Patent ID: 6213476
Filing Date: 2001-04-10
Classification: F16J

Abstract:
A fluid seal assembly for a relatively rotatable member having a cylindrical sealing surface, said assembly comprising:a rigid annular case (12);a sealing member (18) formed of elastomeric material fixed to said case (12) including an annular sealing lip (26) having a contaminated side (28) and an opposite side (30) and an elastomeric lip portion (32) disposed on said contaminated side (28); andcharacterized by said sealing lip (26) including an insert (34) formed of PTFE material having an inner surface (82) and an outer surface (84), said inner and outer surfaces (82, 84) being substantially planar and substantially parallel to one another, said inner surface (82) being bonded to said elastomeric lip portion (32) across a common bond interface (38) in axially adjacent relation thereto on said opposite side (30) of said sealing lip (26), said elastomeric lip portion (32) and said PTFE insert (34) having circumferentially continuous trimmed lip edges (33, 37) disposed in a common trim plane for simultaneous radially inwardly biased fluid-tight sealing engagement with a sealing surface (40) of a relatively rotatable member (42) and with said circumferentially continuous elastomeric lip edge (33) acting to seal said PTFE lip edge (37) from said contaminated side (28) when engaged with the sealing surface (40), said PTFE lip edge (37) intersecting said inner surface (82) and said outer surface (84) of said PTFE insert (34).