US-12618450-B2 - Dirt ingress seal

US12618450B2US 12618450 B2US12618450 B2US 12618450B2US-12618450-B2

Abstract

The present disclosure is related to a dirt ingress seal ( 100 ) for shock absorbers and front forks. The dirt ingress seal comprising a first lip ( 102 a ) that isolates the internal space of the seal ( 100 ) from the atmosphere and external environment; first ribs ( 105 a ) formed on the inner side of the circumferential surface of the dirt ingress seal ( 100 ), the first ribs ( 105 a ) formed near the first lip ( 102 a ); a second lip ( 102 b ) provided on the inner circumferential portion near the central region of the dirt ingress seal ( 100 ); second ribs ( 105 b ) defining cavities; and cavities defined by the first ribs ( 105 a ). The cavities are configured to arrest and trap mud, dust, dirt, and particulate matter entering the sealed zone and preventing further ingress of abrasive particles into the seal zone. The seal ( 100 ) increases the sealing effectiveness and useful life of seals, shock absorber, and front forks.

Inventors

Perambur Krishnan VENKATESWARAN
Sowmik SUR

Assignees

CARL FREUDENBERG KG

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20211026
Priority Date: 20201026

Claims (12)

1 . A dirt ingress seal ( 100 ) for a shock absorber and forks, said dirt ingress seal ( 100 ) comprising: a. a first lip ( 102 a ) configured to isolate an internal space of the dirt ingress seal ( 100 ) from atmosphere and external environment; b. a first set of ribs ( 105 a ) formed on an inner side of a circumferential surface of said dirt ingress seal ( 100 ), said first set of ribs ( 105 a ) formed below said first lip ( 102 a ); c. a second lip ( 102 b ) configured on an inner circumferential portion near a central region of said dirt ingress seal ( 100 ), wherein said dirt ingress seal ( 100 ) comprises a first end and a second end spaced apart from one another and the central region is between the first end and the second end; d. a second set of ribs ( 105 b ) formed on the inner side of the circumferential surface of said dirt ingress seal ( 100 ), said second set of ribs ( 105 b ) formed below said second lip ( 102 b ); e. a first set of cavities ( 106 a ) defined by said first set of ribs ( 105 a ); f. a second set of cavities ( 106 b ) defined by said second set of ribs ( 105 a ), said cavities ( 106 a , 106 b ) being configured to arrest and trap mud, dust, dirt, and particulate matter entering said dirt ingress seal ( 100 ) to prevent further ingress of abrasive particles into a seal zone; and g. a moat structure ( 108 ) formed between said first set of ribs ( 105 a ) and said second lip ( 102 b ), said moat structure defining a U-shaped pocket between said second lip and said first set of ribs for retaining particulate matter therewithin.
2 . The dirt ingress seal ( 100 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a shape of said first set of cavities ( 106 a ) and said second set of cavities ( 106 b ) is one of square, rectangle, diamond, and polygon.
3 . The dirt ingress seal ( 100 ) as claimed in claim 2 , wherein a spring ( 120 ) is placed in said circumferential groove ( 122 ) to improve sealing performance of said dirt ingress seal ( 100 ).
4 . The dirt ingress seal ( 100 ) as claimed in claim 3 , wherein said spring ( 120 ) is one of an oil seal spring, a ring spring, a mechanical connecting spring and a circular resilient element, and wherein said spring ( 120 ) is configured to apply radially inward force on said circumferential groove ( 122 ) and thereby to said first lip ( 102 a ).
5 . The dirt ingress seal ( 100 ) as claimed in claim 3 , wherein a material of said spring ( 120 ) is one of steel, stainless steel, and a composite material.
6 . The dirt ingress seal ( 100 ) as claimed in claim 3 , wherein said spring ( 120 ) is configured to absorb shocks.
7 . The dirt ingress seal ( 100 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a circumferential groove ( 122 ) is provided on an outer surface of said dirt ingress seal ( 100 ).
8 . The dirt ingress seal ( 100 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a material of said dirt ingress seal ( 100 ) is one of rubber, vulcanized rubber, synthetic rubber, and polymers.
9 . The dirt ingress seal ( 100 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a reinforcement element ( 110 ) is embedded inside said dirt ingress seal ( 100 ) to impart strength.
10 . The dirt ingress seal ( 100 ) as claimed in claim 9 , wherein a material of said reinforcement element ( 110 ) is one of steel, stainless steel, and composite material.
11 . The dirt ingress seal ( 100 ) as claimed in claim 9 , wherein at least a portion of the reinforcement element ( 110 ) extends downwardly beyond a bottom end of the second lip.
12 . The dirt ingress seal ( 100 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said second set of ribs ( 105 b ) defines at least one zig-zag shaped channel there between.

