Method for manufacturing sealing rings

Claim 1

In a method for manufacturing a substantially wholly flexible substantially V-sectioned sealing ring of a reinforcing first material coated and impregnated with a vulcanized flexible elastomeric second material and defining circumferentially extending flexible lip portions of said two materials, the sealing ring having a uniform homogeneous structure throughout its cross section, said method comprising weaving or braiding a plurality of threads into a band, coiling the band about an axis to form a blank comprising a plurality of coils of the band which are in superimposed relation to each other axially of the blank, and moulding the blank in a mould under pressure with application of heat to impart said substantially V-sectioned shape, said band being put into a substantially V-sectioned shape subsequent to the weaving or braiding thereof but prior to the moulding thereof; the improvement comprising, prior to said weaving or braiding, individually passing said threads through a bath of said elastomeric material so as to individually coat and impregnate said threads whereby said woven or braided band is automatically uniformly and homogeneously impregnated and wholly coated, including on lateral edges thereof, with said elastomeric second material, and weaving or braiding the band to such width that said coated lateral edges of the band define said lip portions of said sealing ring and said sealing ring is wholly constituted by the coils of the coated and impregnated band and has a uniform homogeneous structure throughout its section.