US3687465A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fluid tight annular seals
Assignee: Keelavite Hydraulics Ltd
•
Filing: 1970-01-09
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Granted: 1972-08-29
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Expires: 1990-01-09
Abstract
Abstract A fluid seal of the O-ring type in which extrusion of the O-ring along the leakage path when under pressure is prevented by means of a support ring of bow-shaped cross-section on the downstream side of the O-ring between the O-ring and an abutment surface.
Inventors
- 👤 Frank L Grime
- 👤 Arthur Downs
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 09:33
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16L; F16L17/00; F16L17/02; F16L19/00; F16L19/06; F16L19/061; F16J; F16J15/00; F16J15/02; F16J15/021; F16J15/028; F16J15/16; F16J15/166; F16L19/08; F16L19/083; F16L19/086; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S277/00; Y10S277/91
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
221 words
A seal assembly comprising an annular leakage path to be sealed, the path being defined by at least annular outer and inner walls and an abutment wall which reduces the cross-section of the path, an O-ring in the path upstream of the abutment wall in the direction of leakage sealing engaging said annular walls, and a deformable support ring between the O-ring and the abutment wall, the support ring having a generally concave surface on the side adjacent the O-ring, the radius of curvature of the central portion of the concave surface of the support ring being slightly smaller than that of the adjacent surface of the O-ring, the surface of the support ring on the side adjacent the abutment wall and the surface of the abutment wall being such that the support ring makes contact with the abutment wall only in a narrow annular region intermediate the radially inner and radially outer circumferences of the support ring and the O-ring contacting the support ring in two regions which are radially inward and outward of said narrow annular region whereby pressure applied to the side of the O-ring remote from the support ring causes the radially inner and outer circumferences of the support ring to be bowed outwardly thereof so as to prevent extrusion of the O-ring past the support ring.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
221 words
A seal assembly comprising an annular leakage path to be sealed, the path being defined by at least annular outer and inner walls and an abutment wall which reduces the cross-section of the path, an O-ring in the path upstream of the abutment wall in the direction of leakage sealing engaging said annular walls, and a deformable support ring between the O-ring and the abutment wall, the support ring having a generally concave surface on the side adjacent the O-ring, the radius of curvature of the central portion of the concave surface of the support ring being slightly smaller than that of the adjacent surface of the O-ring, the surface of the support ring on the side adjacent the abutment wall and the surface of the abutment wall being such that the support ring makes contact with the abutment wall only in a narrow annular region intermediate the radially inner and radially outer circumferences of the support ring and the O-ring contacting the support ring in two regions which are radially inward and outward of said narrow annular region whereby pressure applied to the side of the O-ring remote from the support ring causes the radially inner and outer circumferences of the support ring to be bowed outwardly thereof so as to prevent extrusion of the O-ring past the support ring.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
An assembly as claimed in claim 1 in which the abutment wall extends in a plane normal to the axis of the annular leakage path and of the O-ring and support ring.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
An assembly as claimed in claim 1 in which the surface of the support ring adjacent the abutment wall is curved and is convex.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
An assembly as claimed in claim 3 in which the surface of the support ring adjacent the abutment wall is approximately parallel with the concave surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A seal assembly as claimed in claim 1 in which the support ring is permanently secured to the O-ring.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
260 words
A seal assembly comprising an annular path to be sealed, the path being defined by at least annular outer and inner walls and an abutment wall which reduces the cross-section of the path, an O-ring disposed in the path upstream of said abutment wall in the direction of leakage sealing engaging said annular walls, and a deformable support ring disposed between said O-ring and said abutment wall, said support ring having a generally concave surface on its side adjacent said O-ring, the radius of curvature of the central portion of the concave surface of the support being slightly smaller than that of the adjacent surface of the O-ring, and said support ring further having radially inner and radially outer circumferential walls respectively spaced a slight distance from said outer and inner walls in the relaxed condition of said support ring, the surface of said support ring on its side adjacent said abutment wall and the surface of said abutment wall being such that said support ring makes contact with said abutment wall only in a narrow annular region thereof in its relaxed condition intermediate said radially inner and radially outer circumferential walls and the O-ring contacting the support ring in two regions which are radially inward and outward of said narrow annular region, whereby pressure applied to the side of said O-ring remote from said support ring causes said radially inner and outer circumferential walls to be bowed into contact, respectively, with said annular inner and outer walls so as to prevent extrusion of said O-ring past said support ring.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
260 words
A seal assembly comprising an annular path to be sealed, the path being defined by at least annular outer and inner walls and an abutment wall which reduces the cross-section of the path, an O-ring disposed in the path upstream of said abutment wall in the direction of leakage sealing engaging said annular walls, and a deformable support ring disposed between said O-ring and said abutment wall, said support ring having a generally concave surface on its side adjacent said O-ring, the radius of curvature of the central portion of the concave surface of the support being slightly smaller than that of the adjacent surface of the O-ring, and said support ring further having radially inner and radially outer circumferential walls respectively spaced a slight distance from said outer and inner walls in the relaxed condition of said support ring, the surface of said support ring on its side adjacent said abutment wall and the surface of said abutment wall being such that said support ring makes contact with said abutment wall only in a narrow annular region thereof in its relaxed condition intermediate said radially inner and radially outer circumferential walls and the O-ring contacting the support ring in two regions which are radially inward and outward of said narrow annular region, whereby pressure applied to the side of said O-ring remote from said support ring causes said radially inner and outer circumferential walls to be bowed into contact, respectively, with said annular inner and outer walls so as to prevent extrusion of said O-ring past said support ring.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
A seal assembly as claimed in claim 6 in which the support ring is permanently secured to the O-ring.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-08-29 | 1976-02-28 | 1976-08-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-08-29 | 1980-02-28 | 1980-08-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-08-29 | 1984-02-28 | 1984-08-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |