Freudenberg-Nok General Partnership

Carl Freudenberg Kg

John A London

Patrick L Scheib

Darin Battles

Rory S Pawl

Robert Scavuzzo

Peter C Whitaker

Damian J Feltner

Alexander Berdichevsky

Sean Donovan

A valve stem seal utilizes a multi-piece construction to reduce the required manufactured tolerances and/or improve the stress handling capabilities. The valve stem seal can include a first member or can which can be assembled to a second member or spring seat. The can and/or spring seat can have a plurality of axially extending resilient fingers that are biased such that when assembled the fingers are bent against the bias due to the engagement between the can and the spring seat. The fingers on the spring seat allow the spring seat to bend or move relative to the can to accommodate the loading of a valve spring on the spring seat. The use of resilient fingers on the can and/or the spring seat reduces the manufacturing tolerances required for the valve stem seal.

Two-piece valve stem seal

A valve stem seal including a radially outwardly extending flange that includes one or more circumferential grooves to allow the flange to flex and lay flat against a support surface and protect the flange from fatigue.

Reduced inertia valve stem seal flange

A shaft-sealing device comprising a sealing ring having a seal secured thereto, and a protective member engaged with the sealing ring. The said protective member includes a cylindrical member having a shaft-engaging surface and a seal-engaging surface, and an annular flange extends radially away from the shaft. The shaft-engaging surface is operable to be attached to the shaft during operation of the device, and the seal-engaging surface is operable to be in sealing contact with the seal during operation of the device. The annular flange is operable to engage the sealing ring.

Multiple use installation aid for radial shaft seals

A valve stem seal assembly in an internal combustion engine includes a cylinder head including an aperture therein in communication with a cylinder bore and a recessed pocket surrounding the aperture. A valve guide is received in the aperture and a valve stem is received in the valve guide. A valve seal support includes a radially outwardly extending flange disposed against a surface of the cylinder head external to the recessed pocket and a cylindrical body that extends into the recessed pocket. A valve spring contacts the flange and a resilient seal is secured to the rigid valve seal support and in sealing engagement with the valve stem.

Low profile valve stem seal in cylinder head

A dynamic seal advantageously utilizes a plurality of grooves on the active side or surface of the seal to capture a leaked lubricant and hydrodynamically pump the lubricant back into the lubricated side of the seal. The grooves are interrupted at an intermediate location by a continuous circumferential band that aids in preventing leakage past the band when the shaft is not rotating and the grooves on both sides of the band pump contaminants away from the sealing lip.

Seal with spiral grooves and mid-lip band

A dynamic seal utilizes a groove on the active side of the seal to capture a leaked lubricant and pump the lubricant back into the lubricated side of the seal. The groove stops short of the leading edge of the seal that faces the lubricant side forming a static dam between the termination point of the groove and the seal edge. When the fluid pressure within the groove exceeds the opening pressure for the seal lip, the lubricant within the groove is pumped back into the lubricant side of the seal. The groove can have an induction zone wherein the fluid pressure rise is gradual and a booster zone wherein the fluid pressure rise is relatively faster than in the induction zone. The booster zone is disposed adjacent the static dam. Bars are provided across the spiral grooves to prevent contaminants from reaching and becoming trapped in the booster zone.

Seal with spiral grooves and contamination entrapment dams

A seal shipping system includes a seal having an outer diameter surface and an inner sealing lip. A sleeve member having a cylindrical body and a radially extending flange extending from the cylindrical body engages the inner sealing lip. An annular collar surrounds the radially extending flange of the sleeve member and frictionally engages the outer diameter surface of the seal.

Growing community of inventors

Cornelia, GA, United States of America

John A London