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
2000-01-11
2001-12-11
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...
C277S626000, C277S650000, C277S910000, C277S945000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06328316
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a rubber seal element designed for semi-dynamic applications that utilize a dovetail shaped groove configuration.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
O-rings made of natural or synthetic rubber are well known for use as sealing devices for the containment of various fluids including chemical solvents, gases and plasmas. The type of rubber used in a seal is chosen based on the type of fluid to be sealed and the temperature of the environment in which the seal is to be employed. Seals for corrosive fluids and strong solvents, or for high temperature applications often require the rubber to be a fluoroelastomer or perfluoroelastomer.
In semi-dynamic applications, wherein one of the surfaces in contact with the O-ring moves, the O-ring can shift and twist in its seat (i.e. the groove in which it is mounted) or the O-ring may be physically damaged or broken and fluid can then move around the seal and cause a leak. In the past, this problem has been partially solved by designing the seat to have a dovetail shaped cross-section, which more firmly holds the O-ring in place. However, it can be very difficult to install a seal into a dovetail shaped groove without damaging or twisting it. A seal which is damaged during installation or which is twisted in its seat during installation or in use can fail (i.e. leak) immediately or may have a shortened useful lifetime. Therefore, it would be an advantage to have a rubber seal which may easily be installed into a dovetail shaped seat and which, when installed, provides excellent semi-dynamic sealing properties.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention is directed to a seal for installation into an annular groove of dovetail configuration that has a mouth, two side walls depending from the mouth that extend away from each other and a base wall that is connected to the two side walls thereby forming the dovetail configuration. The seal of this invention viewed in cross section comprises
an element having a multi-arcual surface and a substantially flat surface,
the multi-arcual surface has distinct first, second and third convex arcual surfaces;
the first convex arcual surface of the seal is sized and shaped for positioning in the mouth of the annular groove of the dovetail configuration and is directly connected to the substantially flat surface;
the substantially flat surface is directly connected to the second arcual convex surface that is in turn directly connected to a first concave arcual surface that is directly connected to the third convex arcual surface; the second and third convex arcual surfaces being shaped and sized so as to be in contact with the base wall of the annular groove of the dovetail configuration when the seal is seated in the groove; the third convex arcual surface and the first arcual convex surface are directly connected by a second concave arcual surface and the region defined by this second concave arcual surface forms an insertion surface of approximate complementary shape to the mouth of the annular groove for mating engagement with a side wall of the annular groove during insertion of the seal into the groove.
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Fukuhara Shuzo
Legare John Michael
DuPont Dow Elastomers L.L.C.
Knight Anthony
Pickard Alison K.
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