초록 ▼

A bearing assembly includes an inner race and an outer race, with the outer race positioned such that the inner race is an opposed and spaced apart relation from the outer race. Roller elements are disposed between the inner race and the outer race. A resilient seal element extends adjacent to a fla

A bearing assembly includes an inner race and an outer race, with the outer race positioned such that the inner race is an opposed and spaced apart relation from the outer race. Roller elements are disposed between the inner race and the outer race. A resilient seal element extends adjacent to a flange element, maintaining an effective seal during axial and/or radial movement, such as that caused by thermal expansion, of the resilient seal element relative to the flange element. The resilient seal element excludes contaminants from entering the bearing assembly and retains grease or lubricant within the bearing assembly.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A bearing assembly comprising: an inner race coupled to an inner member; an outer race coupled to an outer member and positioned such that the inner race is in an opposed and spaced apart relation from the outer race; a plurality of roller elements disposed between the inner

What is claimed is: 1. A bearing assembly comprising: an inner race coupled to an inner member; an outer race coupled to an outer member and positioned such that the inner race is in an opposed and spaced apart relation from the outer race; a plurality of roller elements disposed between the inner race and the outer race; a flange element coupled to one of the inner race and the outer race, said flange element extending generally radially toward the other one of the inner race and the outer race; and a flexible resilient seal element coupled to the other one of the inner race and the outer race, said flexible resilient seal element extending adjacent to the flange element; wherein the inner member and the outer member are permitted to rotate relative to each other. 2. The bearing assembly of claim 1, wherein the resilient seal element is coupled to the other one of the inner race and the outer race by press-fitting into a receiving channel. 3. The bearing assembly of claim 1, wherein the resilient seal element is coupled to the other one of the inner race and the outer race by ultrasonic welding. 4. The bearing assembly of claim 1, wherein the resilient seal element is coupled to the other one of the inner race and the outer race by adhesive bonding. 5. The bearing assembly of claim 1, wherein the resilient seal element has at least one molded lip seal that contacts the flange element. 6. The bearing assembly of claim 1, wherein coupling the resilient seal element to the other one of the inner race and the outer race creates a biasing force which operates to direct said resilient seal element against the flange element during operation. 7. The bearing assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a seal carrier extending generally radially toward one of the inner race and the outer race, said seal carrier coupled to the other one of the inner race and the outer race. 8. The bearing assembly of claim 7, wherein the seal carrier is coupled to the other one of the inner race and the outer race by snap-fitting via an inwardly angled lip. 9. The bearing assembly of claim 7, wherein the resilient seal element is coupled to the seal carrier and as such, is coupled to the other one of the inner race and the outer race. 10. The bearing assembly of claim 7, further comprising: a flexible sealing member coupled to one of the seal carrier and the flange element, said flexible sealing member having at least one sealing leg contacting the ether one of the seal carrier and the flange element. 11. The bearing assembly of claim 7, further comprising: a felt insert disposed between the seal carrier and the flange element. 12. The bearing assembly of claim 1, wherein the resilient seal element remains adjacent to the flange element during at least one of axial movement and radial movement of the flange element relative to the resilient seal element. 13. A bearing assembly comprising: an inner race coupled to an inner member; an outer race coupled to an outer member and positioned such that the inner race is in an opposed and spaced apart relation from the outer race; a plurality of roller elements disposed between the inner race and the outer race; a flange element coupled to the inner race, said flange element extending generally radially toward the outer race; and a flexible resilient seal element coupled to the outer race, said flexible resilient seal element extending adjacent the flange element; wherein the inner member and the outer member are permitted to rotate relative to each other and the resilient seal element remains adjacent to the flange element during at least one of axial movement and radial movement of the flange element relative to the resilient seal element. 14. The bearing assembly of claim 13, further comprising: a seal carrier coupled to the outer race, said seal carrier extending generally radially toward the inner race. 15. The bearing assembly of claim 14, wherein the seal carrier is coupled to the outer race by snap-fitting to the outer race via an inwardly angled lip. 16. The bearing assembly of claim 14, wherein the resilient seal element is coupled to the outer race via the seal carrier. 