Patent ID: 7591593

Claim:
A sealed rolling bearing comprising: an inner ring and an outer ring defining a bearing space therebetween, said bearing space having first and second axial sides; rolling elements disposed in said bearing space; first and second contact seals disposed between said inner and outer rings on the first and second axial sides, respectively, and third and fourth contact seals disposed between said inner and outer rings on the first and second axial sides, respectively, said third and fourth contact seals being provided axially inwardly of said first and second contact seals, respectively, each of said first to fourth contact seals being mounted on one of said inner and outer rings and including a lip made of an elastic material and kept in sliding contact with a sliding contact surface formed on the other of said inner and outer rings; wherein said inner ring has a radially inner surface that faces radially inwardly and a radially outer surface that faces radially outwardly into said bearing space; wherein said radially outer surface of said inner ring has, on the first axial side, a first large diameter surface portion and a first small diameter surface portion smaller in diameter than said first large diameter surface portion so as to form a first shoulder portion therebetween; wherein said radially outer surface of said inner ring has, on the second axial side, a second large diameter surface portion and a second small diameter surface portion smaller in diameter than said second large diameter surface portion so as to form a second shoulder portion therebetween; wherein said first contact seal includes a first metallic core fitted in said first shoulder portion so as to directly contact said inner ring, thereby fixing said first contact seal to said inner ring; wherein said second contact seal includes a second metallic core fitted in said second shoulder portion so as to directly contact said inner ring, thereby fixing said second contact seal to said inner ring; wherein said first metallic core comprises a first annular portion having a first axially outer end and a first axially inner end located axially inwardly of said first axially outer end and fitted on said first small diameter surface portion, and a first upright portion extending radially outwardly along said first shoulder portion from said first axially inner end of said first annular portion, said first upright portion being in direct contact with said first shoulder portion; and wherein said second metallic core comprises a second annular portion having a second axially outer end and a second axially inner end located axially inwardly of said second axially outer end and fitted on said second small diameter surface portion, and a second upright portion extending radially outwardly along said second shoulder portion from said second axially inner end of said second annular portion, said second upright portion being in direct contact with said second shoulder portion.