US3851369A — Apparatus for application of resilient seals

Claim 1

Independent Claim 343 words

Apparatus for placing a distensible annular component in a seat formed in a workpiece, the apparatus comprising: feed means adapted to align the component with other similar components; an escapement positioned to receive the component from the feed means; a transport mechanism including a plunger having an end portion below the escapement for receiving the component from the escapement with the plunger in a rest position, and an actuator coupled to the plunger to move the plunger axially to carry the component towards the seat in the workpiece, the plunger continuing to move until it reaches an extended position where the component is located adjacent the seat, whereupon further movement of the actuator causes the plunger to take up a strip position thereby causing the component to move into the seat; the escapement comprising: a movable element adapted to receive the component off the feed means and to support the component above said plunger end portion; a further actuator coupled to the movable element to move said Element between a guide position in which the element supports the component and a withdrawn position which permits the component to fall; a rod arranged for movement between a withdrawn position in which a lower end of the rod is above the movable element, and an extended position in which the rod projects through the component as the component rests on the movable element and in which said end of the rod is immediately adjacent the plunger end portion with the plunger in the withdrawn position; another actuator coupled to the rod to move the rod between said withdrawn and extended positions; and a sequential control system coupled to the respective actuators to move the actuators sequentially, whereby with the plunger in the withdrawn position, the movable element in the guide position, and the rod in the extended position, the component may be moved onto the plunger end portion by causing said further actuator to move the movable element into the withdrawn position whereupon the component falls onto the plunger end portion guided by the rod.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 343 words

Apparatus for placing a distensible annular component in a seat formed in a workpiece, the apparatus comprising: feed means adapted to align the component with other similar components; an escapement positioned to receive the component from the feed means; a transport mechanism including a plunger having an end portion below the escapement for receiving the component from the escapement with the plunger in a rest position, and an actuator coupled to the plunger to move the plunger axially to carry the component towards the seat in the workpiece, the plunger continuing to move until it reaches an extended position where the component is located adjacent the seat, whereupon further movement of the actuator causes the plunger to take up a strip position thereby causing the component to move into the seat; the escapement comprising: a movable element adapted to receive the component off the feed means and to support the component above said plunger end portion; a further actuator coupled to the movable element to move said Element between a guide position in which the element supports the component and a withdrawn position which permits the component to fall; a rod arranged for movement between a withdrawn position in which a lower end of the rod is above the movable element, and an extended position in which the rod projects through the component as the component rests on the movable element and in which said end of the rod is immediately adjacent the plunger end portion with the plunger in the withdrawn position; another actuator coupled to the rod to move the rod between said withdrawn and extended positions; and a sequential control system coupled to the respective actuators to move the actuators sequentially, whereby with the plunger in the withdrawn position, the movable element in the guide position, and the rod in the extended position, the component may be moved onto the plunger end portion by causing said further actuator to move the movable element into the withdrawn position whereupon the component falls onto the plunger end portion guided by the rod.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 57 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising a fixture aligned with the plunger for locating the workpiece relative to the transport mechanism, the fixture including means sensitive to the engagement of the workpiece in the fixture and coupled to the sequential control system for commencing a cycle whereby the component is placed in said seat.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 20 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the movable element is moved linearly between said guide and withdrawn positions.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 20 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the movable element is moved angularly between said guide and withdrawn positions.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 185 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the plunger comprises: a casing; an inner element slidably engaged in the casing for movement axially relative to the casing, said inner element defining said plunger end portion; means biassing the inner element axially outwards of the casing; means limiting outward movement of the inner element to retain the inner element in a predetermined axial position relative to the casing; a saddle piece attached to the inner element adjacent said end portion and positioned on an upwardly-facing portion of the inner element, the saddle piece being adapted to push the component into the workpiece as the plunger moves from the rest position to the extended position with a lower portion of the component trailing behind the remainder of the component and below the saddle piece; said casing having a forward portion adapted to be moved along the inner element below the saddle piece when the plunger is moved between the extended position and the strip position to thereby move the lower portion of the component into alignment with the seat to engage the component in the seat.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 113 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 and further comprising a fixture aligned with the plunger for locating the workpiece relative to the transport mechanism, the fixture including means sensitive to the engagement of the workpiece in the fixture and coupled to the sequential control system for commencing a cycle whereby the component is placed in said seat, said inner element being in engagement with said fixture with the plunger in the extended position to thereby prevent further movement of the inner element so that further movement of the plunger results only in the casing moving axially to cause the forward portion to make said movement along the inner element below the saddle piece.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 286 words

