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A seal having a body portion, at least one lip portion extending from the body portion, and a protrusion formed on the at least one lip portion. The lip portion and protrusion formed thereon may each include an arcuate segment wherein the arcuate segment of the protrusion exhibits a smaller radius

A seal having a body portion, at least one lip portion extending from the body portion, and a protrusion formed on the at least one lip portion. The lip portion and protrusion formed thereon may each include an arcuate segment wherein the arcuate segment of the protrusion exhibits a smaller radius than the arcuate segment of the lip portion. The protrusion further includes a surface or a segment adjoining its arcuate segment on the intended fluid or upstream side of the seal. The segment of the protrusion on the intended fluid side may be configured to be substantially perpendicular with the surface of a machine element with which it comes in contact. The configuration and orientation of the protrusion enables the seal to apply an increased contact force over a reduced area, improving penetration of any fluidic film formed on the surface of the machine element and thereby reducing leakage.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A seal comprising: a substantially annular body portion; a substantially annular lip portion extending from the body portion, the lip portion having an arcuate segment which exhibits a first radius, a first segment adjoining the arcuate segment of the lip portion on a first s

What is claimed is: 1. A seal comprising: a substantially annular body portion; a substantially annular lip portion extending from the body portion, the lip portion having an arcuate segment which exhibits a first radius, a first segment adjoining the arcuate segment of the lip portion on a first side thereof and a second segment adjoining the arcuate segment of the lip portion on a second side thereof; and a substantially annular protrusion formed on the lip portion having an arcuate segment which exhibits a second radius which is less than the first radius, the protrusion further including a first segment adjoining the arcuate segment of the protrusion on a first side thereof and wherein the first segment of the protrusion is also adjacent the arcuate segment of the lip portion, wherein the protrusion is configured to contact a surface of a relatively movable machine element and wherein the first segment of the protrusion is configured to be substantially perpendicular with the surface of the relatively movable machine element upon contact therewith, and wherein the substantially annular protrusion projects in a direction substantially perpendicular to the second segment of the lip portion beyond any surface features of the second segment of the lip portion. 2. The seal of claim 1, wherein the second radius is less than approximately 0.004 inch. 3. The seal of claim 1, wherein the first segment of the protrusion is substantially perpendicular to the second segment of the lip portion. 4. The seal of claim 1, wherein the protrusion further includes a second segment adjoining the arcuate segment of the protrusion on a second side thereof and wherein the second segment of the protrusion is also adjacent the second segment of the lip portion. 5. The seal of claim 4, wherein the second segment of the protrusion is oriented at an acute angle with respect to the second segment of the lip portion. 6. The seal of claim 1, wherein the first segment of the protrusion is displaced a predetermined distance from a projected transition between the second segment of the lip portion and the arcuate segment of the lip portion towards the first segment of the lip portion. 7. The seal of claim 6, wherein the predetermined distance is approximately 0.002 inch. 8. The seal of claim 1, wherein the distance the protrusion projects in the direction substantially perpendicular to the second segment of the lip portion is approximately 0.00075 to 0.0015 inch. 9. The seal of claim 1, wherein the first radius is approximately 0.004 inch and the second radius is approximately 0.00075 to 0.0015 inch. 10. A seal comprising: a substantially annular body portion; at least one substantially annular lip portion extending from the body portion, the at least one lip portion having an arcuate segment which exhibits a radius of approximately 0.004 inch, a first segment adjoining the arcuate segment of the at least one lip portion on a first side thereof and a second segment adjoining the arcuate segment of the at least one lip portion on a second side thereof; and a substantially annular protrusion formed on the at least one lip portion having an arcuate segment which exhibits a radius of approximately 0.00075 to 0.0015 inch, and a first segment adjoining the arcuate segment of the protrusion on a first side thereof wherein the first segment of the protrusion is also adjacent the arcuate segment of the at least one lip portion and wherein the first segment of the protrusion is substantially perpendicular to the second segment of the at least one lip portion, and wherein the first segment of the protrusion is displaced a distance of approximately 0.002 inch or less from a projected transition between the second segment of the at least one lip portion and the arcuate segment of the at least one lip portion towards the first segment of the at least one lip portion, and wherein the substantially annular protrusion projects in a direction substantially perpendicular to the second segment of the lip portion beyond any surface features of the second segment of the lip portion. 11. A seal comprising: a substantially annular body portion; a substantially annular lip portion extending from the body portion having a first segment and a second segment angularly disposed relative to the first segment; and a substantially annular protrusion formed on at least a portion of the second segment of the lip portion, the protrusion including a first segment joined with an arcuate segment wherein the first segment of the protrusion is substantially perpendicular with the second segment of the lip portion, and wherein the substantially annular protrusion projects in a direction substantially perpendicular to the second segment of the lip portion beyond any surface features of the second segment of the lip portion, wherein the first segment of the lip portion and the first segment of the protrusion are located on an intended fluid side of the seal, and wherein the first segment of the lip portion and the second segment of the lip portion are joined by an arcuate segment. 12. The seal of claim 11, wherein the protrusion adjoins both the arcuate segment of the lip portion and the second segment of the lip portion. 13. The seal of claim 12, wherein the first segment of the protrusion is displaced a distance of approximately 0.002 inch from a projected transition between the second segment of the lip portion and the arcuate segment of the lip portion towards the first segment of the lip portion. 14. The seal of claim 11, wherein the distance the protrusion projects in the direction substantially perpendicular to the second segment of the lip portion is approximately 0.00075 to 0.0015 inch. 15. The seal of claim 11, wherein the arcuate segment of the protrusion exhibits a radius of less than approximately 0.004 inch. 16. The seal of claim 11, wherein the protrusion further includes a second segment adjoining the arcuate segment of the protrusion and wherein the second segment of the protrusion is also adjacent the second segment of the lip portion. 