Patent ID: 7628705

Claim:
A seal for sealing around a torque transmitting joint between a driving member and a driven member which are operably connected so that torque is transmitted through the joint from the driving member to the driven member, said seal being one which accommodates changes in alignment between the driving member axis and the driven member axis, said seal comprising a first seal ring having an inner sealing surface that abuts and forms a seal with an outer surface of the driving member, a second seal ring having an inner sealing surface that abuts and forms a seal with an outer surface of the driven member, each of said first and second seal rings having a curved outer sealing surface, means operable to prevent one of said first and second seal rings from sliding axially in either direction along the outer surface of the driving member or of the driven member, a housing which extends entirely around the joint, said housing having a first open end with a first housing seal ring having a first housing seal ring surface and a second open end with a second housing seal ring with a second housing seal ring surface, said first housing seal ring surface having a curvature that is complementary to the curvature of the curved outer sealing surface of said first seal ring, and forms therewith a partial ball and socket joint, in which said seal ring is held captive within said first housing seal ring, said second housing seal ring surface having a curvature that is complementary to the curvature of the curved outer sealing surface of said second seal ring, and forms therewith a partial ball and socket joint, in which said second seal ring is held captive within said second housing seal ring, said housing being inflexible to the extent that, in service, said ball and socket relationships are maintained, and axial displacement between said first and second seal rings, and said first and second housing seal ring surfaces, respectively, is substantially prevented while said housing can pivot relative to said seal rings.