Pipes and tubular conduits – With closures and plugs
Reexamination Certificate
1998-06-17
2001-09-04
Brinson, Patrick (Department: 3752)
Pipes and tubular conduits
With closures and plugs
C138S090000, C138S093000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06283156
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to seals, to methods of sealing, and to apparatus having such seals. In another aspect, the present invention relates to O-ring seals, to methods of sealing, and to apparatus having such seals. In even another aspect, the present invention relates to pressurized O-ring seals, to methods of sealing, and to apparatus having such seals. In still another aspect, the present invention relates to pressurized expandable O-ring seals, to methods of sealing, and to apparatus having such seals.
2. Description of the Related Art
O-ring type seals are commonly used to form an effective seal between two mating parts. An example of an O-ring type seal includes a plug having a gland groove in which a O-type seal is placed. In order for such a plug to seal a tubular member, the O-ring must have a diameter larger than the both the inner diameter of tubular member and the outer diameter of the plug. When the plug is inserted into the tubular member, the O-ring is squeezed between the two thereby forming a seal. Typically, for such a seal to be effective, the inner diameter of the tubular member must be machined smoothed at the point of sealing.
In another example, a plug can include screw threads. The tubular member would include complimentary threads and would also normally include lead-in angles to allow an O-ring to be squeezed down when entering the sealing area of the tubular member as the plug is screwed in. To form an effective seal, the tubular member will again require machining to remove any scale or other surface roughness at the sealing area, and provide an even surface for the O-ring to seat against. A disadvantage of this type of O-ring seal is that the threaded area on the tubular member must be under-cut to avoid damage to the O-ring by the threads on the tubular member as the plug is being inserted.
In order to make an effective seal, it is therefore common practice in the prior art to have the O-ring gland groove slightly larger than the inner diameter of the O-ring and wider than the cross section of the O-ring. This design gives the squeeze to the O-ring and allows axial movement of the O-ring as it is inserted into the sealing area. A typical O-ring has a ‘squeeze’ or reduction in its original cross section of about 10% to about 15% to form a seal.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for an O-ring seal that does not suffer from the disadvantages of the prior art, to a method of making such a seal, and to apparatus including such a seal.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for an O-ring seal that conforms to any sealing surface, to a method of making such a seal, and to apparatus including such a seal.
There is even another need in the art for an effective O-ring seal that does require expensive time consuming machining of and/or undercuts to the sealing surface, to a method of making such a seal, and to apparatus including such a seal.
These and other needs in the art will become apparent to those of skill in the art upon review of this specification, including its drawings and claims.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide for an O-ring seal that does not suffer from the disadvantages of the prior art.
It is another object of the present invention to provide for an effective O-ring seal that conforms to any sealing surface.
It is even another object of the present invention to provide for an effective O-ring seal that does require expensive time consuming machining of and/or undercuts to the sealing surface.
These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent to those of skill in the art upon review of this specification, including its drawings and claims.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a sealing apparatus, which first includes a plug having a groove. Positioned in the groove is seal, generally an O-ring type seal, defining a liquid reservoir within the groove. A passage with a valve is provided to the liquid reservoir, for providing pressure to a liquid within the reservoir.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a sealing apparatus, which in addition to the above, further includes a mating member defining an orifice for receiving the plug such that the seal abuts against a wall of the orifice.
According to even another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a sealing apparatus, which in addition to the above, further includes threads on the plug, and a threaded mating member defining an orifice for receiving the plug, such that the plug abuts against a wall of the orifice, with the threads of the plug engaged with the threads of the mating member.
According to still another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method of sealing an orifice, with the method including placement of a plug as described above in the orifice, such that the seal is positioned to seal the orifice. The method further includes application of pressure to the fluid to expand the seal, thereby forming a pressurized seal.
These and other embodiments of the present invention will become apparent to those of skill in the art upon review of this specification, including its drawings and claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4342336 (1982-08-01), Satterthwaite et al.
patent: 4506706 (1985-03-01), Sandmann
patent: 4614206 (1986-09-01), Mathison et al.
patent: 5119861 (1992-06-01), Pino
patent: 5209266 (1993-05-01), Hiemsoth
patent: 5353842 (1994-10-01), Lundman
patent: 5402828 (1995-04-01), Pino
Brinson Patrick
Gilbreth J. M. (Mark)
Gilbreth Mary A.
Gilbreth & Associates P.C.
Halliburton Energy Service,s Inc.
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