Fluorocarbon polymer gasket and method of manufacturing such

Claim 3

The invention as recited in claim 1, wherein said fluorocarbon polymer is tetrafluoroethylene.

Claim 4

The invention as recited in claim 1, wherein said heated fluorocarbon polymer sheet is compressed between opposing dies of a coining press.

Claim 5

The invention as recited in claim 3, wherein pressure is exerted on said heated fluorocarbon polymer sheet by opposing dies of at least about a 500 ton capacity coining press.

Claim 6

The invention as recited in claim 1, wherein the heated fluorocarbon polymer sheet is compressed for approximately one to one and one-half minutes.

Claim 7

The invention as recited in claim 1, wherein said heated and compressed fluorocarbon polymer sheet is cooled to ambient temperature.

Claim 10

The invention as recited in claim 7, wherein the opposing dies of the coining press include regulatable cooling means.

Claim 11

The invention as recited in claim 8, wherein the opposing dies of the coining press are regulated to cool said compressed fluorocarbon polymer sheet to ambient temperature.

Claim 12

The invention as recited in claim 9, wherein said regulatable cooling means includes means to circulate water through said dies.

Claim 13

The invention as recited in claim 7, wherein the heated,. fluorocarbon polymer sheet is compressed between opposing dies of at least about a 500 ton capacity a coining press of at least 500 ton capacity.

Claim 14

The invention as recited in claim 7, wherein the heated fluorocarbon polymer sheet is compressed between the coining press dies for approximately one to one and one-half minutes prior to said cooling.

Claim 15

The invention as recited in claim 7, wherein said compressed and cooled fluorocarbon polymer sheet is shaped into a gasket of the desired size by cutting means.

Claim 16

The invention recited in claim 13 wherein said cutting means includes steel rule sizing die means.

Claim 17

A fluorocarbon polymer gasket manufactured by the method which comprises: (a) heating a fluorocarbon polymer sheet of predetermined thickness to about its gel state; (b) compressing said heated sheet to a thickness less than said sheet's predetermined thickness; (c) cooling said sheet in its compressed state; and (d) shaping said sheet, cooled in its compressed state, into a gasket; said gasket comprising a hot coined disc of fluorocarbon polymer having a central aperture and a plurality of spaced projections which extend from upper and lower surfaces of the disc.

Claim 18

A fluorocarbon polymer gasket manufactured by the method which comprises: (a) heating a fluorocarbon polymer sheet of predetermined thickness to about its gel state; (b) compressing said heated sheet to a thickness less than said sheet's predetermined thickness; (c) cooling said sheet in its compressed state; and (d) shaping said sheet, cooled in its compressed state, into a gasket; said gasket comprising a hot coined disc of fluorocarbon polymer having a central aperture and a plurality of spaced projections which extend from upper and lower surfaces of the disc.

Claim 19

A gasket as recited in claim 14, wherein said projections being capable of expanding when heated and contracting upon cooling.

Claim 20

A gasket as recited in claim 14, wherein said projections comprise spaced circularly parallel ribs.

Claim 21

A gasket as recited in claim 16, wherein said ribs are circular in cross section.

Claim 22

A gasket as recited in claim 17, wherein said fluorocarbon polymer is tetrafluoroethylene.

Claim 23

A fluorocarbon polymer gasket manufactured by the method which comprises: (a) heating a fluorocarbon polymer sheet of predetermined thickness to within the temperature range at which the fluorocarbon polymer enters the gel state; (b) compressing said heated fluorocarbon polymer sheet which has entered the gel state between opposing dies of at least about a 500 ton capacity coining press; (c) cooling said heated and compressed fluorocarbon polymer sheet while held under pressure between coining press dies to a temperature below the temperature at which the fluorocarbon polymer enters the gel state; (d) removing said cooled fluorocarbon polymer sheet from between the dies of the coining press; and (e) shaping said removed cool fluorocarbon polymer sheet into a gasket; said gasket comprising a hot coined disc of fluorocarbon polymer having a central aperture about which are spaced a plurality of circularly parallel ribs, said ribs being circular in cross section and, said ribs being capable of expanding when heated and returning to coined dimensions when cooled.

Claim 24

A fluorocarbon polymer gasket manufactured by the method which comprises: (a) heating a fluorocarbon polymer sheet of predetermined thickness to within the temperature range at which the fluorocarbon polymer enters the gel state; (b) compressing said heated fluorocarbon polymer sheet which has entered the gel state between opposing dies of at least about a 500 ton capacity coining press; (c) cooling said heated and compressed fluorocarbon polymer sheet while held under pressure between coining press dies to a temperature below the temperature at which the fluorocarbon polymer enters the gel state; (d) removing said cooled fluorocarbon polymer sheet from between the dies of the coining press; and (e) shaping said removed cool fluorocarbon polymer sheet into a gasket; said gasket comprising a hot coined disc of fluorocarbon polymer having a central aperture about which are spaced a plurality of circularly parallel ribs, said ribs being circular in cross section and, said ribs being capable of expanding when heated and returning to coined dimensions when cooled.

Claim 25

The gasket as recited in claim 19, wherein the fluorocarbon polymer is tetrafluoroethylene.