STAMP WITH SEAL RUBBER THAT IMPROVES LOAD CAPACITY FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present disclosure relates to shaft seals, and more particularly to shaft seals with a seal flange that improves the load capacity. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The statements in this section provide background information in relation to the present disclosure and do not necessarily form part of the background in the art. Currently shaft seals typically include a sharp edge as point contact and, with seal wear resulting in a flattened surface, an extensive contact spot appears and the loss of seal load can be significant. A more extensive contact area can also result in the generation of more heat in the seal. The contact area between the edge of the seal and the axis or a deflector shaft and the respective load distribution are usually sensitive to installation tolerances, thus affecting the efficiency of the seal. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the foregoing, an axis seal is provided which includes an annular base portion and an annular seal edge extending from the base portion. The seal edge has a sealing face which defines a flat surface and which includes a main sealing surface at one end of the sealing edge. The main sealing surface includes a raised seal flange that improves capacity
of charge, which has a triangular profile extending from the flat surface of the sealing face. The triangular profile of the raised seal flange includes a first generally conical lateral surface and a second generally conical lateral surface, each extending from the flat surface of the sealing face at a sharp angle. The seal flange that improves the load capacity serves to concentrate the sealing load towards a small area to provide greater contact pressure at the point of contact resulting in improved sealing. In addition, the contact area and the load distribution by contact become less sensitive to the accumulation of tolerances due to both the installation of seals and the variations in their manufacture. With the successive wear of the seal flange, the contact area will increase but the effect of the seal flange will continue until wear is complete. Additional areas of applicability of the present invention will be apparent with the detailed description that is provided below. It will be understood that the detailed description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The following descriptions of the drawings simply serve as an example and are in no way intended to limit the present disclosure, its application or uses. Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of an axle seal according to the teachings of the present invention showing the seal
in a "free" position (shown in dotted lines) and in an installed position; and Figure 2 is a detailed cross-sectional view of the seal edge according to the teachings of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION The following description merely serves as an example and is in no way intended to limit the present invention, its application or uses. With reference to Figures 1 and 2, an axle seal 10 having a seal flange improving the load capacity 12 according to the teachings of the present invention will now be described. The seal flange which improves the load capacity, according to the teachings of the present invention, can be incorporated into a unified piece seal, as shown, or else, it can be used in non-unified piece seals. The unified piece seal may include an outer case 14 where the seal 10 is mounted and an inner case 16 sealingly coupled by one or more seal edges 20, 22, which may include one or more seal edges that extend radially inward, such as the seal edge 20, or one or more axially extending seal edges such as the edge of the seal 22. Each of the seal edges 20, 22 extend from the annular base portion 24 of the seal which is typically fitted to mount to the outer case 14. The outer case 24 can be modified to be mounted within a fixed housing and may include an elastomeric material that covers the same to provide a sealed coupling with the housing. Similarly, to the box
Optional interior 16 can also be applied a coating of elastomeric material on its inner diameter to attach an axis so that it turns inside it. Each seal edge 20, 22 can be provided with a seal flange 12 which improves the load capacity as illustrated in detail below. Each seal edge 20 may include a sealing face 32 adapted to oppose a sealing surface 34 of the inner case 16 or, alternatively, of an axis, if the inner case 16 is not used. The sealing face 32 of each seal edge 20, 22 generally defines a flat surface and includes a major sealing surface at the end of the seal edge 20, 22 defined by the raised seal flange 12. The raised seal flange 12 has a generally triangular profile that is extends from the flat surface of the sealing face 32 of the seal edge 20, 22. As illustrated in Figure 2, the generally triangular profile of the raised seal flange includes a first generally tapered lateral surface 40 and a second generally lateral surface. conical 42 each extends from the flat surface 44 of the sealing face 32 at an acute angle. The first generally conical surface 40 has a length L1 which may be smaller, equal to, or larger than a length L2 of the second generally conical surface 42. Preferably the first generally tapered surface 40 extends to a distal end of the annular seal edge. 20, 22. The seal flange seal is applied which improves the loading capacity 12 to the end of the seal edge to concentrate the load of the seal edge to a small area to provide greater contact pressure
at the point of contact, resulting in an improved seal. With the subsequent wear of the seal flange, the contact area will increase but the effect of seal flange 12 will continue until wear is complete. The seal flange that improve the load capacity could be used on any type of radial shaft seal and its use should not be limited to the mode shown. With the triangular profile, the shape of the seal flange is relatively easy to work and fit into an already typically molded existing seal.