The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 07, 2012
Filed:
Apr. 27, 2009
Paul A. Hubbard, Petersburg, VA (US);
Paul A. Hubbard, Petersburg, VA (US);
Amsted Rail Company, Inc., Granite City, IL (US);
Abstract
A bearing assembly is presented having a novel lubricant sealing design that, in one embodiment, combines the sealing advantages of both a labyrinth-like seal in combination with a contact seal. The improved seal includes a non-rotating seal case working in closely spaced cooperation with a rotor to form a channel. The rotor is attached and turns with the shaft, inducing flow in the channel. Lubricant leakage is impeded by the tortuous fluid path formed by the convoluted channel of the labyrinth-like seal and the fluid shear forces developed by the turning shaft. Any lubricant leakage is further impeded by a resilient seal contacting the surface of the rotor and constricting the channel.