Gasket assembly for beverage dispenser

Claim 2

A gasket assembly for crossing a wall describing a differential pressure barrier with a plurality of ducts comprising a plurality of rubberlike sleeves disposed generally parallel to one another and each adapted to have a duct extend axially through it, a web of rubberlike material formed integrally with and joining the sleeves in a plane generally perpendicular to the sleeves'' axes and designed to lie substantially in the plane of the barrier and with the sleeves disposed on the side of the barrier with the higher pressure so that the pressure may urge the sleeves against ducts which extend through them to form a seal about the ducts, said web having openings therein aligned with the sleeve openings, and a pair of plates having openings therein through which the sleeves and ducts may extend and squeeze the web against one side of the wall, said sleeves extending through the openings and being exposed beyond the plates to the higher pressure on the side of the barrier.

Claim 3

A gasket assembly for crossing a wall as described in claim 1 further characterized by a third plate disposed parallel to at least one or the other of the plates and spaced from it, and an opening in the third plate for engaging and stabilizing a duct extending through one of the sleeves.

Claim 4

A gasket assembly as described in claim 1 further characterized by ducts extending through the sleeves.

Claim 5

A gasket assembly as described in claim 3 further characterized by said web being disposed at one end of the sleeves and with its periphery adapted to overlie the margin of an opening provided in the wall, said plates adapted to squeeze the periphery of the web against the margin of the opening, one of the plates having an opening aligned with each opening in the web.

Claim 6

A gasket assembly as described in claim 4 further characterized by a plurality of additional openings provided in the web and the plate against the side of the web opposite the sleeves and aligned therewith, and fasteners extending through the aligned openings for securing the assembly together.

Claim 7

A gasket assembly as described in claim 5 further characterized by a third plate disposed parallel to at least one or the other of the plates and spaced from it, an opening in the third plate for engaging and stabilizing a duct extending through one of the sleeves, and spacers disposed between the third and said one of the plates for maintaining the relationship of those plates.

Claim 8

A gasket assembly as described in claim 3 further characterized by said sleeves tapering in wall thickness from the web to their free ends.

Claim 9

A gasket assembly for crossing a wall describing a differential pressure barrier with a plurality of ducts comprising, a plurality of rubberlike sleeves disposed generally parallel to one another and each adapted to have a duct extend axially through it, a web of rubberlike material formed integrally with and joining the sleeves in a plane generally perpendicular to the sleeves'' axes and designed to lie substantially in the plane of the barrier, mounting means engaging the web to support the web substantially in the plane of the barrier with the sleeves on the barrier side with the higher pressure and with the outer surfaces of the sleeves exposed to said pressure, relatively rigid ducts extending through the sleeves and capable of withstanding the pressure of the high-pressure side of the baRrier without collapsing, said duct and sleeves being free of adhesive or mechanical couplings so that the ducts may be withdrawn from the sleeves without releasing adhesives or coupling means, said sleeves being adapted in response to the pressure on the high pressure side of the barrier to press against and form a seal about the outer surfaces of the ducts.

Claim 10

A gasket assembly for crossing a wall describing a differential pressure barrier with a plurality of ducts comprising, a plurality of rubberlike sleeves disposed generally parallel to one another and each adapted to have a duct extend axially through it, a web of rubberlike material formed integrally with and joining the sleeves in a plane generally perpendicular to the sleeves'' axes and designed to lie substantially in the plane of the barrier, mounting means engaging the web to support the web substantially in the plane of the barrier with the sleeves on the barrier side with the higher pressure and with the outer surfaces of the sleeves exposed to said pressure, relatively rigid ducts extending through the sleeves and capable of withstanding the pressure of the high-pressure side of the baRrier without collapsing, said duct and sleeves being free of adhesive or mechanical couplings so that the ducts may be withdrawn from the sleeves without releasing adhesives or coupling means, said sleeves being adapted in response to the pressure on the high pressure side of the barrier to press against and form a seal about the outer surfaces of the ducts.

Claim 11

A gasket assembly as defined in claim 8 further characterized by said mounting means including a pair of plates which sandwich the web, openings in one of said plates designed to lie on the high-pressure side of the barrier through which said sleeves extend with the sleeves exposed beyond that plate on their outer surfaces to the high pressure.

Claim 12

A gasket assembly as described in claim 9 further characterized by a third plate disposed parallel to the other plates and spaced from them, and openings in the third plate through which the ducts extend for stabilizing said ducts.