Description

FIELD The present disclosure relates to the field of dirt seals used in shock absorbers and forks. BACKGROUND The background information herein below relates to the present disclosure but is not necessarily prior art. Presently, the seals available in the market have a basic design, which provides a primary protection from dust. This basic design has been in use for many years. The design of conventional dirt seals does the basic sealing of shock absorbers and front forks from dust and mud entry. However, the drawback of the conventional seals in the market is that they are configured to provide basic dust sealing function in environments with low to medium level of dust. The conventional seals fail to control the further travel of dust, once the dust enters the sealing area. Once the dust enters the system, they create damage to the lip surface and the lid edges which in turn results in leakage of oil from the shock absorbers and front forks. Further, several countries such as India have severe environmental conditions like dusty roads, muddy roads which impact the function of the sealing system of the shock absorbers and front forks, specifically in the motorcycle and scooter segments. This issue is mostly faced in off-road vehicles such as the one used in recreation segment. Dust entry impacts the function of the seal. Most shock absorbers and front forks manufacturers and motorcycle manufacturers come across this issue and seek for improvement in the designs of seals. Therefore, there is felt a need to provide a dirt ingress seal that alleviates the above mentioned drawbacks. OBJECTS Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfies, are as follows: An object of the present disclosure is to provide an efficient dirt ingress seal for shock absorbers and forks. Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a dirt ingress seal for shock absorbers and forks that works in an environment with a significantly high dust and/or mud content. Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide a dirt ingress seal that controls and prevents the further travel of dust into the sealing area of the shock absorbers and front forks. Still another object of the present disclosure is to provide a dirt ingress seal that increases the useful life of shock absorbers and front forks. Other objects and advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following description, which is not intended to limit the scope of the present. SUMMARY The present disclosure envisages a dirt ingress seal. The dirt ingress seal is used in shock absorbers and forks. The dirt ingress seal comprises a first lip configured to isolate the internal space of the dirt ingress seal from atmosphere and external environment, a first set of ribs formed on the inner side of the circumferential surface of the dirt ingress seal wherein the first set of ribs are formed below the first lip, a second lip configured on the inner circumferential portion near the central region of the dirt ingress seal, a second set of ribs formed on the inner side of the circumferential surface of the dirt ingress seal wherein the second set of ribs formed below the second lip, a first set of cavities defined by the first set of ribs, and a second set of cavities defined by the second set of ribs. The cavities are configured to arrest and trap mud, dust, dirt, and particulate matter entering the dirt ingress seal to prevent further ingress of abrasive particles into the seal zone. The dirt ingress seal further comprises a moat structure formed between the first set of ribs and the second lip. The moat structure defines a U-shaped pocket between the second lip and the first set of ribs configured for retaining particulate matter therewithin. In an embodiment, the shape of the cavities is selected from the group consisting of square, rectangle, diamond, and polygon. In another embodiment, a circumferential groove is provided on the outer surface of the dirt ingress seal. In another embodiment, a spring is placed in the circumferential groove to improve sealing performance of the dirt ingress seal. In another embodiment, the spring is selected from the group consisting of an oil seal spring, a ring spring, a mechanical connecting spring and a circular resilient element. The spring is configured to apply radially inward force on the groove and thereby the first lip. In another embodiment, the material of the spring is selected from the group consisting of steel, stainless steel, and composite material. In another embodiment, the spring is configured to absorb shocks. In another embodiment, the material of the dirt ingress seal is selected from the group consisting of rubber, vulcanized rubber, synthetic rubber, and polymers. In another embodiment, a reinforcement element is embedded inside the dirt ingress seal to impart strength. In another embodiment, the material of the reinforcement element is selected