US 11,852,240 B2
Followability enhancer for a rotational seal
Elmer S Zanoria, Dunlap, IL (US); Hong Lian, Peoria, IL (US); Keith Harmeyer, Lafayette, IN (US); and Daniel Joshua Smith, Pekin, IL (US)
Assigned to Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL (US)
Filed by Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL (US)
Filed on Feb. 24, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/652,342.
Prior Publication US 2023/0265925 A1, Aug. 24, 2023
Int. Cl. F16J 15/32 (2016.01); F16J 15/3244 (2016.01); F16J 15/3256 (2016.01); F16J 15/322 (2016.01); F16J 15/3224 (2016.01)
CPC F16J 15/3244 (2013.01) [F16J 15/322 (2013.01); F16J 15/3224 (2013.01); F16J 15/3256 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A rotational seal assembly associated with a rotating component, comprising:
an outer casing;
an inner casing;
a rotational seal connected to the outer casing and the inner casing; and
a followability enhancer including an elastically compliant feature that is a lip adjacent to a recess of the followability enhancer,
wherein:
the rotational seal includes:
a heel portion corresponding at least partially to a bend of the rotational seal, and
a toe portion extending from the heel portion to a distal end of the rotational seal,
the toe portion is in contact with the rotating component,
a part of the heel portion is in contact, during operation of the rotating component,
a first part of the lip is in contact with a first part of the toe portion before the operation of the rotating component,
a second part of the lip is in contact with a second part of the toe portion before the operation of the rotating component,
a part of the followability enhancer, that is between the second part of the lip and an outward bend of the followability enhancer, is not in contact with the heel during the operation of the rotating component,
the outward bend of the followability enhancer is between the recess of the followability enhancer and the bend of the rotational seal,
the first part of the lip extends beyond an end of the toe portion,
the first part of the lip does not contact the first part of the toe portion during the operation of the rotating component, and
the second part of the lip remains in contact with the second part of the toe portion during the operation of the rotating component.