Electricity: conductors and insulators – Insulators – Through wall or plate
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-11
2001-01-16
Kincaid, Kristine (Department: 2831)
Electricity: conductors and insulators
Insulators
Through wall or plate
C174S15300A, C174S068300, C174S151000, C174S167000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06175083
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates generally to an arrangement for sealing a lead from a confined cavity of an apparatus and more particularly to an externally mounted mechanical sealing arrangement.
BACKGROUND ART
Various attempts have been set forth to seal lead wires or pins extending from a coil that is encapsulated within an overmolded plastic material. In some of these attempts, a cavity is formed within the overmolded material and the lead wires or pins from the coil extends into the cavity and a rubber grommet is disposed within the cavity. The lead wires extend through holes within the grommet and are sealed by a compressive force exerted on the outer circumference of the grommet. Many times, in these attempts, it is difficult to mold the plastic material around the leads extending therethrough. Many other arrangements are known for connecting leads to coils having overmolded material disposed around the coil. In these other arrangements, the leads that extend from the coil through the overmolded material may not be totally sealed from the outside atmosphere when being subjected to varying temperature. It is well known that when a coil is produced small voids are present after the winding is placed on the bobbin and the overmolded material is injected around the coil. During an increase in temperature, the pressure of the air within these voids expands thus producing an increase in pressure therein which, if not properly sealed, escapes around the leads that passes through the overmolded material. Likewise, as the temperature decreases, a pressure less than atmospheric is created within the voids. Consequently, if the leads are not properly sealed, air is drawn into the voids from the outside atmosphere. If the coil is being used in an environment containing contaminants, the contaminants are drawn into the voids and cause premature failure of the coil. Therefore, it is desirable to provide a positive seal around the leads so that contaminants cannot be drawn into the coil or sealed cavity. Likewise, it is desirable to provide such a seal arrangement to seal around other types of leads to protect sensitive components disposed in an otherwise sealed cavity from outside contaminants.
The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems as set forth above.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect of the present invention a sealing mechanism is provided and adapted for sealing a lead having a predetermined cross-sectional shape and size extending from a closed cavity of an apparatus. The sealing mechanism includes a mounting portion having a face portion with the lead extending from the face portion and being sealingly connected to the apparatus. A cap member is also provided and has a closed end portion with a passage defined through the closed end and an open end portion having a face surface. A recess is defined in the cap member and has a predetermined cross sectional shape and size and extends inwardly from the face portion. The open end portion of the cap member is sealingly connected to the mounting portion generally adjacent the face portion of the mounting portion. The mounting portion also includes an elastomeric grommet having a passageway of a predetermined shape generally the same as the shape of the lead and a predetermined size substantially the same as or smaller than the size of the cross-sectional size of the lead. The elastomeric grommet has at least in part a predetermined cross-sectional shape generally the same as the shape of the recess in the cap member and a predetermined size that is larger than the size of the recess of the cap member. The elastomeric grommet is disposed within the recess of the cap member with the lead extending through the passageway of the grommet and the passageway in the closed end portion of the cap member.
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Palmer Clarence K.
Roat Kenneth M.
Springer Thomas R.
Burrows J. W.
Caterpillar Inc.
Kincaid Kristine
Walkenhorst W. David
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