement over a shaft for pre-determined diameters. The sleeve (100) has a diameter (D), which is an initial diameter.
[0020] According to an embodiment of the invention, at least a contoured structure (250) is adaptable to receive a tapered bottom said spool (210) and a tapered head of said screw (220).
ADVANTAGES:
1. A single protective sleeve assembly can be used for oil seals and shafts of different diameters for particular diameter range.

2. The protective sleeve may be useful in proto assembly cases where proto parts’ dimensions are not within tolerances as these parts are not tooled up, thereby saving idle time due to unavailability of correct size protective sleeve during assembly.
3. The manufacturing costs associated with the protective sleeve is very less as the assembly does not require high cost material and process.
4. The protective sleeve can easily be constructed and operated easily by an operator.
[0021] The present invention has been described in the context providing an adjustment protective sleeve that operates to provide protection to oil seal for various diameters of the shaft, thereby preventing leakage. The protective sleeve of the present invention is shown having a frustoconical body made of soft Polypropylene (PP) material. However, the sleeve can be of any configuration, material and can be used in any type of seal to prevent leakage. Further, the construction of the designed adjustable sleeve of the present invention can be varied by iterating number of leaves, holding methods and the like. To use the protective sleeve in other types of seals and configuration, some changes may have to be made commonly known to the skilled person in the art.
[0022] In the foregoing detailed description of aspects embodiments of the invention, various features are grouped together in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as

reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments of the invention require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the detailed description of aspects, embodiments of the invention, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment.
[0023] It is understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. It is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. In the appended claims, the terms “includes” is used as the plain-English equivalent of the respective term “comprises” respectively.

We Claim :
1. A protective sleeve (100) for seals comprising:
a body split into a plurality of leaves (110) separated by at least a clearance, each said leave have radially extending inner (120, 130) and outer surfaces (140), said inner surface is provided with a first portion (120) and at least a contoured second portion (130), and said outer surface (140) is provided with at least two radially extending annular grooves (150) spaced apart in said second portion; and
at least two elastomeric members positioned in said annular grooves (150) for holding said leaves, thereby said sleeve provides radial sealing engagement over a shaft.
2. The protective sleeve (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least a contoured structure (150) extends more than half of axial length of said leaves (110).
3. The protective sleeve (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elastomeric material includes O-rings or rubber bands.
4. The protective sleeve (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body (100) is split into at least four leaves (110).

5. A protective kit (200) for a seal comprising:
a spool (210) configured for axial movement on a screw (220);
a protective sleeve (100) of a diameter (D) as claimed in one of the preceding claims 1-4, configured for encasing said spool (210) and screw (220), whereby each rotation of said spool axially throughout a length of said screw, ensures uniform expanding and collapsing of said leaves (230) from the initial diameter to at least a pre-determined diameter, adjusting them in a radial sealing engagement over a shaft for pre-determined diameters.
6. A method of sealing comprising steps of:
a) providing a plurality of leaves (230) to form a protective sleeve (100) as claimed in one of the preceding claims 1-4;
b) forming the protective sleeve (100) of a diameter (D) by encasing and holding the leaves (230) over a spool (210) with at least two elastomeric members (270);
c) adjusting the spool (210) configured for axial movement on a screw (220) that simultaneously expands or collapses the sleeve (100) uniformly from the initial diameter (D) to at least a pre-determined diameter of a shaft;
d) placing the sleeve (100) over the shaft and adjusting the spool (210) for ensuring sealing engagement of the sleeve (100) over the shaft; and

e) placing the seal over the sleeve (100) for preventing leakage of oil.