Seal for a joint or juncture – Seal between fixed parts or static contact against... – Contact seal for other than internal combustion engine – or...
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-30
2001-07-03
Knight, Anthony (Department: 3626)
Seal for a joint or juncture
Seal between fixed parts or static contact against...
Contact seal for other than internal combustion engine, or...
C277S646000, C277S637000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06254106
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention concerns a device for sealing a gap between two members to be sealed and comprising at least one elastically expanding hose accommodated in a groove in the wall of one member and expanded by a compressible fluid introduced through a rigid opening such that the hose cannot be displaced in relation to the opening.
A sealing device of this type is known from German utility patent No. GM 29 600 582. The fluid is supplied through a line inserted into the hose and attached to it by straps on its outer surface. The straps take up considerable space and often complicate installation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A principal object of the present invention is accordingly to provide an improved device for sealing a gap which is easier to install and remove than the known sealing devices of this type and which requires no straps to secure it.
This object, as well as other objects which will become apparent from the discussion that follows, are achieved, in accordance with the present invention, in a gap sealing device with which the hose is inserted into the fluid-introduction opening with one end loose and which is secured therein by supports at the other end. The hose can expand elastically and is made of rubber for example.
The point of departure for the present invention is the recognition that a gap between two members can usually be pressurized only if the side of the groove facing the hose is closed by a rigid wall to prevent the hose from bulging out. The only result of the elastic expansion induced by introducing the compressed fluid into the hose will accordingly be to force the hose tightly against both the fluid-introduction opening and the wall that closes the open side of the groove. The hose will be forced outstandingly tightly against the opening without straps or other auxiliary means. Such a hose can easily be removed from the gap and replaced with another loose hose.
The aforesaid supports can be a separate component, a “false floor” extending across the groove for instance, or a component of the groove itself. Installation will in either case require no special tooling.
The hose will be particularly easy to secure if at least one end is inserted into a recess extending perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the groove or the plane of the gap. Such a recess can, for example, be a bore that extends into the base of the groove by way of a rounded transition. To prevent specific overloading of the hose in the vicinity of the transition between the bore and the groove, and uncontrolled expansion in particular, it has proven practical for at least one end of the hose to be enclosed tightly in the vicinity of the rounding by an insert element that can be accommodated in another recess. Such an insert can be plastic or metal for example. If the insert is a resilient seal that can be brought into contact with the facing surface of the gap, it will be possible to seal the whole length of the gap even in the vicinity of any curvature. Another advantage of this approach is that the mid-section of the gap can be exploited to evacuate a mold even though the gap has been sealed in the vicinity of the inserts. For this purpose the mode is initially sealed and possibly loaded with molding mass as far as the gap. Any gases in the mold can escape through the gap ahead of time. The hose is then inflated and forced tightly against the facing surfaces of the gap walls between the inserts, sealing off the whole gap. The mold can then be pressurized.
The insert element can be provided with a communicating port to supply the compressible fluid through. It has proven practical in this event to thread the port to accept a supply line. It can extend at an angle to the fluid-introduction opening to simplify providing the fluid, which is preferably air.
To prevent the hose from escaping from the groove, when the base of the groove is above the bottom of the hose for instance, it has proven practical for the open side of the groove to be narrower and for at least the bottom of the hose to be wider.
A flexible but incompressible stiffener of appropriate cross-section can be accommodated loosely in the hose to prevent the hose from buckling even when curving around a short radius and to ensure extensive retention of its original shape. Such a stiffener can be a spiral or a plastic rod or tube that will support the main hose radially.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1439452 (1922-12-01), Shaw
patent: 3178779 (1965-04-01), Clark
patent: 3501868 (1970-03-01), Ganzinotti
patent: 3642291 (1972-02-01), Zeffer
patent: 4227702 (1980-10-01), Thate
patent: 4394022 (1983-07-01), Gilmore
patent: 5353695 (1994-10-01), Ledet
patent: 6029977 (2000-02-01), Sym
patent: 296 00 582 U (1996-04-01), None
Denker Ernst
Ebner Martin
Fritsche Moellmann, GmbH & Co. KG
Knight Anthony
Milde Hoffberg & Macklin, LLP
Willams Mark
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