Abstract:
A face seal assembly is provided for use in work machine applications such as track assemblies, roller assemblies, final drives and the like to seal the area between a stationary member and a rotatable member. The face seal assembly includes a seal ring, a resilient load ring and a support member attached to the resilient load ring. The load ring is adapted to apply a load to the seal ring.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
         [0001]    This invention relates generally to a face seal assembly and more particularly to a support member for a resilient load ring of the face seal assembly.  
         BACKGROUND  
         [0002]    The present invention has particular application to track rollers, final drives, and other components of work machines. The problem of short bearing life in track rollers and final drive assemblies of work machines is one that has continuously plagued the industry. Such work machines typically operate in environments that are highly destructive to seals and consequently to the underlying bearings.  
           [0003]    One approach to this problem is the type seal disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,527,046, which issued Jun. 18, 1996 to Bedford and is assigned to the assignee of the present application. This type of face seal has greatly improved track roller bearing life. However, these seals can be damaged during assembly or fail during application. For example, one problem with prior art face seal assemblies involves damage to the resilient load rings. The resilient load ring can be damaged or twist or roll under during assembly. When this occurs, the load ring may allow the dirt and abrasives to pass around the load ring and contaminate the sealed and lubricated bearing areas. Additionally, if the load ring does become damaged it may render the force applied to the face seal ring ineffective. When the force on the face seal rings is reduced, dirt and abrasives can enter at the seal face.  
           [0004]    The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems as set forth above.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    In one aspect of the present invention a face seal assembly is provided having a central reference axis. The face seal arrangement comprises a seal ring having first and second leg portions. The second leg portion includes a seal face adapted to mate with an abutting member. A resilient load member is adapted to apply a force to the seal ring. The resilient load member has a linear peripheral portion oriented generally parallel to the reference axis, a radial surface substantially perpendicular to the reference axis, and a second linear peripheral portion spaced from the linear peripheral portion. A support member is integrally attached to the second linear peripheral portion of the load member. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]    [0006]FIG. 1 is an enlarged diagrammatic sectional view of a portion of one embodiment of a face seal of the present invention;  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 2 is an enlarged diagrammatic sectional view of a portion of an alternate embodiment of a face seal of the present invention; and  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 3 is an enlarged diagrammatic sectional view of a portion of yet another embodiment of a pair of face seals of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0009]    Referring to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 1, a face seal assembly  10  is illustrated and disposed within a counter bore  12  of a housing  14 . The face seal assembly  10  has a central reference axis  16  and includes a load resilient load ring  20 , a support member  22 , and a seal ring  24 .  
         [0010]    The resilient load ring  20  includes a body portion  25  made from any of a number of known elastomeric materials commonly used to manufacture seals such as rubber compounds, but it could be made from a rubber/metal or rubber/fabric combinations. The body portion  25  of the resilient load ring  20  has a first linear peripheral portion  26  and a first radial portion  28 . The first linear peripheral portion  26  is spaced from and extends generally parallel with the axis  16 . The first radial portion  28  is generally perpendicular with the axis  16 . The resilient load ring  20  also includes a second linear peripheral portion  36  and a second radial portion  38 . The second linear peripheral portion  36  is positioned on the opposite side of the body portion  25  and is spaced from first linear peripheral portion  26 . The second radial portion  38  is positioned on the opposite side of the body portion  25  parallel to and spaced from the first radial portion  28 . A first curved concave surface  40  is positioned between and joins the first radial portion  28  and the second linear peripheral portion  36 . A second concave surface  42  is located on the opposite side of the body portion  25  spaced from the first concave surface  40  and is positioned between and joins the first linear peripheral portion  26  and the second radial portion  38 . The first concave surface  40  generally has a larger radius than the second concave surface  42 .  
         [0011]    The support member  22  can be made from a thin steel or rigid plastic material and has a first leg  50  that extends along the first linear peripheral portion  26  and a second leg  52  that extends along the radial portion  28 . The support member  22  can be attached to the resilient load ring  20  by any conventional means such as, adhesively bonding or vulcanizing. The termination of the second leg  52  is generally adjacent to the intersection of the first linear peripheral portion  26  and the first concave surface  40  of the resilient load ring  20  and the termination of the first leg portion  50  is generally adjacent to the intersection of the first linear peripheral portion  26  and the second concave surface  42 . The first and second legs  50 ,  52  are configured so as to contact a sidewall  54  and a bottom  56 , respectively, of the counter bore  12  of the housing  14 .  
         [0012]    Seal ring  24  has a first leg  60  that extends along the second linear peripheral portion  36  of the resilient load ring  20  and a second leg portion  62  that extends along the second radial portion  38 . A seal face  64  is positioned on the second leg  62  of the seal ring  24  parallel to and spaced from the second radial portion  38  of the resilient load ring  20 .  
         [0013]    During assembly and in the assembled condition of the face seal arrangement  10 , the support member  22  is positioned in the counter bore  12  of the housing  14  with the second linear peripheral portion  36  and the second radial portion  38  of the resilient load ring  20  placed in contact with the seal ring  24 . A radial face of an abutting member (not shown) is axially pushed against the seal face  64  of the seal ring  24 . In response, the second radial portion  38  of the resilient load ring  20  is urged toward the first radial portion  28 . The resilient load ring  20  is adapted to flex in a direction parallel to the central axis  16 , which is parallel to a sealed interior  70  of a particular assembly, such as a sealed track link, roller assembly, or final drive not shown.  
