Wheel assembly seal

Abstract

A wheel assembly includes a spindle; a wheel hub rotatable relative to the spindle; and a seal mounted between the spindle and the wheel hub, the seal comprising a first portion and a second portion, the first portion coupled to the spindle, the second portion coupled to the wheel hub, the seal configured to prevent fluid flow through a cavity defined between the spindle and the wheel hub.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wheel assembly comprising:
 a spindle;   a wheel hub rotatable relative to the spindle; and   a seal mounted between the spindle and the wheel hub, the seal comprising a first portion and a second portion, the first portion coupled to the spindle, the second portion coupled to the wheel hub, the seal configured to prevent fluid flow through a cavity defined between the spindle and the wheel hub.   
     
     
         2 . The wheel assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the seal is configured to rotate relative to the second portion. 
     
     
         3 . The wheel assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion is a first seal retainer, and the second portion is a second seal retainer. 
     
     
         4 . The wheel assembly of  claim 3 , wherein an O-ring is positioned between the first seal retainer and the second seal retainer. 
     
     
         5 . The wheel assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the O-ring forms a seal with at least one of the first seal retainer and the second seal retainer. 
     
     
         6 . The wheel assembly of  claim 3 , wherein a seal ring is positioned between the first seal retainer and the second seal retainer. 
     
     
         7 . The wheel assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the seal ring is a first seal ring, wherein the seal further comprises a second seal ring positioned between the first seal ring and the second seal ring, and wherein the first seal ring is positioned in facing engagement with the second seal ring. 
     
     
         8 . The wheel assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the spindle, the wheel hub, and the seal define a sealed cavity. 
     
     
         9 . The wheel assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a bearing is positioned radially inward from the seal. 
     
     
         10 . A seal assembly comprising:
 a seal retainer;   an O-ring, the O-ring forming a first seal with the seal retainer;   a first seal ring, the O-ring forming a second seal with the seal retainer, the O-ring compressed between the seal retainer and the first seal ring, the first seal ring defining a face sealing surface; and   a second seal ring, the second seal ring defining a face sealing surface, the face sealing surface of the first seal ring positioned in facing engagement with the face sealing surface of the second seal ring to form a third seal, the first seal ring configured to rotate relative to the second seal ring.   
     
     
         11 . The seal assembly of  claim 10 , wherein compression of the O-ring exerts a force biasing the first seal ring to engage the second seal ring. 
     
     
         12 . The seal assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the seal retainer is a first seal retainer, the O-ring is a first O-ring, and the seal assembly further comprises:
 a second O-ring, the second O-ring forming a fourth seal with the second seal ring; and   a second seal retainer, the second O-ring forming a fifth seal with the second seal retainer, the second O-ring compressed between the second seal ring and the second seal retainer.   
     
     
         13 . The seal assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the seal retainer is configured to rotate with a wheel hub of a wheel assembly, and the second seal ring is configured to rotate with a spindle of the wheel assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The seal assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the O-ring is radially positioned between the seal retainer and the first seal ring. 
     
     
         15 . A method of for modifying a wheel assembly, the wheel assembly comprising a brake assembly, a bearing, a spindle, and a wheel hub, the bearing positioned between the spindle and the wheel hub, a brake fluid from the brake assembly in fluid contact with the bearing in an original configuration of the wheel assembly, the method comprising:
 installing a seal between the spindle and the wheel hub; and   preventing the brake fluid from contacting the bearing with the seal.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , furthering comprising:
 replacing the wheel hub with a modified wheel hub configured to couple to the seal; and   replacing the spindle with an modified spindle configured to couple to the seal.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein installing the seal comprises coupling a first seal retainer to the spindle and coupling a second seal retainer to the wheel hub, the first seal retainer configured to rotate relative to the second seal retainer. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein preventing the brake fluid from contacting the bearing comprises forming a seal between an O-ring and at least one of the first seal retainer and the second seal retainer. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein installing the seal comprising positioning a first seal ring of the seal in facing engagement with a second seal ring of the seal. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising forming a sealed cavity between the spindle and the wheel assembly, the bearing positioned within the sealed cavity, the brake assembly positioned external to the sealed cavity.