Seal for hydraulic pressure modulator

Claim 2

In a hydraulic device: a housing defining a bore therewithin, a diaphragm secured to said housing and including a web extending transversely across said bore to divide the latter into a pair of compartments; said housing defining a passage communicating said bore with the exterior of said housing, said diaphragm extending into said passage, said web dividing said passage into a first section for communicating one of said compartments with the exterior of the housing and a second section for communicating the other compartment with the exterior of the housing, and a pair of movable lips extending from opposite sides of said diaphragm for engagement with opposite walls of said passage and when in disengagement with said passage, permitting said communication between the respective compartments and the exterior of the housing.

Claim 3

The inventIon of claim 1: said housing being split transversely of said bore into first and second portions, said diaphragm including a perimetrical bead clamped between said portions, a section of said perimetrical bead being cut away to define said lips.

Claim 4

The invention of claim 2: a circumferential groove formed in the interface between said first and second portions, said bead being received in said groove, said passage intersecting said groove.

Claim 5

The invention of claim 3: said lips being disposed within the portion of the groove at the intersection of the passage and said groove, said lips normally engaging the walls of the groove.

Claim 6

The invention of claim 4: means moving said web relative to said bead to increase the fluid pressure level in at least one of said compartments during movement of the web in one direction to thereby expel fluid in at least said one compartment to the exterior of said housing around the corresponding lip.

Claim 7

The invention of claim 5: means in said housing whereby upon movement of said web in a direction opposite to said one direction a partial vacuum is created in at least said one compartment to urge said corresponding lip into sealing engagement with said housing to prevent entry of contaminants into said housing.

Claim 8

The invention of claim 6: said means moving said web including a piston slidably mounted in said bore, one end of said piston being operably connected to said web, the other end of said piston cooperating with the corresponding end of said bore to define a fluid receiving volume therebetween.

Claim 9

The invention of claim 1, said web extending through said passage in a substantially axial plane with respect to the passage.

Claim 10

In a hydraulic device: a housing defining a bore therewithin; a diaphragm secured to said housing and including a web extending transversely across said bore to divide the latter into a pair of compartments, passage means extending through the wall of said housing to communicate one of said compartments with the exterior of said housing, said diaphragm extending into said passage means, said web dividing said passage into a first section for communicating one of said compartments with the exterior of the housing and a second section for communicating the other compartment with the exterior of the housing; means slidably mounted within said housing for moving said web, so that the volume of said one chamber is decreased to thereby raise the pressure level therein when the web is moved in one direction and the pressure level in said one chamber is decreased during movement of the web in the opposite direction; and valve means carried by said diaphragm and cooperating with said passage means, said valve means being responsive to the fluid pressure level in said one chamber to open said passage means upon increase of fluid pressure in said one chamber due to movement of said diaphragm in said one direction to permit liquid content of said one chamber to drain through said passage means and to seal said passage means to prevent entry of contaminants into said one chamber from the exterior of said housing upon decrease of the fluid pressure level in said one chamber upon movement of said diaphragm in said opposite direction.

Claim 11

In a hydraulic device: a housing defining a bore therewithin; a diaphragm secured to said housing and including a web extending transversely across said bore to divide the latter into a pair of compartments, passage means extending through the wall of said housing to communicate one of said compartments with the exterior of said housing, said diaphragm extending into said passage means, said web dividing said passage into a first section for communicating one of said compartments with the exterior of the housing and a second section for communicating the other compartment with the exterior of the housing; means slidably mounted within said housing for moving said web, so that the volume of said one chamber is decreased to thereby raise the pressure level therein when the web is moved in one direction and the pressure level in said one chamber is decreased during movement of the web in the opposite direction; and valve means carried by said diaphragm and cooperating with said passage means, said valve means being responsive to the fluid pressure level in said one chamber to open said passage means upon increase of fluid pressure in said one chamber due to movement of said diaphragm in said one direction to permit liquid content of said one chamber to drain through said passage means and to seal said passage means to prevent entry of contaminants into said one chamber from the exterior of said housing upon decrease of the fluid pressure level in said one chamber upon movement of said diaphragm in said opposite direction.

Claim 12

The invention of claim 9: said valve means being a resilient lip carried by said diaphragm.

Claim 13

The invention of claim 9, said web extending through said passage in a substantially axial plane with respect to the passage.

Claim 14

In a hydraulic device: a housing defining a bore therewithin; a diaphragm secured to said housing and including a web extending transversely across said bore to divide the latter into a pair of compartments, passage means extending through the wall of said housing to communicate one of said compartments with the exterior of said housing, said diaphragm extending into said passage means; means slidably mounted within said housing for moving said web, so that The volume of said one chamber is decreased to thereby raise the pressure level therein when the web is moved in one direction and the pressure level in said one chamber is decreased during movement of the web in the opposite direction; and valve means carried by said diaphragm and cooperating with said passage means, said valve means being responsive to the fluid pressure level in said one chamber to open said passage means upon increase of fluid pressure in said one chamber due to movement of said diaphragm in said one direction to permit liquid content of said one chamber to drain through said passage means and to seal said passage means to prevent entry of contaminants into said one chamber from the exterior of said housing upon decrease of the fluid pressure level in said one chamber upon movement of said diaphragm in said opposite direction; said valve means being a resilient lip carried by said diaphragm; said passage means being an opening in said housing, said diaphragm bisecting said opening to form a first passage defined in one side of said diaphragm communicating with said one chamber and another passage defined on the opposite side of said diaphragm communicating with the other chamber; there being two of said lips, one on each side of said diaphragm, each of said lips cooperating with their corresponding passages to control communication therethrough.

Claim 15

In a hydraulic device: a housing defining a bore therewithin; a diaphragm secured to said housing and including a web extending transversely across said bore to divide the latter into a pair of compartments, passage means extending through the wall of said housing to communicate one of said compartments with the exterior of said housing, said diaphragm extending into said passage means; means slidably mounted within said housing for moving said web, so that The volume of said one chamber is decreased to thereby raise the pressure level therein when the web is moved in one direction and the pressure level in said one chamber is decreased during movement of the web in the opposite direction; and valve means carried by said diaphragm and cooperating with said passage means, said valve means being responsive to the fluid pressure level in said one chamber to open said passage means upon increase of fluid pressure in said one chamber due to movement of said diaphragm in said one direction to permit liquid content of said one chamber to drain through said passage means and to seal said passage means to prevent entry of contaminants into said one chamber from the exterior of said housing upon decrease of the fluid pressure level in said one chamber upon movement of said diaphragm in said opposite direction; said valve means being a resilient lip carried by said diaphragm; said passage means being an opening in said housing, said diaphragm bisecting said opening to form a first passage defined in one side of said diaphragm communicating with said one chamber and another passage defined on the opposite side of said diaphragm communicating with the other chamber; there being two of said lips, one on each side of said diaphragm, each of said lips cooperating with their corresponding passages to control communication therethrough.