Sealing washer

Claim 1

A composite sealing spring washer unit including a spring washer having an inner, dish-like spring section with a centrally located aperture spaced axially upwardly from a bearing surface, and axially displaceable downwardly under load, the bearing surface spaced radially inwardly of the outer perimeter of the washer member, the outer marginal surface section of the washer member forming a radially outwardly opening recess therebeneath between the bearing surface of the spring section and the outer perimeter of the washer member, the recess including an inner wall terminating at said bearing surface and extending upwardly therefrom and a generally planar upper wall extending radially outwardly from the inner wall, said inner wall providing a predetermined maximum height from the bearing surface to the upper wall of the recess, a resilient sealing ring positioned within the recess securely bonded thereto with the inner periphery of the sealing ring forming a generally cylindrical wall extending substantially perpendicular to the upper wall of the recess, said cylindrical inner wall periphery being substantially spaced radially outwardly from the inner wall of the recess and the bearing surface to prevent the sealing material from being compressed between the bearing surface and the workpiece, the sealing ring having a thickness which is greater than the predetermined height of the recess to permit a compressed seal to be formed beneath the washer and outwardly off the bearing surface.