17. The bearing assembly of claim 14, further comprising: a flexible sealing member coupled to one of the seal carrier and the flange element, said flexible sealing member having at least one sealing leg contacting the other one of the seal carrier and the flange element. 18. A bearing assembly comprising: an inner race coupled to an inner member; an outer race coupled to an outer member and positioned such that the inner race is in an opposed and spaced apart relation from the outer race; a plurality of roller elements disposed between the inner race and the outer race; a flange element coupled to the inner race, said flange element extending generally radially toward the outer race; a seal carrier coupled to the outer race, said seal carrier extending generally radially toward the inner race; and a flexible resilient seal element coupled to the seal carrier, said flexible resilient seal element extending adjacent to the flange element; wherein the inner member and the outer member are permitted to rotate relative to each other and the resilient seal element remains adjacent to the flange element during thermal expansion of the bearing assembly. 19. The bearing assembly of claim 18, further comprising: a flexible sealing member coupled to one of the seal carrier and the flange element, said flexible sealing member having at least one sealing leg contacting the other one of the seal carrier and the flange element. 20. The bearing assembly of claim 18, wherein the seal carrier is coupled to the outer race by snap-fitting to the outer race via an inwardly angled lip. 21. The bearing assembly of claim 18, wherein the resilient seal element is coupled to the seal carrier by ultrasonic welding. 22. The bearing assembly of claim 18, wherein the resilient seal element is coupled to the seal carrier by adhesive bonding. 23. The bearing assembly of claim 18, wherein the resilient seal element remains adjacent to the flange element during at least one of axial movement and radial movement of the flange elements relative to the resilient seal elements. 24. A bearing assembly comprising: an inner race coupled to an inner member; an outer race coupled to an outer member and positioned such that the inner race is in an opposed and spaced apart relation from the outer race; a plurality of roller elements disposed between the inner race and the outer race; and a seal assembly comprising: a first rigid element including a snap-fit member coupling said first rigid element with a cooperating snap-fit member on one of the inner race and the outer race, said first rigid element extending generally radially toward the other one of the inner race and the outer race; and a flexible resilient seal element cooperating with the first rigid member in providing a seal to protect an interior of the bearing assembly from an exterior environment. 25. The bearing assembly of claim 24, wherein the resilient seal element cooperates with the first rigid member in providing a seal by being coupled to and extending from the first rigid member, and the first rigid member is a seal carrier. 26. The bearing assembly of claim 24, wherein the resilient seal element cooperates with the first rigid member in providing a seal by extending adjacent the first rigid member and said first rigid member is a flange element. 27. The bearing assembly of claim 24, further comprising: a second rigid element coupled to the other one of the inner race and the outer race, said second rigid element extending generally radially toward the one of the inner race and the outer race, and the resilient seal element extends adjacent the second rigid element. 28. The bearing assembly of claim 27, wherein the second rigid element is a flange member, and wherein the resilient seal element cooperates with the first rigid member in providing a seal by being coupled to and extending from the first rigid member, and the first rigid member is a seal carrier. 29. The bearing assembly of claim 28, wherein the resilient element is coupled to the seal carrier by ultrasonic welding. 30. The bearing assembly of claim 28, wherein the resilient element is coupled to the seal carrier by adhesive bonding. 31. A bearing assembly comprising: an inner race coupled to an inner member; an outer race coupled to an outer member and positioned such that the inner race is in an opposed and spaced apart relation from the outer race; a plurality of roller elements disposed between the inner race and the outer race; a flange element coupled to one of the inner race and the outer race, said flange element extending generally radially toward the other one of the inner race and the outer race; a seal carrier extending generally radially toward one of the inner race and the outer race, said seal carrier coupled to the other one of the inner race and the outer race; a flexible resilient seal element coupled to the other one of the inner race and the outer race, said flexible resilient seal element extending adjacent to the flange element; and a flexible sealing member coupled to one of the seal carrier and the flange element, said flexible sealing member having at least one sealing leg contacting the other one of the seal carrier and the flange element; wherein the inner member and the outer member are permitted to rotate relative to each other.