Patent ID: 8636286

Claim:
A face seal comprising a first annular half and a second annular half which together form the face seal, each half comprising: an inner sealing ring, the inner sealing ring being generally L-shaped in cross-section including an axially extending first circular cylindrical portion, the cylindrical portion comprising an outer cylindrical wall, an inner cylindrical wall, and a rear radial edge, a radially extending planar ring portion coupled to the first cylindrical portion, the ring portion comprising a seal side planar wall, an opposing planar wall, and an outer cylindrical edge, and a sealing surface defined by the seal side planar wall; an elastomeric ring disposed over the inner sealing ring, and an outer ring disposed over the elastomeric ring, the outer ring including an axially extending second circular cylindrical portion, comprising a first portion extending axially from the seating flange, the first portion in contact with an outer surface of the elastomeric ring; a second portion extending axially from the backing flange, the second portion embedded in the elastomeric ring; and a transition portion extending between and connecting the first portion and the second portion, the second cylindrical portion also comprising a second outer cylindrical wall, a second inner cylindrical wall, a front end, and a rear end, a seating flange extending radially outward from the front end of the second cylindrical portion, the seating flange comprising a second seal side planar wall, a housing side planar wall, and a second outer cylindrical edge, wherein the second seal side planar wall and the housing side planar wall are positioned perpendicularly relative to an axis of rotation and the housing side planar wall is positioned against an identically-oriented surface which is not a portion of the face seal, and wherein the second seal side planar wall, the housing side planar wall, and the second outer cylindrical edge are not embedded in or covered by the elastomeric ring, and a backing flange extending radially inward from the rear end of the second cylindrical portion, the backing flange comprising a second seal side planar wall, a housing side planar wall, and a second outer cylindrical edge, wherein the backing flange is positioned perpendicularly relative to the axis of rotation, the backing flange embedded in the elastomeric ring.