EP0426407B1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Improved apparatus for sealing around members extending therethrough
Assignee: Applied Medical Resources Corp
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Filing: 1990-10-29
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Granted: 1995-07-05
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Expires: 2010-10-29
Abstract
No abstract record available.
Inventors
- 👤 Said S. Hilal
- 👤 Robert Patrick Cooper
- 👤 Donald Lee Gadberry
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 14:39
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/34; A61B17/3462; A61M; A61M39/00; A61M39/02; A61M39/06; A61M39/0613; F; F16; F16J; F16J15/00; F16J15/02; F16J15/021; F16J15/56; A61B2017/00831; A61B2017/0084; A61B2017/00845; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S604/00; Y10S604/905
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
Apparatus for sealing around shafts or tubes extending through the apparatus, the apparatus comprising: an elastomeric sealing body (32) having a cylindrical passage extending axially therethrough for shafts or tubes extending through the apparatus; and clamp means (26,C) disposed around the sealing body for compressing the sealing body; characterised in that the sealing body is integrally formed with more than two radially outwardly extending lugs (30) disposed at substantially equal angularly spaced locations therearound and in that the clamp means bears on the lugs of the sealing body and is operable to radially compress the lugs to completely close the passage through the sealing body or to seal around a shaft or tube extending therethrough.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the lugs (30) are four in number and angularly spaced at ninety degree intervals around the sealing body.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
25 words
An apparatus according to Claims 1 or 2, further comprising biasing means (28) operatively associated with the clamp means to normally compress the sealing body.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
An apparatus according to Claim 3, further comprising manual release means (22) operatively associated with the clamp means and operable by the hand of a human operator to selectively release the sealing body (32) from compression by the biasing means (28).
Claim 5
Independent Claim
18 words
An apparatus according to Claims 1 or 2, further comprising a housing (H) extending around the clamp means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus according to Claim 5, further comprising biasing means operatively associated with the clamp means to normally compress the sealing body.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
74 words
An apparatus according to Claim 6, wherein the biasing means comprises: a first lever (18) fixed to and extending laterally from the housing; a second lever (22) operatively associated with the clamp means for movement relative to the housing, said second lever extending laterally from the housing in apposition to the first lever; and said biassing means comprising a spring (28) disposed between the first and second levers to normally force the levers apart.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
97 words
An apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the elastomeric sealing body is compressed against the outer surface of a shaft or tube to form with the shaft or tube a seal having a particular area; and wherein the clamp means applies a force to the compressed elastomeric sealing body to produce a pressure at the particular area on the outer surface of the shaft; the magnitude of the applied force being variable directly with the size of the particular area; whereby the pressure on the particular area tends to be independent to the dimension of the shaft.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
An apparatus according to Claim 8, wherein the clamp means is disposed radially outwardly of the elastomeric sealing body and directs a force directed generally radially of the elastomeric sealing body to compress the elastomeric sealing body and to produce the particular pressure on the outer surface of the shaft.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus according to Claim 9, wherein the clamp means includes more than two pin (26) movable generally radially of the elastomeric sealing body to produce the force on the elastomeric sealing body.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus according to Claim 8, wherein the elastomeric sealing body has fluid properties such that the pressure of the applied force on the elastomeric sealing body is less than 20% greater than the particular pressure.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus according to Claim 8, wherein the clamp means further comprises means (28) for biasing the opening of the elastomeric element toward a decreasing dimension.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
57 words
An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the elastomeric sealing body is made of a seal material having a Shore hardness less than 20; further comprising means for containing the flow of the seal material except in proximity to the outer surface of a shaft or tube against which it is compressed by the clamp means.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
38 words
An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the pressured applied by the elastomeric sealing body to a shaft or tube is greater than 80% of the pressure applied by the clamp means to the elastomeric sealing body.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
32 words
An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the cross-section of the elastomeric sealing body has the general configuration of a circle with at least three projections which form the lugs (30).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus according to Claim 15, wherein elastomeric sealing body in radial cross-section includes four radial projections and has the general configuration of a cross.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to Claim 15, wherein the projections (30) are equally angularly disposed in spaced relationship around the circumference of the circle.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
30 words
An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the material of the sealing body includes foam and the inner surface defining the passage therethrough is free of any surface skin.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
49 words
An apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 17, further comprising a coating applied to at least the inner surface of the elastomeric sealing body defining the passage therethrough to provide the inner surface with particular characteristics compatible with the outer surface of a shaft or tube.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus recited in Claim 19, wherein the coating is hydrophillic and the particular characteristic is a coefficient of friction less than 0.25.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
55 words
An apparatus according to Claim 5, wherein the clamp means (26,C) includes: a cam (24) disposed on the housing; a cam follower (26) disposed between the cam and at least one of the lugs (30) on the elastomeric sealing body; the follower being slidable on the cam to exert pressure on the elastomeric sealing body.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to Claim 21, wherein a plurality of the cam followers (26) are provided, each disposed relative to an associated one of the lugs (30).
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
81 words
An apparatus according to Claim 22, wherein the housing includes first portions and second portions; the cam being disposed on the first portions of the housing; the cam followers (26) movable radially relative to the second portions of the housing; and the first portions of the housing being movable relative to the second portions of the housing to move the cam into slidable engagement with the cam followers and to urge the cam followers radially into engagement with the lugs (30).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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