CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS/PATENTS

This application relates back to and claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application for Patent No. 61/626,128 titled "Sealing System for a Low -Profile Cone Crusher" and .filed on September 21, 201 1.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to sealing systems adapted for use on threaded equipment, and particularly to sealing systems for gyratory cone crushers.

BACKGROUND AND DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

It is known to use circular" seals prevent dirt and. dust from getting into the threaded areas of the crusher wear adjustment system associated with the cone crusher support bowl. Conventional circular seals, however, suffer from one or more disadvantages. For example, the support, bow! of th conventional rock crusher is extended so as to provide a non-threaded cylindrical surface on which the conventional seal can contact. The extended support bowl of the conventional roc k crusher requires the upper frame of the crusher to be extended to match the extended support bowl. The extended support bo wl and the extended upper frame of conventional rock crushers undesirably increase the height, weight and expense of the crusher. In addition, in the conventional rock crusher having an extended support bowl and an extended upper frame, crushing forces are cantilevered around the sealing surface. Conventional seals are also undesirably large and expensive. It would be desirable, therefore, if an apparatus and method for a sealing system for a low-profile upper frame could be provided that would eliminate the need for an extended support bowl and an extended upper frame. It would also he desirable if such an apparatus and method could be provided that would reduce the height, weight and expense of a crusher, it would be further desirable if such an apparatus and method could be provided that would allow crushing forces to pass directly to the upper frame of the crusher instead of being cantilevered around the sealing surface. It would be still further desirable if such an apparatus and method could be provided that would reduce the size and cost of the seal.

ADVANTAGES OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an advantage of the preferred embodiments of the invention claimed herein to provide an apparatus and method for a cone crusher having a reduced height and mass made possible by a thread sealing system. It is also an ad vantage of the preferred embodiments of the invention claimed herein to provide an apparatus and method for a sealing system for a low- profile upper frame and a low-profile concave support bowl that reduces the height, weight and expense of a crusher. It is a further advantage of the preferred embodiments of the invention claimed herein to provide an apparatus and method for a sealing system for a low-profile upper frame and support bowl that allows crushing forces to pass directly to the upper frame of the crusher instead of being cantilevered around the sealing surface of the support bowl. It is a still further advantage of the preferred embodiments of the invention claimed herein to pro vide an apparatus and method for a sealing system for a low-profile crusher that reduces the size and cost of the seal.

Z Additional advantages of the preferred embodiments of the invention will become apparent from an examination of the drawi ngs and the ensuing description.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The apparatus of the invention comprises a sealing system adapted for use on an item of equipment having a male threaded component including a male threaded section having an interior portion. The preferred sealing system comprises a female threaded component having a female threaded section and a scraper seal groove. The preferred sealing system also comprises a scraper seal that is configured to he disposed in the scraper seal groove of the female threaded component and fit into the male threaded section of the male threaded component. In the preferred embodiments of the sealing system, the forces produced by the item of equipment pass directly to the female threaded component from the male threaded section.

The method of the invention comprises a method for sealing an interior portion of a threaded section of a male threaded component. The preferred method comprises providing a sealing system. The preferred sealing system comprises a female threaded component having a female threaded sectio and a scraper seal groove. The preferred sealing system also comprises a scraper seal that is configured to be disposed in the scraper sea! groove of the female threaded component and fit into the male threaded section of the male threaded component In the preferred embodiments of the sealing system, the forces produced by the item of equipment pass directly to the female threaded component from the male threaded section. The preferred method further comprises screwing the male threaded component into the female threaded component. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The presently preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals represent like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a sectional perspective view of the- referred embodiment of the sealing system in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional perspective view of the preferred sealing system illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the preferred sealing system illustrated in Figures 1-2.

Figure 4 is a perspec tive view of the preferred sealing system illustrated in Figures 1-3.

Figure 5 is a sectional top view of the preferred sealing system illustrated in Figures 1 -4.

Figure 6 is a left side view of the preferred scraper seai of the sealing system illustrated in Figures 1-5.

