Patent ID: 10753478

Abstract:
A bearing isolator having a simple design and made from low-cost materials but which performs comparably to other higher-cost bearing isolators is described. The bearing isolator generally includes a rotor having a snap fit feature protruding from a radially-oriented flange and a stator having a snap fit feature recess for receiving the snap fit feature to thereby join together the stator and rotor without need for, e.g., a separate unitizing element. Furthermore, the rotor and/or stator can be made from lost cost material, such as a nylon/moly material. In some embodiments, the stator further includes a lip seal biased against the radially-oriented flange of the rotor, which, when combined with the labyrinth passage formed at least in part by the snap fit feature and snap fit feature recess, helps to prevent egress and ingress of lubricant and/or contaminates.