Patent ID: 8657296
Filing Date: 2014-02-25
Classification: F16J

Abstract:
1. A method of forming a labyrinth seal in a radial shaft seal that rotates with respect to a housing, the method comprising: providing a radial shaft seal, wherein the radial shaft seal comprises a casing having an exterior-facing surface opposite from an interior-facing surface, a sleeve including a first portion that is engageable with a radial shaft and a second portion angled away from the radial shaft and positioned radially inwardly of the casing that rotates with respect to the casing, a sealing ring having a first portion connected to at least one chosen from the casing and the sleeve, and the sealing ring having an extending portion interacting with at least one chosen from the casing, the housing, and the sleeve, wherein the extending portion of the sealing ring comprises a cutting edge integral with the sealing ring having a first hardness, wherein the cutting edge engages a metal surface on the one chosen from the casing, the housing, and the sleeve to form a groove, wherein the metal surface has a second hardness less than the first hardness; positioning the radial shaft seal in a bore; press-fitting the radial shaft into the sleeve so that the sleeve rotates with the radial shaft; rotating the sleeve; biasing the extending portion with a preloaded biasing element connected with the first portion and the extending portion of the sealing ring; and cutting a groove into at least one chosen from the casing, the housing, and the sleeve with the extending portion as the radial shaft rotates, and thereby forming the labyrinth seal between the exterior-facing surface and the interior-facing surface.