Figure 7 is a sectional front view of a first alternative embodiment of the sealing system in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 8 is a sectional front view of an exemplary prior art rock crusher. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, the preferred embodiments of the sealing system in accordance with the present invention ar illustrated by Figures 1 through 8. As shown in Figures 1 -8, the preferred embodiments of the sealing system are adapted to provide a crusher having a reduced height and mass. The preferred embodiments of the sealing system also provide a low-profile upper frame and a low-profile concave support bowi that reduces the height, weight and expense of a crusher. The preferred embodiments of the sealing system provide a low-profile upper frame and support howl that allows crushing forces to. pass directly to the main frame of the crusher instead of being cantilevered around the sealing surface of the support bowl. The preferred embodiments of the sealing system also reduce the size and cost of the ^• seal- Referring now to Figure 1 , a sectional perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the sealing system in accordance with the present invention is illustrated. As shown in Figure 1 , the preferred sealing system is designated generally by reference numeral 20. Preferred sealing system 20 is adapted for use on an item of equipment such as exemplary rock crusher 22.

Exempiaiy rock crusher 22 has a male threaded component such as support bowl 24 with a male threaded section such as support, bowl threaded section 26. Preferred support bowl threaded section 26 has interior portion 28. Preferred interior portion is 28 comprises the portion of the male threaded section that has been screwed past a scraper sea! disposed on a female threaded component. Preferred sealing system 20 includes a female threaded component such as upper frame 30, Preferred upper frame 30 has a female threaded section such as upper frame threaded section 32 and a scraper seal groove. Still referring to Figure 1 , preferred, sealing system 20 also includes scraper seal 34. Preferred scraper seal 34 is configured to be disposed in the scraper seal groove of upper frame 30 and fit. into support bowl threaded section 26 of support bow! 24, Preferably, scraper seal 34 is removably disposed hi the scraper seal groove of upper frame 30. It is also contemplated within the scope of the invention, however, that the scraper seal may be fixedly disposed in the scraper seal groove of the upper frame. Preferred scraper seal 34 is adapted to separate contaminants from the interior portion of support bowl threaded section 26 and upper frame threaded section 32. Preferred scraper seal 34 is also adapted to clean support bowl threaded section 26 when support bowl 24 is threaded or screwed into upper frame 30. in the preferred sealing system 20, forces produced by the item of equipment pass directly to upper frame 30 from support bowl threaded section 26. While Figure 1 illustrates the preferred configuration and arrangement of sealing system 20, it is contemplated within die scope of the invention that the sealing system may be of any suitable configuration and arrangement.

Referring now to Figure 2, a sectional perspective view of preferred sealing system 20 is illustrated. As shown in Figure 2, preferred sealing system 20 comprises support bowl 24.

support bowl threaded section 26, interior portion 28, upper frame 30, upper frame threaded section 32 and scraper seal 34, Preferred scraper seal 34 is adapted to clean support bowl threaded section 26 of support bowl 24,

Referring now to Figure 3 _» a perspective view of preferred sealing system 20 is illustrated. More particularly, Figure 3 illustrates preferred scraper seal 34 removed from scraper seal groove 36. As shown in Figure 3 _» preferred upper frame 30 includes scraper seal groove 36 and depressed portion 38, Preferably, scraper seal 34 is adapted to be removably received in scraper seal groove 36. While Figure 3 illustrates the preferred configuration and arrangement of the upper frame and the scrape seal, it is contemplated within the scope of the invention that the upper ^• frame and the scraper seal may be of any suitable configuration and arrangement.

Referring now to Figure 4. a perspective view of preferred sealing system 20 is illustrated. More particularly, Figure 4 illustrates preferred scraper seal 34 inserted into scraper seal groove 36. As shown in Figure 4, preferred scraper sea! 34 is adapted to be received in scraper seal groove 36 of upper frame 30. The preferred female threaded section or upper frame threaded section 32 has a female thread profile and scraper seal 34 has a scraper seal profile. Preferably, the scraper seal profile extends beyond the female thread profile when scraper seal 34 is disposed in the scraper seal groove 36.

Referring now to Figure 5, a sectional top view of preferred sealing system 20 is illustrated. As shown in Figure 5, preferred scraper seal 34 is adapted to be received in the scraper seal groove 36 of upper frame 30. More particularly, preferred scraper seal 34 includes dovetailed back 40 and the scraper seal groove is adapted to receive the dovetailed back of the scraper seal.

