Patent ID: 6220600
Filing Date: 2001-04-24
Classification: F16J

Abstract:
A method of supporting a wear sleeve of a dynamic oil seal assembly on an outer surface of a rotatable shaft of predetermined diameter projecting through an opening in a housing for ease of installation and removal of the wear sleeve, said method comprising:preparing a wear sleeve of an elastically resilient metal including an annular body portion having an inner surface sized relative to the outer surface of the shaft for a low application force slip fit onto the shaft, an outer surface providing a running surface for engagement by a seal member of the seal assembly mounted on the housing for sealing the opening against leakage, and including an annular flange portion projecting radially from the body portion;sliding the wear sleeve onto the shaft while maintaining slip fit clearance between the inner surface of the sleeve and the outer surface of the shaft to provide low force installation; andapplying an axial load on the flange portion sufficient to elastically deflect the flange portion axially of the body portion and thereby impart a radially inward constricting force on the body portion causing the inner surface of the body portion to forcibly engage the outer surface of the shaft to provide metal-to-metal contact therebetween in the vicinity of the imparted constricting force so long as the axial load is maintained.