Caterpillar Inc.

Elmer S Zanoria

Keith Joseph Harmeyer

Daniel Joshua Smith

Hong Lian

John M Mashak

A dynamically vented crankshaft seal and systems and methods thereof can include a seal assembly comprised of a wear sleeve; a main seal; a dust seal; and a plurality of vents circumferentially spaced from each other. Each of the vents can be formed by at least a channel. The channel may be formed in or by the wear sleeve, which can be a primary wear sleeve or a secondary wear sleeve. Further, each of the vents can extend from a first side of the seal assembly to between the main seal and the dust seal. An angle between a channel length axis of the channel and a trajectory of circumferential motion can be ninety degrees, acute, or obtuse for each of the channels.

Dynamically vented crankshaft seal and systems and methods thereof

A rotational seal assembly is associated with a rotating component. The rotational seal includes an outer casing, an inner casing, a rotational seal connected to the outer casing and the inner casing, and a followability enhancer. A section of the rotational seal includes a heel portion and a toe portion. The rotational seal is configured to contact, via a first surface of the section of the rotational seal and during operation of the rotating component, the rotating component. The followability enhancer is configured to contact, during the operation of the rotating component, a first region of a second surface of the section of the rotational seal that is associated with the toe portion. The followability enhancer is configured to not contact, during the operation of the rotating component, a second region of the second surface of the section of the rotational seal that is associated with the heel portion.

Followability enhancer for a rotational seal

A seal assembly for a rotatable shaft assembly includes a seal housing and each of a main seal and a dust seal extending circumferentially around a seal housing center axis. The dust seal includes a radially inward dust seal lip, and is formed by a sealing layer having a plurality of ventilation openings formed therein, and a debris-blocking filter layer attached to the sealing layer and positioned across the ventilation openings. The main seal and dust seal assist in maintaining lubricating oil within a seal cavity. The dust seal prevents entry of debris whilst ventilating the seal cavity to limit carbonization of oil on seal assembly components. In an implementation the seal assembly is part of a rotatable crankshaft assembly.

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Dunlap, IL, United States of America

Elmer S Zanoria