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A sealing device for use with a drive shaft of a water vessel. The sealing device comprises a housing for a seal and bearing, a compression ring, a lip seal flange attachment and a diaphragm for tracking the movement of the shaft. The diaphragm is made of a resilient, flexible material and is operat

A sealing device for use with a drive shaft of a water vessel. The sealing device comprises a housing for a seal and bearing, a compression ring, a lip seal flange attachment and a diaphragm for tracking the movement of the shaft. The diaphragm is made of a resilient, flexible material and is operatively connected to the seal housing. In operation, the diaphragm tracks the motion of the drive shaft so that the drive shaft may move freely in the hull of the vessel. The diaphragm allows the rigid seal housing to also move in response to any axial, lateral or circular-axial (wobble-like) movement of the shaft so that a constant seal around the shaft is provided.

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1. A shaft seal device for use with a drive shaft extending through an opening in the hull of a vessel to preclude the flow of fluid into the vessel and out of the confines of said device, said shah being rotatable about a generally linear axis, said shaft having a passageway having a central, longi

1. A shaft seal device for use with a drive shaft extending through an opening in the hull of a vessel to preclude the flow of fluid into the vessel and out of the confines of said device, said shah being rotatable about a generally linear axis, said shaft having a passageway having a central, longitudinal axis for receiving said shaft for rotation therein, comprising:a rigid seal housing, including part of said passageway, said seal housing having an aft end portion, said seal housing comprising: a seal for providing a seal around said shaft; a securing apparatus for securing said seal to said housing; and a bearing situated at said aft end of said housing for tangentially contacting a shaft extending through the passageway; a flexible diaphragm for moving in response to axial and/or radial movement of the shaft, said diaphragm operatively connected to said seal housing, thereby allowing said seal housing to move axially and/or radially in response to the axial and/or radial movement of the shaft while maintaining a constant seal around the shaft, said diaphragm comprising: a substantially annular shaped, flat base having at least one securing hole therethrough; a body extending from said base, said body comprising a substantially annular neck portion and a substantially annular foot portion operatively connected to the neck portion, said foot portion further comprising a substantially annular lip, contacting a longitudinal surface of said seal housing, thereon for supporting said seal housing, and an extendible convolution disposed between said neck portion and said foot portion, said diaphragm being capable of radial, axial and circular-linear rotational movement; a connecting apparatus for connecting said diaphragm to said seal housing; a compression ring being operatively connected to said base of said diaphragm and around said body of said diaphragm, wherein said ring comprises at least one securing hole therethrough and secures said diaphragm in place; and a lip seal flange attachment, including part of said passageway, said lip seal flange attachment being operatively connected to said base of said diaphragm on the opposite side of said base from said compression ring, comprising an annular end tube portion, an annular fore end wall portion and at least one securing hole through said wall portion, wherein said lip seal flange attachment secures said diaphragm in place and serves as a guide for the shaft extending through the passageway. 2. A device according to claim 1 wherein said foot portion has substantially the same outer circumference as said seal housing.3. A device according to claim 1 wherein each of said compression ring, base of said diaphragm and said wall portion of said lip seal flange attachment have substantially the same outer circumference.4. A device according to claim 1 wherein each of said lip seal flange attachment, seal housing and compression ring are composed of a durable, non-flexible, water resistant material.5. A device according to claim 4 wherein said material is resistant to seawater.6. A device according to claim 5 wherein said material is selected from the group consisting of a thermoplastic, a thermoset, metal, and a fiberglass material.7. A device according to claim 6 wherein said thermoset material is urethane.8. A device according to claim 1 wherein said diaphragm is comprised of a flexible, water-resistant, non-corrosive material.9. A device according to claim 8 wherein said diaphragm is resistant to seawater.10. A device according to claim 9 wherein said diaphragm is selected from the group consisting of rubber, a thermoplastic and a thermoset.11. A device according to claim 10 wherein said thermoset is urethane.12. A device according to claim 1 wherein each of said at least one securing hole of said compression ring, diaphragm and lip seal flange attachment is adapted to receive a rigid securing post therethrough, for securing said base of said diaphragm between said compression ring and said wall end portion of said lip seal flange attachment.13. A device according to claim 1 wherein said seal housing further includes a hose barb that is operatively connected to a hose for providing an air vent or a water supply.14. A device according to claim 1 wherein said connecting apparatus connecting said diaphragm to said seal housing is a mini tie lock.15. A fluid sealing device for sealing fluid from flowing from a propeller drive shaft extending inboard in a vessel, the shaft having a generally linear axis, said device having a shaft-receiving passageway and comprising:a rigid seal housing, including part of said passageway, said seal housing having an aft end portion, said seal housing comprising: a seal for providing a seal around said shaft; a securing apparatus for securing said seal to said housing; and a bearing situated at said aft end of said housing for tangentially contacting a shaft extending through the passageway; a flexible diaphragm for moving in response to axial and/or radial movement of the shaft, said diaphragm operatively connected to said seal housing, thereby allowing said seal housing to move axially and/or radially in response to the axial and/or radial movement of the shaft while maintaining a constant seal around the shaft, said diaphragm comprising: a substantially annular