17. The seal of claim 16, wherein the second segment of the protrusion is oriented at an acute angle with respect to the second segment of the lip portion. 18. An apparatus comprising: a first machine element; a second machine element, wherein the first machine element and the second machine element are relatively movable with respect to each other; and a seal disposed between and in contact with the first machine element and the second machine element, the seal comprising: a substantially annular body portion, at least one substantially annular lip portion extending from the body portion, the at least one lip portion having an arcuate segment which exhibits a first radius, a first segment adjoining the arcuate segment of the lip portion on a first side thereof and a second segment adjoining the arcuate segment of the lip portion on a second side thereof; and a substantially annular protrusion formed on the at least one lip portion having an arcuate segment which exhibits a second radius which is less than the first radius, the protrusion further including a first segment adjoining the arcuate segment of the protrusion on a first side thereof and wherein the first segment of the protrusion is also adjacent the arcuate segment of the lip portion, wherein the protrusion is in contact with a surface of the first machine element and wherein the first segment of the protrusion is substantially perpendicular with the surface of the first machine element, and wherein the substantially annular protrusion projects in a direction substantially perpendicular to the second segment of the lip portion beyond any surface features of the second segment of the lip portion. 19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first segment of the protrusion is substantially perpendicular to the second segment of the at least one lip portion. 20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the protrusion further includes a second segment adjoining the arcuate segment of the protrusion on a second side thereof and wherein the second segment of the protrusion is also adjacent the second segment of the at least one lip portion. 21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the second segment of the protrusion is oriented at an acute angle with respect to the second segment of the at least one lip portion. 22. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first segment of the protrusion is displaced a predetermined distance from a projected transition between the second segment of the at least one lip portion and the arcuate segment of the at least one lip portion towards the first segment of the at least one lip portion. 23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the predetermined distance is approximately 0.002 inch. 24. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the protrusion projects outwardly relative to the second segment of the at least one lip portion a distance of approximately 0.00075 to 0.0015 inch. 25. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first radius is approximately 0.004 inch and the second radius is approximately 0.00075 to 0.0015 inch. 26. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein contact between the relatively movable machine element and the seal consists essentially of contact with the protrusion. 27. An apparatus comprising: a first machine element; a second machine element, wherein the first machine element and the second machine element are relatively movable with respect to each other; and a seal disposed between and in contact with the first machine element and the second machine element, the seal comprising: a substantially annular body portion; a substantially annular lip portion extending from the body portion having a first segment and a second segment angularly disposed relative to the first segment; and a substantially annular protrusion formed on at least a portion of the second segment of the lip portion, the protrusion including a first segment joined with an arcuate segment wherein the first segment of the protrusion is substantially perpendicular with the second segment of the lip portion, and wherein the substantially annular protrusion projects in a direction substantially perpendicular to the second segment of the lip portion beyond any surface features of the second segment of the lip portion, wherein the first segment of the lip portion and the first segment of the protrusion are located on an intended fluid side of the seal, and wherein the first segment of the lip portion and the second segment of the lip portion are joined by an arcuate segment. 28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the protrusion is disposed on both the arcuate segment of the lip portion and the second segment of the lip portion. 29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the first segment of the protrusion is displaced a distance of approximately 0.002 inch from a projected transition between the second segment of the lip portion and the arcuate segment of the lip portion towards the first segment of the lip portion. 30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the protrusion projects outwardly relative to the second segment of the lip portion a distance of approximately 0.00075 to 0.0015 inch. 31. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the arcuate segment of the protrusion exhibits a radius of less than approximately 0.004 inch. 32. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the protrusion further includes a second segment adjoining the arcuate segment of the protrusion and wherein the second segment of the protrusion is also adjacent the second segment of the lip portion. 33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the second segment of the protrusion is oriented at an acute angle with respect to the second segment of the lip portion. 34. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein contact between the relatively movable machine element and the seal consists essentially of contact with the protrusion. 35. A method of forming a seal between a first machine element and a second machine element which is movable relative to the first machine element, the method comprising: providing a sealing member having a body portion, a lip portion extending from the body portion having a first segment, a second segment and an arcuate segment positioned between and adjoining the first and second segments of the lip portion, and a protrusion formed on the lip portion, wherein the protrusion has at least a first segment adjoined with an arcuate segment; disposing the sealing member between the first machine element and the second machine element including contacting a surface of the first machine element with the protrusion such that the at least a first segment of the protrusion is substantially perpendicular with the surface of the machine element; and moving the first machine element relative to the sealing member while maintaining contact therebetween so as to wear a substantial volume of the protrusion away, thereby leaving a ridge segment between the second segment of the lip portion and the arcuate segment of the lip portion which is substantially perpendicular to the surface of the first machine element.