US 12,281,704 B2
Seal member for joint assembly of a machine and systems, methods, and assemblies thereof
Pradeep Chapagain, Dunlap, IL (US); and Joel K. Cadbury-Allen, Newcastle upon Tyne (GB)
Assigned to Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL (US)
Filed by Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL (US)
Filed on Jan. 13, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/096,584.
Prior Publication US 2024/0240716 A1, Jul. 18, 2024
Int. Cl. F16J 15/32 (2016.01); F16J 15/3268 (2016.01); F16J 15/3284 (2016.01)
CPC F16J 15/3268 (2013.01) [F16J 15/3284 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A joint assembly for a machine, the joint assembly comprising:
a shaft defining a rotational axis;
a bearing coupled to the shaft such that the bearing is pivotable about the rotational axis with the shaft;
a pivot mounted to the bearing such that the pivot is pivotable about the rotational axis with respect to the shaft;
a boss; and
a seal having a first end portion sealingly coupled to the boss and a second end portion opposite the first end portion sealingly coupled to the pivot,
wherein the seal includes:
a semi-rigid rubber body defining a first opening at the first end portion of the seal and a second opening at the second end portion of the seal,
a first ring mold-fitted to the semi-rigid rubber body at the first end portion of the seal, the first ring being made of steel or nylon, and
a second ring mold-fitted to the semi-rigid rubber body at the second end portion of the seal, the second ring being made of steel,
wherein a first diameter of the first ring is less than a second diameter of the second ring,
wherein the semi-rigid rubber body has a circumferential flange extending radially outward, away from the shaft, at an end thereof associated with the second end portion of the seal,
wherein the second ring has a bottom end surface and a radially inward facing side surface perpendicular to each other,
wherein each of the bottom end surface and the radially inward facing side surface is exposed from the semi-rigid rubber body such that the semi-rigid rubber body does not cover any portion of the bottom end surface and any portion of the radially inward facing side surface,
wherein the radially inward facing side surface of the second ring faces a longitudinal axis of the shaft, and
wherein the bottom end surface of the second ring forms a bottom most portion of the seal.