Strut bearing

Abstract

A strut bearing includes two bearing races, a space formed between these two races, roll bodies arranged in the space between the two races, and a seal for sealing the space formed between the two races. At least a part of the seal is made of an elastic material, and the seal is molded to the bearing races or to parts of a casing accommodating the bearing races.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A strut bearing comprising: 
 a casing;    a race arrangement disposed in said casing and including two bearing races forming a space between one another;    roll bodies disposed in said space; and    a seal for sealing said space, at least a portion of said seal comprising an elastic material softer than the material from which said casing is formed, and being molded to said casing.    
     
     
         2 . Strut bearing as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said seal is, in its entirety, made of said elastic material.  
     
     
         3 . Strut bearing as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a portion of said seal is molded to said casing is formed of said elastic material, and a remainder of said seal being formed of a material harder than said elastic material.  
     
     
         4 . Strut bearing as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said casing comprises a pair of casing sections, said seal being molded to one of said casing sections and slidably engaging the other casing section.  
     
     
         5 . Strut bearing as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said casing comprises a pair of casing sections, said seal being molded to one of said casing sections and slidably engaging one of said bearing races.  
     
     
         6 . Strut bearing as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said seal comprises a labyrinth profile.  
     
     
         7 . Strut bearing as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said seal comprises a labyrinth profile.  
     
     
         8 . Strut bearing as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said casing comprises two sections, said seal forming a snap mechanism for holding said casing sections together.  
     
     
         9 . Strut bearing as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said casing is composed of two casing halves rotatable relative to one another and forming a first gap at their inner peripheral edge and a second gap and their outer peripheral edge, wherein one of said gaps is closed by said seal, which constitutes a first seal, and the other gap is closed by an additional seal comprising said elastic material.  
     
     
         10 . Strut bearing according to  claim 1  wherein said first seal is molded to one of the casing halves and slidably contacts the other casing half, and the additional seal is molded to one of said casing halves and slidably contacts one of the races.  
     
     
         11 . A strut bearing comprising: 
 a race arrangement including two bearing races forming a space between one another;    roll bodies disposed in said space, and    a seal for sealing said space, said seal comprising an elastic material softer than the material from which said races are formed, and being molded to one of said races and slidably engaging the other of said races.    
     
     
         12 . Strut bearing as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said seal is, in its entirety, made of said soft material.  
     
     
         13 . Strut bearing as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein a portion of said seal is molded to said one race, and a remainder of said seal formed of a material harder than said soft material.  
     
     
         14 . Strut bearing as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein one end of said seal is molded to said one race, and an opposite end of said seal hooks around said other race.  
     
     
         15 . Strut bearing as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein one end of said seal is molded to said one race, and an opposite end of said seal hooks around said other race.  
     
     
         16 . Strut bearing as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said two bearing races form a first gap at their inner circumferential edges and a second gap at their outer circumferential edges, one of said gaps closed by said seal, and the other gap closed by an additional seal comprising said soft material.  
     
     
         17 . Strut bearing as claimed in  claim 16  wherein said seals are arranged to hold said bearing races together.  
     
     
         18 . Strut bearing as claimed in claimed  16  wherein said seals are molded to different ones of said races.