Patent ID: 6276194
Filing Date: 2001-08-21
Classification: G01M

Abstract:
Test apparatus for testing the sealing effectiveness of dynamic seals having at least one dynamic dust-exclusion seal operating in a dust-laden environment, said test apparatus comprising:a housing including a support wall having axially opposite sides and an opening extending axially through said wall between said sides;a shaft supported for rotation within and spaced radially from a wall of said opening defining an annular gap therebetween;seal mounting structure associated with said support wall operative to mount a test shaft seal and support the at least one dust-excluding lip in dynamic sealing relation with an associated sealing surface for closing said annular gap;a dust chamber provided on one side of said wall for exposing an atmospheric side of the test seal to a dust-laden operating environment;a dust agitation system operative to generate and maintain a dust cloud environment within said dust chamber, andcharacterized by a dry dust collection chamber provided on the other side of said wall in communication with said dust chamber through said annular gap and operative to collect any dust that may pass by the test seal from said dust chamber.