BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to bearing seals and, more particularly, to a seal adapted for use with a spherical plain bearing. Spherical plain bearings, sometimes referred to as ball and socket joints, are used in gimbal mechanisms, track drives for bulldozers, supports for backhoe shovels, and other articulating mechanisms. In such applications, effective seals may extend the life ofthe ball (or spherical member) and socket (outer ring or bearing housing) by retaining lubricant within the bearings, excluding debris from the bearings, and reducing rust on the spherical member and outer ring.

Various sealing rings have been proposed for spherical plain bearings such as, for example, a simple elastomeric wiper ring mounted on the outer ring at the juncture with the spherical member. However, such sealing rings provide little space for lubricant retention, are not biased in a direction normal to the spherical member's surface, allow little misalignment ofthe spherical member, and may require a separate protective metal cap over the sealing ring.

The foregoing illustrates limitations known to exist in present seals for spherical plain bearings. Thus, it is apparent that it would be advantageous to provide an alternative directed to overcoming one or more ofthe limitations set forth above. Accordingly, a suitable alternative is provided including features more fully disclosed hereinafter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In one aspect ofthe present invention, this is accomplished by providing a seal for a spherical plain bearing having a spherical member and an outer ring or bearing housing. The seal comprises an annular metallic support member having a cylindrical surface and a conical surface. An annular elastomeric seal lip is mounted on the conical surface ofthe metallic support member, and an

elastomeric seal body is mounted on the conical surface ofthe metallic support member, axially inward ofthe elastomeric seal lip. The cylindrical surface is mountable within a bore ofthe outer ring or bearing housing such that the elastomeric seal lip and elastomeric seal body contact the spherical member. In another aspect ofthe present invention, this is accomplished by providing a seal for a spherical plain bearing having a spherical member and an outer ring or bearing housing. The seal comprises an annular elastomeric seal lip, an elastomeric seal body located axially inward ofthe elastomeric seal lip, lubricating means for providing regulated flow of lubricant through the elasto- meric seal body, and mounting means for mounting the elastomeric seal lip and the elastomeric seal body on the outer ring or bearing housing such that the elastomeric seal lip and the elastomeric seal body are in contact with the spherical member.

The foregoing and other aspects will become apparent from the following detailed description ofthe invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures.

BRTEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DR AWING FIGURES Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a portion of a spherical plain bearing and an embodiment ofthe seal for a spherical plain bearing ofthe present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view ofthe seal for a spherical plain bearing of Fig. 1, prior to installation in the spherical plain bearing;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a second embodiment ofthe seal for a spherical plain bearing ofthe present invention prior to installation in the spherical plain bearing; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a third embodiment ofthe seal for a spherical plain bearing ofthe present invention prior to installation in the spherical plain bearing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the drawings, Figure 1 shows seal 10 ofthe present invention as mounted in spherical plain bearing 12. Spherical plain bearing 12 comprises spherical member 14 and outer ring or bearing housing 16. It should be noted that the spherically concave socket for spherical member 14 may be provided in an outer ring that is held within a bearing housing or in the bearing housing itself, without an outer ring, as is common in some forms of ball and socket joints. As illustrated, spherical plain bearing 12 may include central bore 15, centered with respect to spherical member 14, to facilitate mounting of spherical member 14 on a shaft.

As best shown in Figure 2, seal 10 comprises annular metallic support member 18, having cylindrical surface 20 and conical surface 22, and elastomeric seal members, described below. Cylindrical surface 20 is mounted within bore 24 of outer ring or bearing housing 16 such that conical surface 22 overlies and is substantially tangent to spherical surface 26 of spherical member 14. Seal 10 has been installed axially, with respect to axis 27 of bore 24, to bottom surface 28 of bore 24.

Annular elastomeric seal lip 30 is mounted on conical surface 22 ofthe metallic support member such that elastomeric seal lip 30 contacts spherical surface 26 of spherical member 14 when metallic support member 18 is mounted within bore 24. Elastomeric seal body 32 is also mounted on conical surface 22 of metallic support member 18 in contact with spherical surface 26. Elastomeric seal body 32 is separated from and, with respect to axis 27 of bore 24, axially inward of elastomeric seal lip 30.

