Dual face seal with radially projecting annular disc

Claim 1

A seal between a first component (1; 1') and a second component (2; 2') performing rotary or pivotal movements relative to one another about an axis of rotation (1a), the seal comprising a radially outwardly projecting annular disc (3; 3') disposed at the first component (1; 1') in a sealing manner, axially undisplaceable and fixed against rotation and provided, on each one of its axial frontal faces, with an annular slide path (3a) disposed in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation (1a); an annular, radially inwardly open housing (4; 4') held at the first component (1; 1') in a sealing manner, axially displaceable and secure against rotation, said housing having a central section (4c; 4'c) which grips with play around the outer circumferential face (3b) of the annular disc (3; 3') while its two side walls (4a, 4b; 4'a, 4'b) project radially inwardly from the central section and grip, likewise with play, around the slide paths (3a) of the annular disc; at least two sealing rings (5) which are coaxial with the axis of rotation (1a), with their slide faces (5a) lying against the slide paths (3a) and being sealingly held at the housing (4; 4a) in a manner secured against rotation; and a plurality of springs (12) which are associated with at least one sealing ring and are clamped in between the bottom face (5b) facing away from the slide face (5a) of the sealing ring (5) and the housing (4; 4') to press the sealing rings against the slide paths (3a), characterized in that the housing (4; 4') has an essentially U-shaped configuration and is composed of two housing parts, each including one of the side walls (4a, 4b; 4'a, 4'b) and being immovably and sealingly connected with one another in the region of the central section (4c, 4'c); the housing (4; 4') is sealed against the second component (2; 2') by a compensator (7; 7'); at least two annular grooves (4d) which are concentric with one another and coaxial with the axis of rotation (1a) are formed in the inner face of each side wall (4a, 4b; 4'a, 4'b) which is essentially parallel to the annular disc (3a; 3'a), each of said annular grooves supporting a sealing ring (5) and having essentially cylindrically shaped radially outer and inner delimiting faces (4e, 4f) and a depth which is greater than the axial length of the sealing ring; the sealing rings (5) are made of an elastically yielding sealing material, each project with a first part of their axial length beyond the inner face of the side wall (4a, 4b; 4'a, 4'b) while a second part of their axial length is mounted in the annular groove (4d) so as to be displaceable in the direction of the axis of rotation (1a) and to lie sealingly against the radially outer and inner delimiting faces (4e, 4f) of the annular groove; and an elastically bendable supporting ring (11) is disposed with play relative to the radially inner and outer delimiting faces (4e, 4f) in each annular groove (4d), with the one side of said supporting ring lying against the bottom face (5b) of the sealing ring and the other side of said ring being supported at the springs (12).