US-20260125144-A1 - Shaft Seal

Abstract

A shaft seal includes a shaft engaging portion configured to couple to a shaft extending through a wall. The shaft seal includes a flange configured to sealingly engage the wall. The shaft seal includes a body extending between the shaft engaging portion and the flange. The seal is configured to allow radial and axial movement of the shaft relative to the wall while maintaining a seal between the flange and the wall.

Inventors

• Johnny R. SHEALY

Assignees

• TIDES MARINE, INC.

Dates

Publication Date

20260507

Application Date

20251229

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A shaft seal comprising: a shaft engaging portion configured to couple to a shaft extending through a wall; a flange configured to sealingly engage the wall; and a body extending between the shaft engaging portion and the flange, wherein the shaft seal is configured to allow radial and axial movement of the shaft relative to the wall while maintaining a seal between the flange and the wall.
2. 2 . The shaft seal of claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a bellows.
3. 3 . The shaft seal of claim 2 , wherein the bellows comprises at least two folds.
4. 4 . The shaft seal of claim 1 , wherein the shaft engaging portion is configured to be rotationally fixed to the shaft such that the body rotates as the shaft rotates.
5. 5 . The shaft seal of claim 4 , wherein the flange is configured to rotate relative to the wall as the shaft rotates.
6. 6 . The shaft seal of claim 1 further comprising: a housing including the wall, wherein the flange is configured to sealingly engage the wall.
7. 7 . The shaft seal of claim 6 , wherein the housing is configured to be coupled to a boat hull.
8. 8 . The shaft seal of claim 1 , wherein the seal is configured to allow simultaneous radial movement and axial movement of the shaft relative to the wall while maintaining the seal between the flange and the wall.
9. 9 . The shaft seal of claim 1 , wherein the body is configured to flex as the shaft moves axially.
10. 10 . The shaft seal of claim 1 , wherein the shaft engaging portion is configured to couple to the shaft such that fluid is prevented from flowing between the shaft engaging portion and the shaft.
11. 11 . The shaft seal of claim 1 , wherein the body is positioned between the shaft engaging portion and the flange.
12. 12 . The shaft seal of claim 1 , wherein the shaft engaging portion is configured to couple to the shaft and the shaft is coupled to a propeller.
13. 13 . The shaft seal of claim 1 , wherein the shaft engaging portion, the flange, and the body are a unitary construct.
14. 14 . The shaft seal of claim 1 , wherein the seal between the flange and the wall is configured to prevent fluid flow between the flange and the wall.
15. 15 . The shaft seal of claim 1 , wherein the flange extends radially further than the shaft engaging portion and the body.
16. 16 . The shaft seal of claim 1 , wherein the shaft engaging portion includes a cylindrical inner surface configured to engage the shaft.
17. 17 . The shaft seal of claim 1 , wherein the flange is a first flange configured to sealingly engage a first wall and the body is a first body extending between the first flange and the shaft engaging portion, the shaft seal further comprising: a second flange configured to sealingly engage a second wall opposed to the first wall; and a second body extending between the second flange and the shaft engaging portion.
18. 18 . A shaft seal comprising: a shaft engaging portion including a cylindrical inner wall defining an opening having a central axis; a flange extending radially away from the central axis further than the shaft engaging portion; and a body extending between the shaft engaging portion and the flange, the body comprising a flexible bellows having at least two folds.
19. 19 . A method of coupling a shaft seal to a shaft comprising: engaging a shaft coupled to a propeller; and coupling a first shaft seal to the shaft, the first shaft seal comprising a shaft engaging portion rotatingly fixed to the shaft extending through a wall, a flange configured to sealingly engage the wall, and a body configured to allow radial movement and axial movement of the shaft relative to the wall while maintaining a seal between the flange and the wall, wherein coupling the first shaft seal to the shaft includes sealingly engaging the flange on the wall.
20. 20 . The method of claim 19 further comprising: coupling a second shaft seal to the shaft while the first shaft seal is coupled to the shaft.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/633,094 filed Feb. 4, 2022, which is a 371 U.S. National Phase of International Application No. PCT/US2020/043803 filed on Jul. 28, 2020, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/882,902 filed Aug. 5, 2019 entitled “Shaft Seal”, each of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention generally relates to a seal and, more particularly, to a shaft seal configured to maintain a seal between the shaft and a housing during rotary and axial movement of the shaft relative to the housing. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In one embodiment there is a shaft seal that comprises a shaft engaging portion configured to couple to a shaft extending through a wall, a flange configured to sealingly engage the wall, and a body extending between the shaft engaging portion and the flange, the seal is configured to allow radial and axial movement of the shaft relative to the wall while maintaining a seal between the flange and the wall. In some embodiments, the seal is configured to allow simultaneous radial movement and axial movement of the shaft relative to the wall while maintaining the seal between the flange and the wall. In some embodiments, the body is configured to flex as the shaft moves axially. In some embodiments, the body comprises a bellows. In some embodiments, the bellows comprises at least two folds. In some embodiments, the shaft engaging portion is configured to couple to the shaft such that fluid is prevented from flowing between the shaft engaging portion and the shaft. In some embodiments, the body is positioned between the shaft engaging portion and the flange. In some embodiments, the shaft engaging portion is configured to be rotationally fixed to the shaft such that the body rotates as the shaft rotates. In some embodiments, the flange is configured to rotate relative to the wall as the shaft rotates. In some embodiments, the shaft seal further comprises a housing including the wall, wherein the flange is configured to sealingly engage the wall. In some embodiments, the housing is configured to be coupled to a boat hull. In some embodiments, the shaft engaging portion is configured to couple to the shaft and the shaft is coupled to a propeller. In some embodiments, the shaft engaging portion, the flange, and the body are a unitary construct. In some embodiments, the seal between the flange and the wall is configured to prevent fluid flow between the flange and the wall. In some embodiments, the flange extends radially further than the shaft engaging portion and the body. In some embodiments, the shaft engaging portion includes a cylindrical inner surface configured to engage the shaft. In some embodiments, the flange is a first flange configured to sealingly engage a first wall and the body is a first body extending between the first flange and the shaft engaging portion, the shaft seal further comprises a second flange configured to sealingly engage a second wall opposed to the first wall, and a second body extending between the second flange and the shaft engaging portion. In another embodiment there is a shaft seal that comprises a shaft engaging portion including a cylindrical inner wall defining an opening having a central axis, a flange extending radially away from the central axis further than the shaft engaging portion, and a body extending between the shaft engaging portion and the flange, the body comprising a flexible bellows having at least two folds. In another embodiment there is a method of coupling a shaft seal to a shaft that comprises engaging a shaft coupled to a propeller and coupling a first shaft seal to the shaft, the first shaft seal comprising a shaft engaging portion rotatingly fixed to the shaft extending through a wall, a flange configured to sealingly engage the wall, and a body configured to allow radial movement and axial movement of the shaft relative to the wall while maintaining a seal between the flange and the wall, wherein coupling the first shaft seal to the shaft includes sealingly engaging the flange on the wall. In some embodiments, the method further comprises removing an existing seal from the shaft prior to the coupling the first shaft seal to the shaft. In some embodiments the shaft is coupled to a boat and coupling the first shaft seal to the shaft includes coupling the first shaft seal to the shaft while the boat is in water. In some embodiments the method further comprises coupling a second shaft seal to the shaft while the first shaft seal is coupled to the shaft. In some embodiments, the method further comprises removing the first shaft seal from the shaft, and moving the second shaft seal relative to the shaft such that a flange of the second shaft seal sealingly engages the wall. In some embodiments, the first shaft seal sealingly eng