A sealing device for sealing off external contaminants from a bearing unit between a stationary radially outer ring and a rotatable radially inner ring, the sealing device including a first, metallic and rotatable annular screen having a first mounting area for assembly with interference on the radially inner ring, a second, metallic and stationary annular screen having a second mounting area for assembly with interference on the radially outer ring, an annular sealing element made of elastomeric material, integrally supported by the second annular screen, and equipped with at least one contacting annular sealing lip projecting axially and radially from the second screen towards the first screen, and a non-contacting annular lip extending axially and facing a first flange portion of the first annular screen.

A seal protection mechanism for a shaft seal of a land-based vehicle is described. The seal protection mechanism comprises a fixed part and a rotary part. The fixed part is fixed relative to the vehicle. The rotary part is rotatable relative to the fixed part about an axis. The rotary part is configured to rotate with a shaft about which the shaft seal is disposed. One of the fixed part and the rotary part comprises an axial opening. The other of the fixed part and the rotary part is at least partly received in the axial opening. The fixed part and the rotary part define a passageway. At least one of the fixed part and the rotary part comprises a debris breaking portion. The debris breaking portion is disposed in the passageway. In use, rotation of the rotary part relative to the fixed part causes the debris breaking portion to break apart any debris passing through said passageway towards the shaft seal. The seal protection mechanism therefore acts to protect the shaft seal by breaking apart debris before said debris can reach the shaft seal. This is beneficial because the shaft seal is a vulnerable component which can be damaged by debris.

A seal protection mechanism for a shaft seal of a land-based vehicle is described. The seal protection mechanism comprises a fixed part and a rotary part. The fixed part is fixed relative to the vehicle. The rotary part is rotatable relative to the fixed part about an axis. The rotary part is configured to rotate with a shaft about which the shaft seal is disposed. One of the fixed part and the rotary part comprises an axial opening. The other of the fixed part and the rotary part is at least partly received in the axial opening. The fixed part and the rotary part define a passageway. At least one of the fixed part and the rotary part comprises a debris breaking portion. The debris breaking portion is disposed in the passageway. In use, rotation of the rotary part relative to the fixed part causes the debris breaking portion to break apart any debris passing through said passageway towards the shaft seal. The seal protection mechanism therefore acts to protect the shaft seal by breaking apart debris before said debris can reach the shaft seal. This is beneficial because the shaft seal is a vulnerable component which can be damaged by debris.

A sealing system including an annular support, an annular sealing element and an annular shielding element; a first and a second lip of the sealing element interact slidingly with an abutment surface of the shielding element and each include: a root portion which extends perpendicularly in cantilever fashion from a flange portion of the annular support; a flexing portion, which extends in cantilever fashion from the root portion in an oblique direction with a thinner radial thickness, delimited by an annular internal surface facing the abutment surface and by an annular external surface facing towards the support, consisting of surfaces of revolution generated by segments of circumference; and a contact portion including a wedge-shaped overhang and a step portion flanking the overhang, which forms with the abutment surface a first and a second angle (α, β), the first angle facing the annular support and being smaller than the second angle.

A sealing system including an annular support, an annular sealing element and an annular shielding element; a first and a second lip of the sealing element interact slidingly with an abutment surface of the shielding element and each include: a root portion which extends perpendicularly in cantilever fashion from a flange portion of the annular support; a flexing portion, which extends in cantilever fashion from the root portion in an oblique direction with a thinner radial thickness, delimited by an annular internal surface facing the abutment surface and by an annular external surface facing towards the support, consisting of surfaces of revolution generated by segments of circumference; and a contact portion including a wedge-shaped overhang and a step portion flanking the overhang, which forms with the abutment surface a first and a second angle (α, β), the first angle facing the annular support and being smaller than the second angle.

A seal member is provided in which lip wear is suppressed and resistance to muddy water is increased, as well as a bearing device for a wheel, provided with the seal member. An encoder (63) and an elastic member (65) form a labyrinth section (8) between an outer peripheral surface (61a) of a turned-back section (613) and an inner peripheral surface (64a) of an inner fitting section (641). The labyrinth section (8) extends axially outward and radially outward, and an inner peripheral surface (63c) of the encoder (63) that covers an inner peripheral surface (61c) of the turned-back section (613) is sloped axially inward and radially outward.

Sealing device for a bearing unit having at least one contact lip operatively in sliding contact with a contact surface of the bearing unit and in turn provided with a wedge portion which forms with respect to the contact surface a first angle (α) facing a medium to be contained and a second angle (β) opposite the first angle, wherein during operating conditions, the second angle (β) is smaller than the first angle (α) and with a first surface having a concave shape, the concavity of which is defined by a first radius (R1); wherein the second angle (β) is between 48° and 55° and the length of the first radius (R1) is between 2.0 mm and 10.00 mm.

Wheel hub unit provided with a radially outer ring, stationary in use, a radially inner ring, rotating in use, at least one row of rolling elements, interposed between the radially outer ring and the radially inner ring, and a seal assembly, interposed between the radially outer ring and the radially inner ring, which defines cooperating with the radially outer ring or with the radially inner ring a shield of at least one labyrinth seal. The labyrinth seal does not have a circumferential symmetry but comprises an upper portion and a lower portion with respect to a symmetry axis (A) of the wheel hub unit and is provided with an angular interruption of the shield made on its lower portion corresponding to the lower side of the wheel hub unit so as to increase an outflow section thereof from the labyrinth seal itself which facilitates gravity drainage of contaminants present inside the seal assembly.

A sealing system including an annular support, an annular sealing element and an annular shielding element; a first and a second lip of the sealing element interact slidingly with an abutment surface of the shielding element and each include: a root portion which extends perpendicularly in cantilever fashion from a flange portion of the annular support; a flexing portion, which extends in cantilever fashion from the root portion in an oblique direction with a thinner radial thickness, delimited by an annular internal surface facing the abutment surface and by an annular external surface facing towards the support, consisting of surfaces of revolution generated by segments of circumference; and a contact portion including a wedge-shaped overhang and a step portion flanking the overhang, which forms with the abutment surface a first and a second angle (α,β), the first angle facing the annular support and being smaller than the second angle.

A sealing system including an annular support, an annular sealing element and an annular shielding element; a first and a second lip of the sealing element interact slidingly with an abutment surface of the shielding element and each include: a root portion which extends perpendicularly in cantilever fashion from a flange portion of the annular support; a flexing portion, which extends in cantilever fashion from the root portion in an oblique direction with a thinner radial thickness, delimited by an annular internal surface facing the abutment surface and by an annular external surface facing towards the support, consisting of surfaces of revolution generated by segments of circumference; and a contact portion including a wedge-shaped overhang and a step portion flanking the overhang, which forms with the abutment surface a first and a second angle (α,β), the first angle facing the annular support and being smaller than the second angle.