FIELD
The present disclosure relates to the field of mechanical engineering. Particularly, the present disclosure relates to the field of seals in bearings.
DEFINITIONS
As used in the present disclosure, the following terms are generally intended to 5 have the meaning as set forth below, except to the extent that the context in which they are used indicate otherwise.
First bore – The first bore is defined by a face of the outer ring of a bearing where the bore of outer ring is minimum.
Second bore – The second bore is defined by a face of the outer ring of a bearing 10 on which raceways are formed.
BACKGROUND
A seal is disposed within a bearing to restrict outflow of the lubricant from the bearing. Conventionally, a seal is inserted radially within the bearing, and snap-fitted at the face side of the bearing. However, in bearings, particularly in clutch 15 release bearings (throw out bearings), the radial insertion of the seal is cumbersome due to space constraint within the bearing. Further, if the seal is inserted before the assembly of the bearing, it gets deformed during assembly of the bearing.
Therefore, there is felt a need for a seal that alleviates the abovementioned 20 drawbacks of the conventional seal.
OBJECTS
Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfies, are as follows:
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An object of the present disclosure is to provide a seal that can be easily fitted in many different types of bearings.
Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a seal for a bearing that does not get deformed during assembly of the bearing.
Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide a seal for a bearing that 5 withstands pressure exerted thereon during operation of the bearing.
Other objects and advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following description, which is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
SUMMARY 10
The present disclosure envisages a seal for a bearing. The bearing has an inner ring and an outer ring. The seal is disposed between the inner ring and the outer ring. The seal comprises a sealing body and at least one sealing lip. The sealing body is configured to adhere with the outer ring. The at least one sealing lip orthogonally extends from the sealing body. Further, the sealing lip is configured 15 to abut the inner ring to facilitate sealing between the inner ring and an outer ring. In an embodiment, the sealing lip axially abuts an operative side face of the inner ring.
In one embodiment, the sealing body is configured to adhere to a first bore of the outer ring. In another embodiment, the sealing body is configured to adhere to a 20 second bore of the outer ring.
The sealing body is made of a material selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, hot rolled carbon steel, and cold reduced low carbon steel. The at least one sealing lip is made of a material selected from the group consisting of synthetic rubber, nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR), hydrogenated nitrile butadiene 25 rubber (HNBR), and acrylic.
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In one embodiment, the seal comprises two sealing lips.
In another embodiment, the cross-section of said seal has an L-shaped configuration.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWING
A seal for a bearing, of the present disclosure, will now be described with the help 5 of the accompanying drawing, in which:
Figure 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a conventional seal;
Figure 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a seal, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 3 illustrates an isometric view of the seal of figure 2; 10
Figure 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an assembly of the seal of figure 2 and a bearing;
Figure 4a illustrates a magnified view of the assembly of figure 4;
Figure 5 illustrates a cross-sectional isometric view of the assembly of figure 4;
Figure 6 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a seal, in accordance with another 15 embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 7 illustrates a cross-sectional front view of an assembly of the seal of figure 6 and a bearing; and
Figure 7a illustrates a magnified view of the assembly of the figure 7;
Figure 8 illustrates a cross-sectional isometric view of the assembly of figure 7. 20
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LIST OF REFERRAL NUMERALS
100 – Conventional seal
102 – Sealing body
104 – Pair of sealing lips
200, 250 – Seals of the present disclosure 5
202, 252 – Sealing body
202a, 202b, 252a, 252b – Edges of the seals
204, 254 – Sealing lip
206, 256 – Metallic material
208, 258 – Polymeric material 10
300 – Bearing
302 – Outer ring
302a – First bore of the outer ring
302b – Second bore of the outer ring
304 – Inner ring 15
306 – Bearing balls
308 – Retainer cage
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
A seal is disposed within a bearing to restrict outflow of the lubricant from the bearing. Conventionally, a seal is inserted radially within the bearing, and snap-fitted at the face side of the bearing. Figure 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a conventional seal 100. The seal 100 comprises a sealing body 102 and a sealing 5 lip 104. The sealing lip 104 extends from the sealing body 102. Typically, the sealing lip 104 is made of rubber. The conventional seal 100 is inserted within a bearing after assembly of the bearing. After the assembly of the bearing, the conventional seal 100 is snap fitted within the bearing such that the sealing lip 104 abuts an operative side face of the inner and outer ring of the bearing. The sealing 10 lip 104 is in radial contact with the inner or outer rings of the bearing depending upon the application. If the inner ring is rotating, the sealing lip 104 is in radial contact with the inner ring, whereas if the outer ring is rotating, the sealing lip 104 is in radial contact with the outer ring. However, the conventional seal 100 deforms, and gets damaged due to the excessive radial force exerted on the inner 15 and outer rings of the bearing during assembly of the bearing, particularly in case of clutch release bearings. Further, the conventional seal 100 is difficult to insert within the bearing after the assembly of the bearing. Particularly, in the clutch release bearings (throw out bearings), the conventional seal 100 can not be inserted within the bearing after completion of the bearing assembly due to space 20 constraint.
