Patent ID: 7147229

Claim:
A seal assembly ( 10 ), comprising; an annular carrier ( 14 ) establishing an axial direction; a radially acting annular shaft seal element ( 16 ) mounted on said carrier ( 14 ) for encircling a rotating shaft ( 13 ) to be sealed, said shaft seal element ( 16 ) including a laydown seal member ( 48 ) fabricated of polytetrafluoroethylene for axially bending to extend along the shaft ( 13 ) and a radial lip member ( 50 ) fabricated of rubber and extending in axially and radially spaced relation to said laydown seat member ( 48 ) to engage the shaft ( 13 ); an annular felt washer ( 18 ) fixed to said carrier ( 14 ) axially proximate said laydown seal member ( 48 ) such that said laydown seal member ( 48 ) is axially interposed between said felt washer ( 18 ) and said radial lip member ( 50 ), an adhesive disposed between said felt washer ( 18 ) and said carrier ( 14 ), such that said carrier ( 14 ), said shaft seal element ( 16 ) and said felt washer ( 18 ) are unitized, and an annular retainer ( 20 ) for retaining said shaft seal element ( 16 ) in engagement with the shaft ( 13 ), wherein said carrier ( 14 ) includes an inner case ( 26 ) and an outer case ( 28 ) extending in axially and radially spaced relation to one another to define a recess ( 30 ) therebetween for receiving said retainer ( 20 ) to maintain said shaft seal element ( 16 ) in engagement with the shaft ( 13 ).