Patent ID: 8505924

Claim:
A wavy-edged hydrodynamic sealing assembly for partitioning a lubricant in a lubricant-containing region from a second fluid in an environment region, the lubricant being at a higher pressure than the second fluid, the sealing assembly comprising: a wavy-edged hydrodynamic seal comprising: a hydrodynamic lip having a predetermined modulus of elasticity and defining a dynamic surface, said hydrodynamic lip being of flexible lip construction defining a radially flexible, cantilevered lip sealing portion having a hydrodynamic inlet facing the lubricant-containing region and a circular edge facing the environment region, said hydrodynamic inlet being skewed in relation to said circular edge; an annular recess defined at least in part by said cantilevered lip sealing portion and exposed to the lubricant-containing region; and an energizer element engaging said annular recess, said energizer element having a modulus of elasticity that is different than said predetermined modulus of elasticity of said hydrodynamic lip; and a first supporting wall in supporting relationship with an environment side of said hydrodynamic lip, wherein at least a portion of said first supporting wall defines a sloped support surface in supporting relationship with said environment side of said hydrodynamic lip to resist distortion and extrusion of said seal when the lubricant pressure is greater than the second fluid pressure.