Pressure sealing bearing assembly for use in environmental control suits and environmental suits containing such bearing assemblies

摘要

A bearing assembly for sealing the relatively rotatable adjoining portions of a pressurized environmental control suit for human use utilizes a pair of rotatable bearing members with an annular sealing member having a body portion and a lip portion extending from the body portion at an angle thereto. The lip portion includes an outer end portion of relatively thin cross section and a thicker portion disposed adjacent the body portion. The relatively thin outer end portion deflects in contact with the opposed surface and extends therealong to provide a seal therewith with relatively little friction. Upon conditions for extreme pressure differential, the thicker portion of the lip will be deflected to increase the amount of lip length bearing upon the surface of the opposed member to increase the sealing action.