Abstract An avionic tray is disclosed for supporting electronic instruments on a shelf. The tray includes an aperture formed thereon for providing the supported instrument with communication to an air plenum chamber. An interchangeable metering plate is adapted to extend over the aperture, with the plate having a predetermined number of metering ports formed thereon in any desired arrangement. The metering plate is interconnected to the aperture by means of a removable annular gasket, which in turn sealingly engages a surface of the electronic instrument. The gasket includes a pair of annular grooves for receiving the peripheral edges of the metering plate and the tray aperture. The gasket is constructed in such a manner that any application of a downward or lateral force on the gasket by the supported instrument causes the metering plate to be forced against the rim of the aperture to tightly hold the portion of the gasket between the two elements and prevent the gasket from becoming disengaged.
A METHOD OF FORMING A GASKET FOR USE IN AN AVIONIC TRAY HAVING AN APERTURED RIM AND A REMOVABLE METERING PLATE, COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: EXTRUDING AN ELONGATED FLEXIBLE MATERIAL TO FORM A GASKET MEMBER WHICH DEFINES FIRST AND SECOND GENERALLY PARALLEL GROVES ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE GASKET MEMBER, A SAGEWAY DISPOSED ABOVE THE GROOVES AND A SEALING SURFACE FORMED ALONG THE TOP OF THE GASKET MEMBER AND ABOVE THE PASSAGE PASSAGEWAY; CUTTING THE EXTRUDED GASKET MEMBER TO A PEDETERMINED LENGTH, AND BONDING THE TWO ENDS OF THE GASKET TOGETHER TO FORM AN ANNULAR GASKET, THE GASKET MAINTAINING A FLAT SEALING SURFACE WHEN THE GASKET IS DEFORMED INTO AN OBLONG SHAPE.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
112 words
A METHOD OF FORMING A GASKET FOR USE IN AN AVIONIC TRAY HAVING AN APERTURED RIM AND A REMOVABLE METERING PLATE, COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: EXTRUDING AN ELONGATED FLEXIBLE MATERIAL TO FORM A GASKET MEMBER WHICH DEFINES FIRST AND SECOND GENERALLY PARALLEL GROVES ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE GASKET MEMBER, A SAGEWAY DISPOSED ABOVE THE GROOVES AND A SEALING SURFACE FORMED ALONG THE TOP OF THE GASKET MEMBER AND ABOVE THE PASSAGE PASSAGEWAY; CUTTING THE EXTRUDED GASKET MEMBER TO A PEDETERMINED LENGTH, AND BONDING THE TWO ENDS OF THE GASKET TOGETHER TO FORM AN ANNULAR GASKET, THE GASKET MAINTAINING A FLAT SEALING SURFACE WHEN THE GASKET IS DEFORMED INTO AN OBLONG SHAPE.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the gasket member defines a concave sealing surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the gasket member defines a V-shaped groove along the top thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the gasket member defines a second passageway extending above the second groove.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the gasket member is made of silicone rubber.