Apparatus for placing a distensible annular component in a seat formed in a workpiece, the apparatus comprising: feed means adapted to align the component with other similar components; an escapement positioned to receive the component from the feed means; a transport mechanism including a plunger having an end portion adapted to receive the component from the escapement with the plunger in a rest position, and an actuator coupled to the plunger to move the plunger axially; the plunger comprising: a casing; an innEr element slidably engaged in the casing for movement axially relative to the casing, said inner element defining said plunger end portion; means biassing the inner element axially outwards of the casing; means limiting outward movement of the inner element to retain the inner element in a predetermined axial position relative to the casing; a saddle piece attached to the inner element adjacent said end portion and positioned at a side of the inner element, the saddle piece being adapted to push the component into the workpiece as the plunger is driven by the actuator from the rest position to an extended position with a portion of the component not in contact with the saddle piece trailing behind the saddle piece, the component then being adjacent said seat; and means limiting further axial movement of the inner element beyond the extended position and said casing having a forward portion adapted to be moved axially along the inner element to one side of the saddle piece when the plunger is moved by the actuator from the extended position to a strip position whereby the forward portion pushes said trailing portion of the component into alignment with the seat to engage the component in the seat.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 286 words

Apparatus for placing a distensible annular component in a seat formed in a workpiece, the apparatus comprising: feed means adapted to align the component with other similar components; an escapement positioned to receive the component from the feed means; a transport mechanism including a plunger having an end portion adapted to receive the component from the escapement with the plunger in a rest position, and an actuator coupled to the plunger to move the plunger axially; the plunger comprising: a casing; an innEr element slidably engaged in the casing for movement axially relative to the casing, said inner element defining said plunger end portion; means biassing the inner element axially outwards of the casing; means limiting outward movement of the inner element to retain the inner element in a predetermined axial position relative to the casing; a saddle piece attached to the inner element adjacent said end portion and positioned at a side of the inner element, the saddle piece being adapted to push the component into the workpiece as the plunger is driven by the actuator from the rest position to an extended position with a portion of the component not in contact with the saddle piece trailing behind the saddle piece, the component then being adjacent said seat; and means limiting further axial movement of the inner element beyond the extended position and said casing having a forward portion adapted to be moved axially along the inner element to one side of the saddle piece when the plunger is moved by the actuator from the extended position to a strip position whereby the forward portion pushes said trailing portion of the component into alignment with the seat to engage the component in the seat.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 28 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 in which the plunger end portion is enlarged and the component is located between this enlarged end portion and the saddle piece.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 28 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 in which the plunger end portion is enlarged and the component is located between this enlarged end portion and the saddle piece.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 135 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 in which the plunger moves vertically, and in which the escapement comprises: a platform for receiving the components from the feed means; said platform defining an opening, adapted to slidably receive at least said end portion of the plunger; a slider mounted on the platform and movable to push a leading one of the components along the platform into position about said platform opening; means adapted to move said leading one of the components into engagement with said plunger end portion adjacent the saddle piece to retain the component in this position while the plunger pushes the component through the opening in the platform to thereby move the component into position with said portion of the component not in contact with the saddle piece trailing behind the saddle piece.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1977-12-02	1978-06-03	1978-12-03	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1981-12-02	1982-06-03	1982-12-03	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1985-12-02	1986-06-03	1986-12-03	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Apparatus for application of resilient seals

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag