Innovative Tub Seal Eliminates Secondary Operations, Reduces Shaft Costs Appliance The Situation In appliance applications, especially in washing machines, a tub seal is adjacent to the washing drum and keeps water and debris in the tub from getting out. The seal, which is donut-shaped and consists of two parts, has a mating surface, which could be a tube or shaft – one rotates and one does not. An oil seal fits on the outside of the shaft in a static position, sealing whatever the shaft is being pressed into. In order to accomplish this, the appliance manufacturer needs to finish the surface of the shaft to reach a predetermined hardness by grinding; any defect or ding could act as a leak path on the seal’s rubber lip. Techniques of the finish can incur significant cost and require immens

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