Referring now to Figure 6, a ieft side view of preferred scraper seal 34 of sealing system 20 is illustrated. As shown in Figure 6, preferred scraper seal 34 includes raised portion 42 disposed on dovetailed back 40. Preferably, raised portion 42 is disposed so as to be received by depressed portion 38 of scraper seal groove 36 in upper frame 30. While Figures 5 and 6 illustrate the preferred configuration and arrangement of the scraper seal and scraper seal groove, it is contemplated within the scope of the invention that the scraper seal and scraper sea! groove may be of any suitable configuration and arrangement It is also contemplated within the scope of the invention that the scraper seal may be removabl retained in the scraper seal groove by any suitable device, mechanism, assembly or combination thereof.

Referring now to Figure 7, a sectional front view of exemplary rock crusher 122 including first alternative embodiment of the sealing system in accordance with the present invention is illustrated. As .shown in Figure 7, the preferred sealing system is designated generally by .reference numeral 120. Preferred sealing system 120 comprises upper frame ! 30, upper frame threaded section 132 and scraper seal 134. Preferred scraper seal 134 is adapted to clean support, bowl threaded section 1.26 of support bowl 124. As also shown in Figure 3, forces produced by the exemplary rock crusher 122 pass directly to upper frame 130 from support bowl threaded section 126. While Figure 7 illustrates a preferred configuration and arrangemeni of the sealing system in accordance with the present invention, it is contemplated within the scope of the invention that the sealing system may be of any suitable configuration, and arrangement

Referring now to Figure 8, a sectional front view of an exemplary prior art rock crusher is illustrated. As shown in Figure 8, the e em lar}'' prior art rock crasher is designated generally by reference numeral 222. Exemplary prior art rock crusher 222 comprises support bowl 224, support bowl threaded section 226, upper frame 230 and upper frame threaded section 232. As shown in Figure 8, upper frame threaded section 232 of upper frame 230 of exemplary prior art rock crusher 222 is larger than the preferred upper frame threaded section 32 and 132 of upper frame 30 and 130, respectively. In addition, support bowl 224 includes non-threaded cylindrical surface 234 on which seal 236 can contact. As a result, the vertical dimension of exemplary prior art rock crusher 222 is larger than the vertical dimension of preferred rock crushers 22 and 122. In addition, crushing forces produced by exemplary prior art rock crusher 222 are eantilevered around non-threaded cylindrical surface 234 instead of passing directly to upper frame 230. Further, seal 236 is large and extends around the entire diameter of support bowl 224.

The method of the invention comprises a method for sealing an interior portion of a threaded section of a male threaded component. The preferred method comprises providing a sealing system. The preferred sealing system comprises a female threaded component having a female threaded section and a scraper seal groove. The preferred sealing system also comprises a scraper seal that is configured to be disposed in the scraper seal groove of the female threaded component and fit into the male threaded section of the male threaded component, in the preferred embodiments of the sealing system, the forces produced by the item of equipment pass directly to the female threaded component from the male threaded section. The preferred method further comprises screwing the male threaded component into the female threaded component, in alternative embodiments, the method comprises removing the scraper seal from the female threaded component, inserting the scraper seal into the female threaded component, cleaning the tlii'eaded section of the male threaded section and separating contaminants from the interior portion of the male threaded section and the female threaded section. in operation, several advantages of the preferred embodiments of the invention are achieved. For example, the preferred embodiments of the sealing system are adapted to provide a crasher having a reduced height and mass. The preferred embodiments of the sealing system also provide a low-profile upper frame and a low-profile concave support bowl that reduces the height, weight and expense of a crusher. The preferred embodiments of the sealing system provide a low-profile upper frame and support bowl that allows crushing forces to pass directly to the main frame of the crusher instead of being cantilevered around the sealing surface of the support bowl. The preferred embodiments of the seali g system also reduce th size and cost of the seal. The preferred embodiments of th sealing system are further adapted to separate contaminants from the interior portion of the support bowl threaded section and the upper frame threaded section. The preferred embodiments of the sealing system are further adapted to clean the support bowl threaded section as the support bowl is screwed upwardly into the upper frame.

Although this description contains many specifics, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments thereof, as well as the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out the invention. The invention, as described herein, is susceptible to various modifications and adaptations, and the same are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the appended claims.

What is claimed Is: