US3723216A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of making expansible seal for valves
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-08-25
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Granted: 1973-03-27
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Expires: 1991-08-25
Abstract
Abstract An expandable seal for valves, the seal having a closed resilient tubular loop of expandable material, the loop having an opening therein, and a resilient tubular leader integrally formed with the loop communicating with the opening. The invention also includes the method of manufacturing an expandable seal by means of a sequency of steps utilizing mandrels and a heated platten for forming a length of expandable tubing into a closed loop having an integral leader extending therefrom.
Inventors
- 👤 C Kirkwood
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 20:58
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C66/00; B29C66/50; B29C66/51; B29C66/52; B29C66/522; B29C66/5221; B29C66/52211; B29C65/00; B29C65/02; B29C65/18; B29C66/01; B29C66/05; B29C66/10; B29C66/11; B29C66/112; B29C66/114; B29C66/5224; B29C66/52241; B29C66/63; B29C66/1142; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T156/00; Y10T156/10; Y10T156/1052
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
294 words
A method of manufacturing an expandable seal for use such as in a valve, comprising the steps of: 1. cutting a resilient tube to obtain a first length required to form a closed loop of a desired dimension; 2. cutting a resilient tube to obtain a second length required to form a leader of the desired length; 3. inserting a first metallic cylindrical mandrel into one end of said first length of tubing, the first mandrel having a diameter substantially equal the internal diameter of said first length of tubing; 4. inserting a second metallic cylindrical mandrel into said second length of tubing; 5. contacting one end of said second length of tubing having said second mandrel therein against said first length of tubing having said first mandrel therein at a point adjacent to and spaced from the first end of said first length of tubing; 6. raising the temperature of said first and second lengths of tubing at the area of contact thereof to fuse said second length of tubing to said first length of tubing; 7. removing said first and second mandrels; 8. forming an opening in said first length of tubing at the intersection with said second length of tubing; 9. inserting a third metallic mandrel through said second length of tubing, through said opening in said first length of tubing and beyond the first end thereof; 10. inserting the second end of said first length of tubing over said third mandrel extending beyond the first end and contacting the first and second ends of said first length of tubing; 11. raising the temperature of said first length of tubing at the area of contact of said two ends thereof to fuse said ends together; and 12. removing said third mandrel.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
294 words
A method of manufacturing an expandable seal for use such as in a valve, comprising the steps of: 1. cutting a resilient tube to obtain a first length required to form a closed loop of a desired dimension; 2. cutting a resilient tube to obtain a second length required to form a leader of the desired length; 3. inserting a first metallic cylindrical mandrel into one end of said first length of tubing, the first mandrel having a diameter substantially equal the internal diameter of said first length of tubing; 4. inserting a second metallic cylindrical mandrel into said second length of tubing; 5. contacting one end of said second length of tubing having said second mandrel therein against said first length of tubing having said first mandrel therein at a point adjacent to and spaced from the first end of said first length of tubing; 6. raising the temperature of said first and second lengths of tubing at the area of contact thereof to fuse said second length of tubing to said first length of tubing; 7. removing said first and second mandrels; 8. forming an opening in said first length of tubing at the intersection with said second length of tubing; 9. inserting a third metallic mandrel through said second length of tubing, through said opening in said first length of tubing and beyond the first end thereof; 10. inserting the second end of said first length of tubing over said third mandrel extending beyond the first end and contacting the first and second ends of said first length of tubing; 11. raising the temperature of said first length of tubing at the area of contact of said two ends thereof to fuse said ends together; and 12. removing said third mandrel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method of manufacturing an expandable seal according to claim 1. wherein step (6) includes positioning portions of said first and second length of tubing at the area of contact thereof between heated platten portions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
cutting a resilient tube to obtain a second length required to form a leader of the desired length;
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
cutting a resilient tube to obtain a second length required to form a leader of the desired length;
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
inserting a first metallic cylindrical mandrel into one end of said first length of tubing, the first mandrel having a diameter substantially equal the internal diameter of said first length of tubing;
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
inserting a first metallic cylindrical mandrel into one end of said first length of tubing, the first mandrel having a diameter substantially equal the internal diameter of said first length of tubing;
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method of manufacturing an expandable seal according to claim 1. wherein step (11) includes placing said first length of tubing at the area of contact of the two ends thereof between heated platten portions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method of manufacturing an expandable seal according to claim 1. including the steps of forming an external taper at one of said ends of said first length of tubing and an internal taper at the other said end of said first length of tubing before said ends are contacted in step (10).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
inserting a second metallic cylindrical mandrel into said second length of tubing;
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
inserting a second metallic cylindrical mandrel into said second length of tubing;
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
contacting one end of said second length of tubing having said second mandrel therein against said first length of tubing having said first mandrel therein at a point adjacent to and spaced from the first end of said first length of tubing;
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
contacting one end of said second length of tubing having said second mandrel therein against said first length of tubing having said first mandrel therein at a point adjacent to and spaced from the first end of said first length of tubing;
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
raising the temperature of said first and second lengths of tubing at the area of contact thereof to fuse said second length of tubing to said first length of tubing;
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
raising the temperature of said first and second lengths of tubing at the area of contact thereof to fuse said second length of tubing to said first length of tubing;
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
6 words
removing said first and second mandrels;
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
6 words
removing said first and second mandrels;
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
forming an opening in said first length of tubing at the intersection with said second length of tubing;
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
forming an opening in said first length of tubing at the intersection with said second length of tubing;
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
inserting a third metallic mandrel through said second length of tubing, through said opening in said first length of tubing and beyond the first end thereof;
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
inserting a third metallic mandrel through said second length of tubing, through said opening in said first length of tubing and beyond the first end thereof;
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
32 words
inserting the second end of said first length of tubing over said third mandrel extending beyond the first end and contacting the first and second ends of said first length of tubing;
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
32 words
inserting the second end of said first length of tubing over said third mandrel extending beyond the first end and contacting the first and second ends of said first length of tubing;
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
raising the temperature of said first length of tubing at the area of contact of said two ends thereof to fuse said ends together; and
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
raising the temperature of said first length of tubing at the area of contact of said two ends thereof to fuse said ends together; and
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
4 words
removing said third mandrel.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
4 words
removing said third mandrel.
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) | 1976-03-26 | 1976-09-25 | 1977-03-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-03-26 | 1980-09-25 | 1981-03-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-03-26 | 1984-09-25 | 1985-03-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |