The foregoing summary, as well as the detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings, which are diagrammatic, embodiments that are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the present invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. In the drawings:
Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. The words “right”, “left”, “lower”, “upper”, “upward”, “down” and “downward” designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words “inner”, “inwardly” and “outer”, “outwardly” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, a designated centerline or a geometric center of an element being described, the particular meaning being readily apparent from the context of the description. Further, as used herein, the word “connected” is intended to include direct connections between two members without any other members interposed therebetween and indirect connections between members in which one or more other members are interposed therebetween. The terminology includes the words specifically mentioned above, derivatives thereof, and words of similar import.
Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein like numbers are used to indicate like elements throughout, there is shown in
In many applications, the width wS (
Preferably, the seal body 12 further includes at least one engagement tab or projection 22 located adjacent to the body first axial end 12a and extending generally radially inwardly from the body first inner surface section 13A. The projection is configured to engage with the at least one shim 20 so as to generally axially retain the seal body with respect to the central axis AC.
More specifically, at least one shim 20 is formed or fabricated to include at least one pocket 24 extending generally radially inwardly from the shim outer surface 21 and configured to receive the tab/projection 22, so as to thereby substantially prevent axial displacement of the seal body 12 and thus also maintain sealing engagement between the seal body radial sealing surface 16 and the first member radial surface 1a. Further, the seal projection(s) 22 may be formed in any appropriate manner, such as for example, one or more separate arcuate tabs, a single annular shoulder extending circumferentially about the axis AC, etc., or the seal 10 may be formed without any projection/tab and instead only frictionally engage with the shim(s) 20.
Referring to
Referring to
Referring now to
AS2, as indicated in
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention as generally defined in the appended claims.
This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/378,711, filed Aug. 31, 2010, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. The present invention relates to seals, and more particularly to seals for sealing an axial space between joint components of a linkage. Joint assemblies of linkages, such as those used in a lifter mechanism of construction vehicles (e.g., a front end loader), are known and typically include a pin pivotably or rotatably connecting first and second links or pairs of links It is often necessary to provide one or more shims between one component, such as a first link, and a second component, such as a boss connected with a second link, to “occupy” an axial space between the components so as to prevent undesired relative axial displacement. Particularly when one or more components is radially displaceable relative to other components (e.g., pin movable radially within the boss), there is the chance of contaminants entering the linkage through the axial space. In one aspect, the present invention is a seal for sealing an axial space between first and second members spaced apart along an axis, the first member having a generally radial surface and the second member having an outer circumferential surface. The seal basically comprises a generally annular seal body having inner and outer circumferential surfaces and opposing first and second axial ends. The body has a radial sealing surface proximal to the first axial end and configured to sealingly engage with the first member radial surface and a circumferential sealing surface proximal to the second axial end and configured to sealingly engage with the second member outer surface. At least a portion of the seal body extends circumferentially about and encloses the axial space. In another aspect, the present invention is a joint assembly for a linkage, the linkage including at least one first link and a second link, the at least one first link having a radial surface. The joint assembly comprises a shaft coupled with the at least one first link and having an outer circumferential surface and a boss coupled with the second link and having an inner surface defining a central bore, at least a portion of the shaft being disposed within the bore, an outer circumferential surface, and at least one radial end surface spaced from the first link radial surface so as to define an axial clearance space. Further, a seal is configured to seal the axial space and including a generally annular seal body having inner and outer circumferential surfaces and opposing first and second axial ends. The body has a radial sealing surface proximal to the first axial end and configured to sealingly engage with the first link radial surface and a circumferential sealing surface proximal to the second axial end and configured to sealingly engage with the boss outer surface. At least a portion of the seal body extends circumferentially about and encloses the axial space.
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
61378711 | Aug 2010 | US |