The present disclosure envisages a seal that alleviates abovementioned drawbacks of the conventional seals.
Different embodiments of the seal, of the present disclosure, are now described with reference to figure 2 through figure 8. 25
Figure 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a seal 200, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 3 illustrates an isometric view of the seal 200. Figure 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an assembly of the seal 200 and a bearing 300. Figure 4a illustrates a magnified view of the assembly the seal
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200 and a bearing 300. Figure 5 illustrates a cross-sectional isometric view of the assembly of the seal 200 and the bearing 300.
The seal 200 is inserted within the bearing 300. The bearing 300 has an outer ring 302 and an inner ring 304. A plurality of balls 306 is disposed between the outer ring 302 and the inner ring 304, and is securely held in raceways (not exclusively 5 labelled in figures) via a retainer cage 308.
The seal 200 comprises a sealing body 202 and at least one sealing lip 204. The sealing body 202 is configured to adhere to the outer ring 302 of the bearing 300. The at least one lip 204 orthogonally extends away from the sealing body 202. The sealing lip 204 is configured to abut the inner ring 304 of the bearing to 10 facilitate sealing between the inner ring 304 and the outer ring 302.
In an embodiment, the seal 200 comprises two sealing lips 204. In another embodiment, the seal 200 comprises more than two sealing lips 204.
In an embodiment, the seal 200 has an L-shaped configuration. More specifically, the sealing body 202 has two edges 202a, 202b configured orthogonal to each 15 other. The sealing lip 204 of the seal 200 orthogonally extends from the edge 202b in the direction opposite to that of the edge 202a of the sealing body 202.
In an operative configuration, the seal 200 is snap-fitted in the bearing 300. The sealing body 202 is adhered to a first bore 302a of the outer ring of the bearing 300. More specifically, the edge 202a of the sealing body 202 is adhered to the 20 first bore 302a of the outer ring 302 of the bearing (as shown in figure 4, figure 4a, and figure 5). The at least one sealing lip 204 axially abuts an operative side face of the inner ring of the bearing 300, thereby ensuring proper sealing between the inner ring 304 and the outer ring 302, and restricting the outflow of lubricant from the bearing 300. 25
Figure 6 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a seal 250, in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 7 illustrates a cross-
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sectional view of an assembly of the seal 250 and the bearing 300. Figure 7a illustrates a magnified view of the assembly of the seal 250 and the bearing 300. Figure 8 illustrates a cross-sectional isometric view of the assembly of the seal 250 and the bearing 300.
The seal 250 has a similar configuration as that of the seal 200. The seal 250 is 5 defined by a sealing body 252 and at least one sealing lip 254. Further, the sealing body 252 has an L-shaped configuration having two edges 252a, and 252b configured orthogonal to each other. The sealing lip 254 orthogonally extends from the edge 252b in a direction of the edge 252a of the sealing body 252.
In an embodiment, the seal 250 comprises two sealing lips 204. In another 10 embodiment, the seal 250 comprises more than two sealing lips 204.
In an operative configuration, the seal 250 is snap-fitted in the bearing 300. The sealing body 252 of the seal 250 is adhered to a second bore 302b of the outer ring 302 of the bearing 300 (as shown in figure 7, figure 7a, and figure 8). More specifically, the edge 252a of the sealing body 252 is adhered to the second bore 15 302b of the outer ring 302 of the bearing 300. The sealing lip 254 axially abuts the operative side face of the inner ring 304 of the bearing 300.
