초록 ▼

A bearing assembly includes an inner member having an outer engagement surface and an outer race. The outer race has an inner surface defining a first end and a second end and an inner engagement surface therebetween, the inner engagement surface is positioned on the outer engagement surface of the

A bearing assembly includes an inner member having an outer engagement surface and an outer race. The outer race has an inner surface defining a first end and a second end and an inner engagement surface therebetween, the inner engagement surface is positioned on the outer engagement surface of the inner member. A first annular groove is formed in the inner surface, proximate one of the first end and the second end. A second annular groove is formed in the inner surface and is positioned axially inward from the first annular groove. An external seal is positioned in first annular groove and slidably engages the inner member. An internal seal is positioned in the second annular groove and slidingly engages the inner member.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A bearing assembly, comprising: an inner member having an outer engagement surface;an outer race having: an inner surface defining a first end and a second end and an inner engagement surface therebetween, the inner engagement surface being positioned on the outer engagement surface of the inner

1. A bearing assembly, comprising: an inner member having an outer engagement surface;an outer race having: an inner surface defining a first end and a second end and an inner engagement surface therebetween, the inner engagement surface being positioned on the outer engagement surface of the inner member and contoured to a shape complementary to the outer engagement surface of the inner member such that the outer engagement surface of the inner member is slidably and rotatably engaged with the inner engagement surface of the outer race;a first annular groove formed in the inner surface, proximate one of the first end and the second end;a second annular groove formed in the inner surface and being positioned axially inward from the first annular groove, the second annular groove defining a mounting channel section;an external seal positioned in the first annular groove and slidably engaging the inner member; andan internal seal positioned in the second annular groove and slidingly engaging the inner member, the internal seal defining an inner lip, an outer lip and a base therebetween, the base directly engaging the mounting channel section;wherein the internal seal is stiffer than the external seal; andwherein the inner lip and the outer lip are flexibly compressed. 2. The bearing assembly of claim 1 wherein the internal seal comprises a thermoplastic double lip internal scraper seal. 3. The bearing assembly of claim 1 wherein: the internal seal comprises a first ring;the external seal comprises a second ring; andthe first ring is harder than the second ring. 4. The bearing assembly of claim 1 wherein the first annular groove and the second annular groove are concentric with one another. 5. The bearing assembly of claim 4 wherein the external seal is a boot seal, the boot seal defining an inner edge and an outer edge, the inner edge engages the outer race and the outer edge engages a third annular groove defined in the inner member. 6. The bearing assembly of claim 1 wherein the external seal comprises a single lip, metal-backed elastomeric external seal. 7. The bearing assembly of claim 1 further comprising a lubricious liner disposed on one or more of the outer engagement surface of the inner member and the inner engagement surface of the outer race. 8. The bearing assembly of claim 1 wherein the first annular groove defines a cross section having a substantially U-shaped geometry and the second annular groove defines a cross section having substantially V-shaped geometry. 9. The bearing assembly of claim 1 wherein the internal seal defines a cross section having a substantially V-shaped geometry defined by the inner lip, the outer lip and an apex therebetween, and each of the inner lip and outer lip respectively define a first end proximate to the apex and a respective second end that slidingly engages the inner member. 10. The bearing assembly of claim 1 further comprising a first void volume formed between the internal seal and the external seal, a second void volume formed between the internal seal and the engagement surface of the outer race and the inner member, and a third void volume formed between the inner lip and the outer lip wherein the first, second and third void volumes are filled with a sealant material. 11. A sealing arrangement for a bearing assembly having an inner member with an outer engagement surface, an outer race having an inner surface and an inner engagement surface slidably and rotatably engaged with the inner member outer engagement surface, the sealing arrangement comprising: an external seal configured to be positioned in a first annular groove defined in the outer race inner surface and slidably engaging the inner member; andan internal seal configured to be positioned in a second annular groove defined in the outer race inner surface and slidably engaging the inner member, the internal seal defining an inner lip, an outer lip and a base therebetween, the base directly engaging a mounting channel section defined in the second annular groove;wherein the internal seal is stiffer than the external seal; andwherein the inner lip and the outer lip are flexibly compressed. 12. The sealing arrangement of claim 11 wherein the external seal, and the external seal comprises one of a flexible ring or a boot seal. 13. The sealing arrangement of claim 11 wherein the internal seal comprises a thermoplastic double lip internal scraper seal and the external seal comprises single lip, metal-backed elastomeric external seal. 14. The sealing arrangement of claim 11 further comprising a lubricious liner disposed on one or more of the outer engagement surface of the inner member and the inner engagement surface of the outer race. 15. The sealing arrangement of claim 11 further comprising a first void volume formed between the internal seal and the external seal, a second void volume formed between the internal seal and the engagement surfaces of the outer race and the inner member, and a third void volume formed between the inner lip and the outer lip wherein the first, second and third void volumes are filled with a sealant material. 16. A method of sealing a bearing assembly, comprising the steps of: providing a spherical plain bearing having an outer race and an inner member disposed in the outer race, the inner member and the outer race being rotatable relative to each other, the outer race having an inner surface and having a first annular groove formed therein proximate to each of two opposing ends of the outer race and the inner surface having a second annular groove positioned axially inward from each of the respective first annular grooves;providing an internal seal and positioning the internal seal in at least one of the second annular grooves, the internal seal defining an inner lip, an outer lip and a base therebetween, the base directly engaging a mounting channel section defined in the second annular groove; andproviding an external seal and positioning the external seal in at least one of the first annular grooves;wherein the internal seal is stiffer than the external seal; andwherein the inner lip and the outer lip are flexibly compressed. 17. The method of claim 16 wherein providing the external seal comprises providing one of a single lip, metal-backed elastomeric external seal or a boot seal. 18. The method of claim 16 wherein providing the internal seal comprises providing a thermoplastic double lip internal scraper seal, and wherein providing the external seal comprises providing a single lip, metal-backed elastomeric external seal. 19. The method of claim 16 further comprising providing a lubricious liner disposed on one or more of an outer surface of the inner member and an inner surface of the outer race. 20. The method of claim 16 further comprising filling a first void volume formed between the internal seal and the external seal with a sealant material, filling a second void volume formed between the internal seal and an engagement surface of the outer race and the inner member with the sealant material; and filling a third void volume formed between the inner lip and the outer lip with a sealant material.