shaped, flat base having at least one securing hole therethrough; a body extending from said base, said body comprising a substantially annular neck portion and a substantially annular foot portion, said foot portion further comprising a substantially annular lip, contacting a longitudinal surface of said seal housing, thereon for supporting said seal housing and an extendible convolution disposed between said neck portion and said foot portion; a connecting apparatus for connecting said diaphragm to said seal housing; a compression ring being operatively connected to said base of said tracking apparatus and around said neck portion of said diaphragm, wherein said ring comprises at least one securing hole therethrough, wherein said compression ring secures said diaphragm in place; and a lip seal flange attachment, including part of said passageway, said lip seal flange attachment being operatively connected to said base of said diaphragm on the opposite side of said base from said ring, comprising an annular end tube portion, an annular fore end wall portion and at least one securing hole through said wall portion, wherein said lip seal flange attachment secures said diaphragm in place and serves as a guide for the shaft extending through the passageway. 16. A sealing device mountable to the inside of a hull or bulkhead of a vessel for use with an inboard propeller drive shaft having a generally linear axis and having a seal with a seal surface mounted thereto, said device having a shaft-receiving passageway, said device comprising:a rigid seal housing, including part of said passageway, having an a? end portion, said seal housing comprising: a seal for providing a seal around said shaft; a securing apparatus for securing said seal to said seal housing; and a bearing situated at said aft end of said housing for tangentially contacting a shaft extending through the passageway; a diaphragm operatively connected to said housing by a cormecting apparatus, thereby allowing said seal housing to move axially and/or radially in response to the axial and/or radial movement of the shaft while maintaining a constant seal around the shaft, said diaphragm comprising: a substantially annular shaped, flat base having at least one securing hole therethrough; a body extending from said base, said body comprising a substantially annular neck portion and a substantially annular foot portion operatively connected to the neck portion, said foot portion further comprising a substantially annular lip, contacting a longitudinal surface of said seal housing, thereon for supporting said housing, and an extendible convolution disposed between said neck portion and said foot portion, said diaphragm being capable of radial, axial and circular-linear rotational movement; a connecting apparatus for connecting said diaphragm to said seal housing; a compression ring being operatively connected to said base of said tracking apparatus and around said body of said diaphragm, wherein said compression ring comprises at least one securing hole therethrough and secures said diaphragm in place; and a lip seal flange attachment, including part of said passageway, said lip seal flange attachment being operatively connected to said base of said diaphragm on a side of said base opposite the side operatively connected to said ring, comprising an annular end tube portion and an annular fore end wall portion and at least one securing hole through said wall portion. 17. A shaft seal device for use with a drive shaft extending through an opening in the hull of a vessel to preclude the flow of fluid into the vessel and out of the confines of said device, said shaft being rotatable about a generally linear axis, said shaft having a passageway having a central, longitudinal axis for receiving said shaft for rotation therein, comprising:a rigid seal housing, including part of said passageway, said seal housing having an aft end portion, said seal housing comprising: a seal for providing a seal around said shaft; a securing apparatus for securing said seal to said housing; and a bearing situated at said aft end of said housing for tangentially contacting a shaft extending through the passageway; a flexible diaphragm for moving in response to axial and/or radial movement of the shaft, said diaphragm operatively connected to said seal housing, thereby allowing said seal housing to move axially and/or radially in response to the axial and/or radial movement of the shah while maintaining a constant seal around the shaft, said diaphragm comprising: a substantially annular shaped, flat base having at least one securing hole therethrough; a body extending from said base, said body comprising a substantially annular neck portion and a substantially annular foot portion operatively connected to the neck portion, said foot portion further comprising a substantially annular lip, contacting a longitudinal surface of said seal housing, thereon for supporting said seal housing, and an extendible convolution disposed between said neck portion and said foot portion, said diaphragm being capable of radial, axial and circular-linear rotational movement; a connecting apparatus for connecting said diaphragm to said seal housing; a compression ring being operatively connected to said base of said diaphragm and around said body of said diaphragm, wherein said ring comprises at least one securing hole therethrough and secures said diaphragm in place; and a lip seal flange attachment, including pm of said passageway, said lip seal flange attachment being operatively connected to said base of said diaphragm on the opposite side of said base from said compression ring, comprising an annular end tube portion, an annular fore end wall portion and at least one securing hole through said wall portion, wherein said lip seal flange attachment secures said diaphragm in place and serves as a guide for the shaft extending through the passageway; said device being devoid of a seal ring for engaging the end of said seal housing, a shaft clamp fixed to the shaft for holding the seal ring in place to prevent water leakage at the end of said seal housing, an O-ring for preventing water leakage between the seal ring and the shah, a spring for biasing said seal housing axially along the shaft and a spring cover for providing a housing for the spring; the lack of a seal ring, a shah clamp, an O-ring, a spring and a spring cover thereby reducing the length of said sealing device along the axis of the shaft and reducing the time and expense of installing said sealing device on a shah, and or rendering a sealing device practical for smaller water vessels having shaft diameters of less than three inches.