         [0014]    Referring to FIG. 2, an alternate embodiment of the face seal assembly  10  is shown, which is similar to the previously described embodiment. In this alternate embodiment, similar elements are indicated by the same reference numerals with a prime symbol. This embodiment incorporates a face seal assembly  10 ′ having a central axis  16 ′ and includes a resilient load ring  20 ′, a support member  22 ′ and a seal ring  24 ′. The resilient load ring  20 ′ and the seal ring  24 ′ are functionally and physically similar to the resilient load ring  20  and the seal ring  24  of the previous embodiment.  
         [0015]    The support member  22 ′ has an annular configuration and can be made from a thin steel or rigid plastic material and attached to the first linear peripheral portion  26 ′ of resilient load ring  20 ′ by any conventional means such as adhesively bonding or vulcanizing. The support member  22 ′ of this embodiment is configured for positioning in either a bore  80  of a collar  82  or an outer circumferential surface  84  of a shaft  86  or other similar component. The termination of support member  22 ′ is shown as extending beyond the intersection of the first linear peripheral portion  26 ′ and the second concave surface  42 ′ at one end and extending beyond the intersection of the first linear peripheral portion  26 ′ and the first radial portion  28 ′, but could be generally adjacent to both intersection points without changing the function of the face seal assembly  10 ′.  
         [0016]    Referring to FIG. 3, yet another alternate embodiment of the face seal assembly  10  is shown, which is similar to the previously described embodiments. In this alternate embodiment, similar elements are indicated by the same reference numerals with a double prime symbol. Face seal assembly  10 ″ is illustrated having a central reference axis  16 ″ and includes a pair of load resilient load rings  20 ″, a pair of support members  22 ″, and a pair of seal rings  24 ″.  
         [0017]    The pair of resilient load rings  22 ″ include a body portion  25 ″ having a first linear peripheral portion  26 ″ and a radial portion  28 ″. The first linear peripheral portion  26 ″ is spaced from and extends generally parallel with the axis  16 ″. The first radial portion  28 ″ is generally perpendicular with the axis  16 ″. The pair of resilient load rings  22 ″ also include a second linear peripheral portion  36 ″ spaced from and positioned on the opposite side of the body portion  25 ″. The first linear peripheral portion  26 ″ and the second linear peripheral portion  36 ″ extend from the body portion  25 ″ and form a cavity/recess  90 .  
         [0018]    The pair of support members  22 ″ have a first leg  50 ″ that extend along the first linear peripheral portion  26 ″ and a second leg  52 ″ that extend along the first radial surface  28 ″. In the subject embodiment, the second leg  52 ″ is disposed within a stepped portion  92  of the first radial surface  28 ″ and terminates at the step. A portion of the first radial surface  28 ″ extends along the outside of the second leg  52 ″. The termination of the second leg  52 ″ is generally adjacent to the first radial surface  28 ″. This point of termination provides back up for the body portion  25 ″. The first and second legs  50 ″,  52 ″ are configured so as to contact a sidewall  54 ″ and a bottom  56 ″, respectively, when positioned in the counter bore  12 ″ of the housing  14 ″.  
         [0019]    Seal ring  24 ″ has a first leg portion  60 ″ that extends along the second linear peripheral portion  36 ″ of the resilient load ring  20 ″ and a second leg portion  62 ″ that extends adjacent to the cavity/recess  92  formed by the first linear peripheral portion  26 ″ and the second peripheral portion  36 ″. A seal face  64 ″ is positioned on the second leg portion  62 ″.  
         [0020]    During assembly and in the assembled condition of the face seal arrangement  10 ″, each of the pair of support members  22 ″ are positioned in the counter bore  12 ″ of the housing  14 ″ with the second linear peripheral portion  36 ″ of the resilient load ring  20 ″ placed in contact with the seal ring  24 ″. The seal face  64 ″ of each seal ring  24 ″ are place in abutting relationship to one another and axially pushes against the second linear peripheral portion  36 ″ of the resilient load ring  20 ″. In response, the resilient load ring  20 ″ is adapted to flex in a direction parallel to the central axis  16 ″, which is parallel to a sealed interior  70 ″ of a particular assembly, such as a sealed track link, roller assembly, or final drive not shown.  
       INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY  
       [0021]    With reference to the drawings, and the previous detailed description, the subject face seal assembly  10  is particularly useful for increasing the useful life of work machine components such as sealed and lubricated track assemblies, track roller assemblies, final drives and the like. The life of theses components is increased in view of the improved stiffness provided by the support member  22  during placement of the face seal assembly  10  into a particular housing or member. The resilient load ring  20  of the face seal assembly  10  also contributes to increased wear life of machine components by assuring an appropriate force is placed on the seal rings  24 . Thus, excluding dirt from the interior of sealed assemblies.  
         [0022]    Other aspects, objects and advantages of this invention can be obtained from a study of the drawings, the disclosure and the appended claims.