Abstract A multiple purpose sealing washer for use in effecting a seal between a nut or fastener head and a parallel planar surface by selectively surrounding the threaded or unthreaded shank of said fastener. The device includes an outer, relatively rigid washer element, and an inner concentric elastomeric element having a relatively wide outer peripheral surface bonded to said rigid washer element at an inner peripheral surface thereof, and an inner periphery which is tapered to a sharp edge, corresponding to the interstice between two adjacent threads on said shank, whereby when said inner periphery engages a smooth cylindrical shank, said continuous edge forms a complete seal therebetween by radial expansion, and when said inner periphery is engaged with a threaded shank, the continuous threads thereon will deform said edge at one point on the periphery thereof to permit the other points on said edge to resiliently extend into the interstice between adjacent threads to prevent leakage along said interstice.
In combination, a fastener having a threaded shank, the threads of which have v-shaped flanks converging to a narrow root surface, and a multiple purpose sealing washer for effecting a seal between the head of the fastener and a parallel planar surface by surrounding a portion of said shank associated with said head; said washer including a relatively rigid outer washer element, and an inner concentric elastomeric annular element having a relatively rigid wide outer peripheral surface bonded to said rigid washer element, at least one concentric annular portion being of effective thickness greater than that of said rigid washer element spaced inwardly from said outer portion thereof, and having an inner peripheral annular portion of radially inwardly tapering cross section, formed by a pair of concave surfaces terminating in a single continuous annular sharp edge capable of entering into the spiral interstice created by the thread of the shank, said edge being thereby deformed at one point along said inner periphery by said thread upon engagement therewith; the unstressed diameter of said sharp edge corresponding to the root diameter of said threaded shank; said elastomeric element including a annular portion immediately adjacent said outer peripheral surface of effective thickness less than that of said rigid washer element to accommodate elastomeric flow in a radial direction upon compression of said elastomeric element.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
222 words
In combination, a fastener having a threaded shank, the threads of which have v-shaped flanks converging to a narrow root surface, and a multiple purpose sealing washer for effecting a seal between the head of the fastener and a parallel planar surface by surrounding a portion of said shank associated with said head; said washer including a relatively rigid outer washer element, and an inner concentric elastomeric annular element having a relatively rigid wide outer peripheral surface bonded to said rigid washer element, at least one concentric annular portion being of effective thickness greater than that of said rigid washer element spaced inwardly from said outer portion thereof, and having an inner peripheral annular portion of radially inwardly tapering cross section, formed by a pair of concave surfaces terminating in a single continuous annular sharp edge capable of entering into the spiral interstice created by the thread of the shank, said edge being thereby deformed at one point along said inner periphery by said thread upon engagement therewith; the unstressed diameter of said sharp edge corresponding to the root diameter of said threaded shank; said elastomeric element including a annular portion immediately adjacent said outer peripheral surface of effective thickness less than that of said rigid washer element to accommodate elastomeric flow in a radial direction upon compression of said elastomeric element.