Apparatus for molding fluid seal elements

Claim 1

APPARATUS FOR MOLDING A SEALING ELEMENT AND BONDING THE SAME ONTO A METAL SHELL THAT HAS AN OUTER CYLINDRICAL WALL AND AN ANNULAR WALL PROJECTING INWARDLY FROM ONE END OF THE CYLINDRICAL WALL, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING: (A) A LOWER MOLD PART HAVING A CAVITY FORMING SURFACE SHAPED TO FORM THE OUTER SURFACE OF THE SEALING ELEMENT; (B) MEANS INCLUDING SPRINGS FOR YIELDING SUPPORTING SAID MOLD PART; (C) A PRESSURE LAND ON SAID MOLD PART ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE ANNULAR WALL OF A SHELL TO SUPPORT THE SHELL OF THE MOLD PART; (D) MEANS ENGAGING THE SHELL TO CENTER THE SAME ON THE MOLD PART; (E) AN UPPER MOLD PART HAVING A CAVITY FORMING SURFACE SHAPED TO FORM THE INNER SURFACE OF THE SEALING ELEMENT AND HAVING AN UPWARDLY FACING SHOULDER; (F) INTER-ENGAGEABLE MEANS ON SAID UPPER AND LOWER MOLD PARTS FOR ALIGNING THE SAME AXIALLY; (G) A CLAMPING RING ENCIRCLING SAID UPPER MOLD PART AND HAVING A DOWNWARDLY FACING SHOULDER; (H) SPRING MEANS FOR NORMALLY MAINTAINING SAID SHOULDERS IN ENGAGEMENT WITH EACH OTHER; (I) A PRESSURE LAND ON SAID CLAMPING RING ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE ANNULAR WALL OF A SHELL TO CLAMP THE SAME ONTO THE PRESSURE LAND ON THE LOWER MOLD PART; (J) AND A PRESSURE LAND ON SAID UPPER MOLD PART ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE LOWER MOLD PART TO CLOSE OFF A CAVITY IN THE PARTS, AND, AS THE APPARATUS MOVES INTO CLOSED POSITION, TO MOVE THE LOWER PART DOWNWARDLY AGAINST ITS SUPPORTING SPRINGS, SAID CLAMPING RING BEING THEREBY MOVED UPWARDLY AGAINST SAID SPRING MEANS.