Oil seals and method of making thereof

摘要

Lip-type oil seals (10) having helical pumping ribs (40) are manufactured by preparing a molded foreproduct of the seal and by trimming a hat portion (62) to form a sharp sealing edge (32). Each of the pumping ribs (40) is configured to include a first section (50) of a uniform cross-section and a bilge-shaped second section (52). Trimming is made along a trim line (68) that intersects in between the length of the first sections (50) to ensure that a length of the first sections (52) is preserved between the sealing edge (32) and the second sections (52) regardless of the tolerance of positioning of a trimming knife. Oil seals having an improved initial static and dynamic sealing performance is obtained. The second sections (52) achieves a satisfactory pumping action even after a substantial wear has taken place.