Patent ID: 6059663
Filing Date: 2000-05-09
Classification: F16C,F16D

Abstract:
In a universal joint assembly comprising a cross member having a body portion having at least one trunnion extending outwardly from said body portion, said trunnion including an outer cylindrical journal surface extending outwardly from said body portion and an arcuate surface interconnecting said journal surface and said body portion; a bearing cup having an open end and an inner bearing surface, said bearing cup being disposed about said trunnion such that said inner bearing surface of said bearing cup is disposed coaxially about said outer cylindrical journal surface of said trunnion; and needle bearing means disposed between said inner bearing surface of said bearing cup and said outer cylindrical journal surface of said trunnion for permitting rotation of said bearing cup relative to said trunnion,the improvement of a sealing system comprising:a universal joint seal composed of a molded elastomeric annular body bonded to the interior of a stiffening ring and projecting outwardly therefrom, said seal being retained in the inside diameter of the bearing cup by means of a press fit between the inside diameter of the bearing cup and the outside diameter of the stiffening ring, said body of said seal having first and second annular lips that extend from a thin section as two symmetrical cantilever protrusions each having a fully radiused tip, the line of symmetry for the two symmetrical lips running from a point near the intersection of the outer cylindrical journal surface and the trunnion arcuate surface toward the center of the trunnion arcuate surface, the thin section above the two cantilevered protrusions allowing both lips of the seal to pivot about the line of symmetry, the first lip contacting the outer cylindrical journal surface and being directed toward the internal bearing surface to maintain the level of the bearing lubricant, the second lip contacting the trunnion arcuate surface and is directed away from the internal bearing surface to deny the entrance of environmental contaminants, the combination of the thin section and the two symmetrical lips allowing the interference points of the seal to float, and said body having a third annular lip having a radius greater than the radius of said second annular lip and projecting outwardly from said stiffening ring and beyond the open end of said bearing cup for contacting said trunnion arcuate surface adjacent said body portion to deny entrance of said environmental contaminants into said universal joint seal and said bearing cup in the absence of a separate outer seal ring.