Patent ID: 9115762
Filing Date: 2015-08-25
Classification: F16C

Abstract:
1. A rolling contact bearing assembly comprising: an inner raceway ring including a raceway surface; an outer raceway ring including a raceway surface; a plurality of rolling elements interposed between the raceway surface of the inner raceway ring and the raceway surface of the outer raceway ring; and a seal member to seal a bearing space defined between the inner raceway ring and the outer raceway ring; the seal member including a seal member body having a base end secured to one of the inner and outer raceway rings and a tip end formed with a seal lip segment that is in contact with the other one of the inner and outer raceway rings; the seal lip segment including a waist portion forming a radially intermediate area of the seal lip segment, the seal lip segment having, as viewed in a cross section, a bent V-shape at the waist portion such that a surface of the seal lip segment facing an outer side of the bearing space defines a relief recess; the seal lip segment also including a protrusion portion that is distal with respect to the waist portion, the protrusion portion having a tapered shape that narrows towards a free end of the protrusion portion; the seal member being installed to the bearing assembly in such a way to apply an urging force on the other one of the inner and outer raceway rings, against a change in the degree of interference of the protrusion portion with the other one of the inner and outer raceway rings; the seal lip segment being positioned such that a portion of the seal lip segment in radial contact with the other one of the inner and outer raceway rings is axially positioned within an axial width of the narrowest portion of the waist portion; and the protrusion portion of the seal lip segment including such high wear material that rotation of the bearing assembly results in wear of the protrusion portion to cause the protrusion portion to make non-contact status or light contact status of a contact pressure that is substantially zero.