1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to sealing structures. More specifically, the present invention relates fishing-reel sealing structures that seal between a spindle-form first member and a second member disposed about the outer periphery of the first member in fishing reels.
2. Background Information
Because fishing reels such as spinning reels and dual-bearing reels are used in environments where they are constantly splashed with water, sealing structures are employed in fishing-reel applications for preventing water from encroaching interiorly. In particular, rings and oil-seals have been in widespread use conventionally for sealing in between relatively rotatable shaft members and their encompassing members. O-rings and oil-seals are used, for example, on the outer side of handle-carrying bearings in spinning reels or in between cover members and the spool shafts in dual-bearing reels.
In conventional O-ring based sealing structures, the O-rings are slightly squashed in order to form a seal. This means that the contacting surface area of the O-rings is extensive, and in particular, where the two members are relatively rotatable, the O-rings make the rotational resistance large, which tends to impair the rotational performance.
Oil seals are generally composed of a lip made of rubber, and a shape-retaining backing member made of metal. Accordingly, with oil-seal based sealing structures, because the contacting part is a peaked lip shape, it is comparatively easy to curb degradation in rotational performance. However, oil seals cannot be extended/contracted due to the backing member made of metal, and therefore fastening members and a space for fixing the oil-seal are necessary, which increases the axial space required to accommodate the oil seals.
In view of the above, there exists a need for sealing structure which overcomes the above mentioned problems in the prior art. This invention addresses this need in the prior art as well as other needs, which will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.
An object of the present invention is to provide a structure for sealing a spindle-form first member and a second member disposed about the outer periphery thereof, to seal without having to use components or space for fastening, while curbing rotational-performance impairment.
A fishing-reel sealing structure having is furnished with a fishing-reel, spindle-form first member, a second member, and a seal member. The second member has an inner peripheral surface disposed about the first member outer-peripherally, and is rotatable relative to the first member. The seal member, a component made of an elastic substance, seals the clearance between the two members, and has: an elastic-manufacture cylindrical portion mountable on the first member; and a sealing portion formed integrally on the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion, and tapering toward the inner peripheral surface of, and whose distal edge is for contacting on, the second member.
In this sealing structure, the cylindrical portion of the seal member made of an elastic substance is fitted to the spindle-form first member, and bringing the tapered sealing portion into contact with the inner circumferential surface of the second member seals the clearance between the two members. Herein, the fact that the tapered sealing portion is brought into contact with the second member to seal the clearance between the two members means that the surface area of the places in contact is smaller, making degradation in rotational performance unlikely. Likewise, that fact that, like O-rings, the seal member is entirely made of an elastic substance makes it extendable/contractible, which means that, for example, it may be fastened to the first member simply by fitting its cylindrical portion into a groove. Components and space for fastening the seal member are therefore made unnecessary.
Preferably, an annular groove is formed in a first-member outer circumferential surface that opposes the second member, and the cylindrical portion is fitted into the annular groove. In this case, the seal member may be fastened to the first member just by stretching the cylindrical portion and fitting it into the first member, and set that way shifting axially to mount the seal member in the annular groove.
Preferably, the part of the sealing portion for contacting the second member is a lip inclined heading outward of the first member. In this case, the fact that the sealing portion is a lip inclined heading outward of the first member means that when mounting the first member from without, the second member will not reverse even though it contacts the sealing portion. Moreover, since the fore end of the sealing portion is oriented outward, though liquids enter from without, the liquids are not likely to encroach interiorly.
Preferably, the first member is a constituent of a lever-drag mechanism in a lever-drag-type dual-bearing reel having a line-winding spool, and therein is a stationary component immovable in the axial direction of the spool; and the second member is a constituent of the lever-drag mechanism that is rotatable relative to the first member, and therein is a shifting member for shifting in the axial direction of the spool. In this case, utilizing the spool member also in a lever-drag mechanism curbs degradation in rotational performance when the spool spins freely.
Preferably, the first member is a drag disk capable of braking the spool, and rotates linked to a spool shaft passing through the spool center; and the second member is a cover member for covering the drag disk, and rotates linked to the spool and meanwhile shifts in the axial direction together with the spool and the spool shaft. In this case, fluctuations in drag force may be controlled by sealing the clearance between the cover member and the drag disk.
Preferably, the drag disk has a boss portion passing centrally through the cover member; the seal member is fitted to the boss portion; and a contact face for the seal to contact and a relief face the seal does not contact are formed, ranged in the spool axial direction, superficially on the inner rim of the cover member. In this case, relative axial movement between the drag disk and the cover member brings the sealing portion of the seal member into contact with/parts it from the cover member. This allows for specific conditions whereby the sealing portion does not contact the cover member so as not to impair the rotational performance.
Preferably, the sealing portion of the sealing member: parts away from the cover member to oppose the relief face, when the drag disk in its brake-release state parts away from the spool; and comes into opposition with, to contact on, the contact face when the drag disk in its braking state contacts the spool. In this case, the fact that the during the brake-release state the sealing portion is opposite the relief face, where it is parted off the cover member, means it does not impair rotational performance when the spool spins freely, and lets fishing line be reeled out agilely though a seal member is installed. Likewise, during the braking state, the sealing portion seals positively by coming into contact with the contact face of the cover member.
Preferably, the spool has a bobbin-trunk portion, and flange portions arranged on either end of the bobbin-trunk portion; and the outer diameter of the sealing portion is 8% or more and 50% or less of the outer diameter the flange portions. In this case, the fact that the outer diameter of the sealing portion is 50% or less that the outer diameter of the flange portions means that the contacting surface area of the sealing-member sealing portion is sufficiently small with respect to the spool, which curbs degradation in rotational performance though the seal member is brought into contact with the second member. Likewise, the fact that the outer diameter of the sealing portion is 8% or more lets strength of the spool shaft be sustained with the seal member fitted into a first member mounted encompassing the spool shaft.
Preferably, the first member is a handle spindle fitted detachably and reattachably to a spinning-reel master-gear shaft; and the second member is a reel body rotatively carrying the master-gear shaft. In this case, impairment in rotational performance of the spinning-reel handle may be controlled; meanwhile in either case where the handle is fitted on through the left or the right, sealing either end of the master gear shaft may be accomplished with a single seal member.
A fishing-reel sealing structure is furnished with a fishing-reel, spindle-form first member, a second member, and a seal member. The second member has an inner peripheral surface disposed about the first member outer-peripherally, and is rotatable relative to the first member. The seal member, a component made of an elastic substance, seals the clearance between the two members, and has: an elastic-manufacture cylindrical portion mountable on the second member; and a sealing portion formed integrally on the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion and tapering toward the outer circumferential surface of the first member, and whose distal edge is for contacting on the first member.
In this sealing structure, the cylindrical portion of the seal member made of an elastic substance is fitted to the second member, and bringing the tapered sealing portion into contact with the outer circumferential surface of the first member seals the clearance between the two members. Herein, the fact that the tapered sealing portion is brought into contact with the first member to seal the clearance between the two members means that the surface area of the contacting places is smaller, making degradation in rotational performance unlikely. Likewise, that fact that, like O-rings, the seal member is entirely made of an elastic substance makes it extendable/contractible, which means that, for example, it may be fastened to the second member simply by fitting its cylindrical portion into a groove. Components and space for fastening the seal member are therefore made unnecessary.
These and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment of the present invention.