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
2000-08-09
2003-05-13
Knight, Anthony (Department: 3676)
Seal for a joint or juncture
Seal between fixed parts or static contact against...
Contact seal for other than internal combustion engine, or...
C277S644000, C277S314000, C277S608000, C277S612000, C277S626000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06561522
ABSTRACT:
This invention relates to a sealing arrangement and method, which may be used for forming a seal between two surfaces, for example in a protective housing to protect the contents of the housing from contamination, or within a domestic appliance or other device to prevent fluids from penetrating into parts where they would cause nuisance or damage.
Many kinds of seal are known for forming a seal between two surfaces. Typically a sealing member is positioned between two surfaces, and the surfaces are then brought towards each other, causing the sealing member to be compressed and thereby urged into sealing engagement with both of the surfaces. Generally seals of this type fall into two main categories. The first category are so-called axial seals, in which the sealing member is generally compressed in the same direction as the direction of relative movement of the two surfaces being brought towards each other. The second category are so-called transverse seals (often radial seals depending on the orientation of the parts), in which the sealing member is generally compressed in a direction transverse (often perpendicular) to the direction of relative movement of the two surfaces which are being brought towards each other. The present invention relates to a transverse seal.
One example of a known transverse sealing arrangement is a radial seal applied as an O-ring between a base and a dome shaped housing in a closure for telecommunications cables. The base has a generally circular flat surface and an upstanding rim around its edge. The O-ring is shaped to fit around the outside of the rim. The dome shaped housing has a diameter which is larger than that defined by the rim of the base, but smaller than that defined by the inner circumference of the O-ring when in position on the base, and in an uncompressed state. Therefore, as the dome shaped housing is brought down onto the base, the ring is compressed radially inward between the housing and the rim. In this prior art, as in most transverse (e.g. radial) seals, the direction of compression (in this case radially inward) is perpendicular to the direction of relative movement of the surfaces that are being brought towards each other (in this case axial movement between the base plate and the housing).
Another example of a known radial seal is a V-shaped seal. This may be arranged, for example on the base and dome shaped housing structure described above, so that one arm of the “V” seal is secured to the inner wall of the rim of the base, and the closed tip of the “V” seal points towards the approaching dome shaped housing. As the dome shaped housing is brought towards the base, the other arm of the “V” seal is urged into sealing engagement with the dome shaped housing.
Sealing arrangements in which one of the surfaces being sealed comprises a channel shaped portion, and sealing arrangements in which the two surfaces being sealed comprise tongue and groove shaped portions, are known. WO-A-96/18836 (N.V. Raychem S.A.), for example, describes a seal comprising a flexible tubular, elastomeric article having a series of surface depressions on its outer surface which generally contain or/and are coated with a sealing gel. In one example the housing parts comprise a channel and a lid, and the seal is shaped and sized so that it initially is a loose fit within the channel. The lid is brought towards the channel causing the elastomeric article to deform so that the gel forms a seal against the floor of the channel and the lid, and may also seal against the side walls of the channel. This therefore forms both an axial seal (between the floor of the channel and the lid), and a radial seal (if the gel also seals against the side walls). As another example, WO-A-96/09483 describes a tubular layer of a gel sealant on a flexible tubular carrier used as a sealing member. It may be compressed in any convenient manner, e.g. in a tongue and groove joint. In one example shown, the seal is placed loosely in a groove, and then a tongue shaped portion introduced to compress the seal.
We have discovered a new sealing arrangement, which in its various embodiments has several advantages over sealing arrangements known hitherto.
A first aspect of the present invention provides a method of forming a seal between two housing parts, at least a first one of which comprises a channel shaped portion; the method comprising:
i) providing a sealing member that prior to sealing has a transverse dimension that is greater than a transverse dimension of the channel shaped portion;
ii) positioning the sealing member adjacent to the channel shaped portion; and
iii) moving the second housing part relative to the channel shaped portion, causing the sealing member to be inserted into the channel shaped portion of the first housing part, and thereby compressed in its transverse dimension.
A second aspect of the present invention provides a sealing arrangement comprising:
i) two housing parts, at least a first one of which comprises a channel shaped portion;
ii) a sealing member, that prior to sealing has a transverse dimension greater than a transverse dimension of the said channel shaped portion;
iii) whereby, in use, in order to effect a seal, the second housing part can be moved relative to the said first housing part causing the sealing member to be inserted into the channel shaped portion of the first housing part, and thereby compressed in its transverse dimension.
In preferred embodiments of the invention, the first and second housing parts can be cylindrical. The sealing member is preferably annular. For these embodiments, the transverse compression of the sealing member is specifically radial compression. The first and second housing parts may also be linear, i.e. made of shapes with substantially straight edges. For these embodiments, the sealing member(s) is preferably also straight, with or without bends or rounds to accommodate corners of the housing.
The sealing member may, but need not be, inserted into the channel shaped portion of the first housing member such that it contacts the base of the channel shaped portion. If it does do so, then there may be an axial seal formed between the channel base and the sealing member, in addition to the transverse seal formed by compression of the sealing member in its transverse dimension. However, a major advantage of the present invention is that no axial compression is required for good sealing action.
Preferably the channel shaped portion is defined by an opening, two side walls and a base. Preferably the side walls extend substantially perpendicularly to the base, and the channel shaped portion is substantially uniform in its width (i.e. the distance between the side walls is substantially uniform) along its depth, and also along its length.
Preferably the sealing member is inserted into the channel shaped portion so that the nearest point of contact between the sealing member and the inner side wall of the channel shaped portion is at least 1 mm from the opening of the channel shaped portion, preferably at least 3 mm, especially preferably at least 5 mm, or even at least 10 mm or more, depending on the overall dimensions of the parts. This advantageously allows for some axial movement (i.e. in the opening/closing direction) between the housing parts, during operation, without any loss of sealing, since the sealing member can move the maximum 1, 3, 5, or even 10 mm before sealing contact is lost. It also allows a less strong clamping system to be used to hold the housing parts together, compared to the case where the point of sealing between the sealing member and the inner wall of the channel shaped housing is at the opening of the channel, and compared to longitudinal seals, where any relative longitudinal movement between the housing parts would reduce the seal formed.
The second housing part is preferably moved towards the first housing part in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the said transverse dimension of the sealing member, and preferably in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to
Buekers Valere
Deroost Dirk
Radelet Christiaan
Knight Anthony
Myers Bigel & Sibley & Sajovec
Peavey E
Tyco Electronics Raychem N.V.
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