The seals 200 and 250 are made of a metallic material and a polymeric material. More specifically, the sealing body 202, 252 is made of a metallic material, and the sealing lip 204, 254 is made of a polymeric material. The polymeric material 20 is moulded over the metallic material to form the seal 200 and 250. In an embodiment, the sealing lip 204, 254 is made of the polymeric material that partially covers the sealing body 202, 252. In another embodiment, the sealing lip 204, 254 is made of the polymeric material, and the polymeric material fully covers the sealing body 202, 252 made of the metallic material. The metallic 25 material acts as a stiffener and provides strength to the seals 200, 250 to withstand the pressure developed within the bearing 300 during its operation. In figure 2, reference numeral 206 shows metallic material, and reference numeral 208 shows
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the polymeric material. In figure 6, reference numeral 256 shows metallic material, and reference numeral 258 shows the polymeric material.
The metallic material is selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, hot rolled carbon steel, and cold reduced low carbon steel. The polymeric material is selected from the group consisting of synthetic rubber, nitrile butadiene rubber 5 (NBR), hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber (HNBR), and acrylic.
The seals 200, 250 are in axial contact with the inner ring 304 of the bearing 300. The seals 200, 250 can be inserted within the bearing 300 before assembly thereof. Due to axial contact between the seals 200, 250 with the inner ring 304 of the bearing 300, no radial force is exerted on the seals 200, 250, thereby 10 preventing the seals 200, 250 from deformation. Further, the continuous contact of the sealing lips 204, 254 with the inner ring 304 of the bearing restricts the passage of lubricant, and prevents the outflow of the lubricant from the bearing 300.
The seals 200, 250 can be assembled in the bearing 300 before the assembly 15 thereof without damaging either the bearing 300 or the seals 200, 250.
TECHNICAL ADVANCEMENTS
The present disclosure described herein above has several technical advantages including, but not limited to, the realization of a seal for a bearing that:
 can be easily fitted in many different types of bearings; 20
 does not get deformed during assembly of the bearing; and
 withstands pressure exerted thereon during operation of the bearing.
The disclosure has been described with reference to the accompanying embodiments which do not limit the scope and ambit of the disclosure. The description provided is purely by way of example and illustration. 25
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The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained with reference to the non-limiting embodiments in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways 5 in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
The foregoing description of the specific embodiments so fully revealed the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current 10 knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the 15 purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.
Throughout this specification the word “comprise”, or variations such as 20 “comprises” or “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.
The use of the expression “at least” or “at least one” suggests the use of one or 25 more elements or ingredients or quantities, as the use may be in the embodiment of the disclosure to achieve one or more of the desired objects or results.
Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like that has been included in this specification is solely for the purpose of providing a context
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for the disclosure. It is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form a part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the disclosure as it existed anywhere before the priority date of this application.
The numerical values mentioned for the various physical parameters, dimensions 5 or quantities are only approximations and it is envisaged that the values higher/lower than the numerical values assigned to the parameters, dimensions or quantities fall within the scope of the disclosure, unless there is a statement in the specification specific to the contrary.
While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the components and 10 component parts of the preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that many embodiments can be made and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiments without departing from the principles of the disclosure. These and other changes in the preferred embodiment as well as other embodiments of the disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein, 15 whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the disclosure and not as a limitation.

WE CLAIM:
1. A seal (200, 250) for a bearing (300), said bearing (300) having an inner ring (304) and an outer ring (302), said seal (200, 250) disposed between said inner ring (304) and said outer ring (302), said seal (200, 250) comprising: 5
a sealing body (202, 252) configured to adhere with said outer ring (302); and
at least one sealing lip (204, 254) orthogonally extending from said sealing body (202, 252), and configured to abut said inner ring (304), thereby facilitating sealing between said inner ring (304) and 10 said outer ring (302).
2. The seal (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sealing body (202) is configured to adhere with a first bore (302a) of said outer ring (302).
3. The seal (250) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sealing body (252) is configured to adhere with a second bore (302b) of said outer ring (302). 15
4. The seal (200, 250) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one sealing lip (204, 254) is configured to axially abut an operative side face of said inner ring (304).
5. The seal (200, 250) as claimed in claim 1, which comprises two sealing lips. 20
6. The seal (200, 250) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cross-section of said seal (200, 250) has an L-shaped configuration.
7. The seal (200, 250) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sealing body (202, 252) is made of a material selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, hot rolled carbon steel, and cold reduced low carbon steel. 25
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8. The seal (200, 250) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one sealing lip (204, 254) is made of a material is selected from the group consisting of synthetic rubber, nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR), hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber (HNBR), and acrylic.
9. The seal (200, 250) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said seal (200, 250) is 5 snap fitted in said bearing (300).