In this embodiment, seal 10 is retained within bore 24 by engagement of annular groove 34 within bore 24 by elastomeric annular ridge 36, mounted on cylindrical surface 20 of annular metallic support member 18. Elastomeric seal lip 30, elastomeric seal body 32 and elastomeric annular ridge 36 are formed over annular metallic support member 18 in a single molding operation such that the elastomeric coating connects those elements and forms edge portion 37, improving bonding. Elastomeric mounting portion 38 covers cylindrical surface 20, enhancing sealing between seal 10 and outer ring or bearing housing 16. Alternatively, elastomeric mounting portion 38 may be omitted and surface 20 may form a press fit with bore 24, or other retention means may be provided.

Annular metallic support member 18, in cross section, forms portions of a right triangle: hypotenuse portion 40 overlying spherical member 14 and including conical surface 22, first side portion 42 extending axially with respect to bore 24 and including cylindrical surface 20, and second side portion 44 extending radially with respect to bore 24 and perpendicular to first side portion

42. This configuration can be manufactured efficiently from sheet steel or other metal of uniform thickness by pressing operations.

During installation, hypotenuse portion 40 and second side portion 44 are resiliently deformed by spherical member 14 such that elastomeric seal lip 30 and elastomeric seal body 32 are compressed and biased, both radially and axially, against spherical surface 26 to effect sealing. Ideally, this biasing force is directed normal to spherical surface 26. Annular metallic support member 18 may be formed of a mild carbon steel, or of a similar material suitable for springs, and may be heat treated to enhance its resiliency. Elastomeric seal body 32 extends more than half the length of hypotenuse portion 40 and thus provides a wide surface area in contact with spherical surface 26. As a result, seal 10 permits a large amount of misalignment of a shaft mounted in central bore 15. Grooves 46 within elastomeric seal body

32 extend along spherical surface 26 to lubricate the interface between spherical surface 26 and elastomeric seal body 32 and to provide a regulated flow of lubri¬ cant through elastomeric seal body 32 to elastomeric seal lip 30. Grooves 46 may be simple rounded or square channels extending axially outwardly and radially inwardly with respect to bore 24, as shown, and may be located at four locations, for example, distributed equidistantly along the circumference of seal 10. Alternatively, apertures or channels of other configurations and arrange¬ ments may be used.

As shown in Figure 1, hypotenuse portion 40 does not extend to bottom surface 28, thus allowing the space between hypotenuse portion 40, first side portion 42 and second side portion 44 to serve as a reservoir for grease or other lubricant. This space also provides a useful receptacle for debris and other contaminants that could otherwise get between spherical surface 26 and outer ring or bearing housing 16, causing abrasion or other damage. Second side portion 44 protects seal 10 and eliminates any need for a separate metal bearing cap.

Figure 3 illustrates a second embodiment ofthe present invention indicated as seal 50. Seal 50 comprises annular metallic support member 52, having cylindrical surface 68 and conical surface 72, elastomeric seal lip 54, elastomeric seal body 56 with grooves 58, and elastomeric annular ridge 60, similar to corresponding elements of seal 10. The elastomeric material may be molded over annular metallic support member 52 in a contiguous form including mounting portion 62, end portion 64, and edge portion 66 to enhance sealing and bonding in the manner described above, with respect to the first embodiment.

Annular metallic support member 52 has cylindrical surface 68 conical surface 70, hypotenuse portion 72, and first side portion 74, similar to corresponding elements of annular metallic support member 18. In cross

section, annular metallic support member 52 is V-shaped. Alternatively, its cross section may be considered to be a right triangle with the second side portion open. During installation, hypotenuse portion 72 is resiliently deflected away from the spherical member to provide a substantially normal force biasing elastomeric seal lip 54 and elastomeric seal body 56 against the spherical member to effect sealing.

Figure 4 illustrates an embodiment ofthe present invention similar to seal 50 and using the same reference numerals to indicate identical elements. Seal 76 has annular metallic support member 78 that is similar to annular metallic support member 52 except for radial portion 80, partially closing the open second side ofthe right triangle cross section. Radial portion 80 adds rigidity to seal 76 and provides a convenient surface for pressing the seal into the bore of the spherical plain bearing during installation.

From the above description, it will be apparent that the present invention provides an improved seal for a spherical plain bearing that permits greater misalignment ofthe spherical member and does not require a separate protective metal bearing cap. Improved sealing results from the biasing ofthe elastomeric portion ofthe seal in a direction normal to the surface ofthe spherical member and from the lubrication through the wide elastomeric seal body to the narrow elastomeric seal lip. In addition, the seal may include a reservoir for lubricant retention.