Method and means for applying o-rings

Claim 3

The method as set forth in claim 1 in which said part is held stationary and said body is moved toward said part.

Claim 4

The method as set forth in claim 2 in which the interposed O-ring is moved with said body toward said part.

Claim 5

The method as set forth in claim 1 in which said cylindrical part is arranged with its central axis horizontal and said O-ring is interposed and positioned with its central axis aligned with the central axis of said cylindrical part.

Claim 6

Means to seat an O-ring in an annular groove in a cylindrical part, said part having a tapered end, said means comprising, a. a deformable, resilient body b. means to hold said part and said body such that the tapered end of said part is directed toward said body, c. means to position said O-ring such that it is interposed between the tapered end of said part and said body, and d. means to cause relative movement between said part and said body such that the tapered end of said part passes through said O-ring and deforms said body by indenting it to the degree that it presents surfaces to the O-ring that push the O-ring relatively over the tapered end of said part to said groove to seat therein.

Claim 7

Means to seat an O-ring in an annular groove in a cylindrical part, said part having a tapered end, said means comprising, a. a deformable, resilient body b. means to hold said part and said body such that the tapered end of said part is directed toward said body, c. means to position said O-ring such that it is interposed between the tapered end of said part and said body, and d. means to cause relative movement between said part and said body such that the tapered end of said part passes through said O-ring and deforms said body by indenting it to the degree that it presents surfaces to the O-ring that push the O-ring relatively over the tapered end of said part to said groove to seat therein.

Claim 8

Means aS set forth in claim 5 in which said means to position said O-ring is related to the means to hold said part such that the central axes of said O-ring and said part are aligned.

Claim 9

Means as set forth in claim 5 in which said body has a normally planar facial area thereon disposed to contact one side of said O-ring during said relative movement between said part and said body.

Claim 10

Means as set forth in claim 7 in which said body has a cavity therein centered within said normally planar facial area.

Claim 11

Means as set forth in claim 5 in which said deformable, resilient body is cylindrical and the means to hold said part and said body arranged such that the longitudinal central axes of the body and the part are aligned.

Claim 12

Means as set forth in claim 5 in which said means to cause relative movement between said part and said body is arranged such that the part is stationary and the body moves toward said part.

Claim 13

Apparatus for seating an O-ring in an annular groove in a cylindrical part, said part having a tapered end adjacent said groove, said means comprising, a. a deformable, resilient body b. means to hold said part and said body such that the tapered end of said part is directed toward an end surface of said body, c. means to position said O-ring such that it is interposed between the tapered end of said part and said body, d. the positioning means comprising two openable jaw-like fingers holding said O-ring between them, e. means to cause relative movement between said part, fingers and said body such that the tapered end of said part passes through said O-ring, said fingers are opened to release said O-ring when said O-ring is engaged by said part, and said body is deformed by indenting sufficiently that said body engages the O-ring and holds it while said part is moved relatively through said O-ring deeper into said body until said O-ring is seated in said groove.

Claim 14

Apparatus for seating an O-ring in an annular groove in a cylindrical part, said part having a tapered end adjacent said groove, said means comprising, a. a deformable, resilient body b. means to hold said part and said body such that the tapered end of said part is directed toward an end surface of said body, c. means to position said O-ring such that it is interposed between the tapered end of said part and said body, d. the positioning means comprising two openable jaw-like fingers holding said O-ring between them, e. means to cause relative movement between said part, fingers and said body such that the tapered end of said part passes through said O-ring, said fingers are opened to release said O-ring when said O-ring is engaged by said part, and said body is deformed by indenting sufficiently that said body engages the O-ring and holds it while said part is moved relatively through said O-ring deeper into said body until said O-ring is seated in said groove.

Claim 15

Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 in which said body is made of polyurethane.

Claim 16

Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 in which the fingers of the positioning means present opposed grooves forming a chute in which opposite edge portions of said O-ring slide.

Claim 17

Apparatus as set forth in claim 13 in which said fingers are biased together, and in which said fingers are opened when said O-ring is engaged by said part, by a spreader moving with said part.