Flooded bearing isolator

Abstract

A labyrinth sealing device is disclosed for use between a rotating shaft and a bearing housing. In some embodiments, an internal stator engages the housing and a rotor engages the shaft. A labyrinth pathway is defined between the rotor and stator to prevent the migration of lubricants and/or contaminants in either direction. The rotor acts as a running surface for the sealing element, but may also with a ground surface of the rotor to provide a pump that continuously draws lubricant away from the sealing lip toward a sump. In another embodiment, the stator and sealing element are combined as a single element formed from a sealing material. A recess in the sealing lip creates a pressure differential at the sealing surface and minimizes wear.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A labyrinth sealing device comprising:
 a rotor comprising:
 a radially-oriented base; and 
 an axially-oriented flange having a radially outer surface and a radially inner surface opposite the radially outer surface, wherein the radially outer surface is a running surface; 
   a stator matingly engaged with the radially oriented base portion of the rotor; and   a sealing element positioned between the stator and the axially-oriented flange, the sealing element comprising:
 a lip seal extending axially inward and having a radially outer surface and a radially inner surface opposite the radially outer surface, wherein the radially inner surface is an interface surface that rides against the running surface. 
   
     
     
         2 . The labyrinth sealing device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the running surface comprises a flat portion and a grooved portion. 
     
     
         3 . The labyrinth sealing device as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the interface surface rides against both the flat portion and the grooved portion of the running surface. 
     
     
         4 . The labyrinth sealing device as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the grooved portion is a helically grooved portion. 
     
     
         5 . The labyrinth sealing device as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the flat portion of the running surface is on the axially outer side and the grooved portion of the running surface is on the axially inner side. 
     
     
         6 . The labyrinth sealing device as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a unitizing protrusion protruding from the sealing element towards the annular flange; and   a mating nodule protruding from the annular flange towards the sealing element that matingly engages with the unitizing protrusion   
     
     
         7 . A labyrinth sealing device comprising:
 a rotor comprising:
 a radially-oriented base; and 
 an axially-oriented flange having a radially outer surface and a radially inner surface opposite the radially outer surface, wherein the radially outer surface is a running surface; 
   a sealing stator comprising:
 a lip seal extending axially inward and having a radially outer surface and a radially inner surface opposite the radially outer surface, wherein the radially inner surface is an interface surface that rides against the running surface. 
   
     
     
         8 . The labyrinth sealing device as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the interface surface includes one or more recesses. 
     
     
         9 . The labyrinth sealing device as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the sealing stator further comprises one or more wear beads protruding from the sealing stator and contacting the radially-oriented base of the rotor. 
     
     
         10 . The labyrinth sealing device as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the rotor further comprises one or more wear beads protruding from the radially-oriented base of the rotor and contacting the sealing stator. 
     
     
         11 . The labyrinth sealing device as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the sealing stator further comprises:
 an axially-oriented flange at a radially outer side of the sealing stator, the axially-oriented flange extending over the radially-oriented base of the rotor; and   a unitizing protrusion positioned at an axially inner end of the axially-oriented flange and protruding in a radially inward direction.   
     
     
         12 . The labyrinth sealing device as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the lip seal further comprises a sealing protrusion, the sealing protrusion being located at the end of the lip seal and protruding in a radial inward direction. 
     
     
         13 . The labyrinth sealing device as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the sealing protrusion deflects against the running surface. 
     
     
         14 . A labyrinth sealing device comprising:
 a rotor comprising:
 a radially-oriented base portion having a radial outer end and a radial inner end opposite the radial outer end; 
 a first axially oriented flange located between the radial outer end and the radial inner end; and 
 a second axially oriented flange located at the radial inner end, the second axially oriented flange having a radially outer surface and a radially inner surface opposite the radially outer surface, wherein the radially outer surface is a running surface; 
 wherein the first axially oriented flange and the second axially oriented flange extend in the same axial direction and wherein the first axially oriented flange is shorter than the second axially oriented flange; and 
   a sealing stator comprising:
 a lip seal extending axially outward and having a radially outer surface and a radially inner surface opposite the radially outer surface, wherein the radially inner surface is an interface surface that rides against the running surface; 
 wherein at least a portion of the lip seal extends under but does not contact the first flange. 
   
     
     
         15 . The labyrinth sealing device as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the interface surface includes one or more recesses. 
     
     
         16 . The labyrinth sealing device as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the sealing stator further comprises one or more square ridges protruding from the sealing stator and contacting the radially-oriented base of the rotor. 
     
     
         17 . The labyrinth sealing device as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the sealing stator further comprises:
 a radially-oriented arm protruding in a radially inward direction, wherein the radially-oriented arm protrudes in front of a axially inner end of the second axially oriented flange.   
     
     
         18 . The labyrinth sealing device as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the radially oriented arm includes a face type lip that contacts the axially inner end of the second axially oriented flange. 
     
     
         19 . The labyrinth sealing device as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the radially-oriented arm is biased in an axially outward direction.