Seal assembly

摘要

A seal assembly seals a first portion of a machine part relative to a second portion of the machine part. The seal assembly includes at least one seal element that contacts the machine part or contacts a component connected with the machine part or that extends with a gap relative to the machine part or to the component connected with the machine part. At least one of the seal element, the machine part and the component connected with the machine part is provided or coated with a material, which has super hydrophobic properties, in the area of the seal element.

主权项

1. A seal assembly comprising:
a rotatable shaft, and a radial shaft seal comprising at least one seal lip, the at least one seal lip comprises a body and a coating of a material thereon, the radial shaft seal being configured to directly contact the rotatable shaft so as to create a first contact seal between a first portion of the rotatable shaft and a second portion of the rotatable shaft, the first contact seal being formed by the at least one seal lip directly abutting an outer surface of the rotatable shaft; the material having super hydrophobic properties, the material is also disposed directly on a portion of the outer surface of the rotatable shaft, the material of the coating of the at least one seal lip being disposed such that the material is positioned between the body of the at least one seal lip and the rotating shaft at the first contact seal, wherein portions of the seal lip and the rotatable shaft are configured in an oblique orientation with an apex formed therebetween and located at the first contact seal, the material being located on the portions of the seal lip and the rotatable shaft configured in the oblique such that fluid is encouraged to form into a droplet prior to reaching the apex to retard fluid from reaching the first contact seal, and wherein the material having super hydrophobic properties is disposed partially on either side of the first contact seal on the rotating shaft, providing a gap in the material disposed on the rotating shaft located at the first contact seal.