Bellows-type spring seal

Claim 2

A bellows-type spring seal to connect between a cab-mounted air intake pipe and a frame-mounted air cleaner canister while providing an effective breakaway joint when the cab tilts from over the engine in a cab-over-engine truck, comprising: a bellows extending upwardly from the canister top, having an upper, deformable sealing end, and being capable of providing self-alignment between the air intake pipe and the canister; means for attaching the lower end of the bellows to the canister; and means encircling the bellows for biasing the sealing end of the bellows away from the canister toward the intake pipe and for providing a positive preload for the seal.

Claim 3

The seal of claim 1 wherein the bellows is an elastomer.

Claim 4

A bellows-type spring seal to connect between a cab-mounted air intake pipe and a frame mounted air cleaner canister while providing an effective breakaway joint when the cab tilts from over the engine in a cab-over-engine truck, comprising: a bellows having an upper sealing end and being capable of providing self-alignment between the air intake pipe and the canister; means for attaching the lower end of the bellows to the canister; and means encircling the bellows for biasing the sealing end of the bellows away from the canister and for providing a positive preload for the seal, including a plurality of coil springs spaced about the periphery of the bellows, and a free-standing ring encircling the bellows and resting on the canister, the ring having posts to position the springs.

Claim 5

A bellows-type spring seal to connect between a cab-mounted air intake pipe and a frame mounted air cleaner canister while providing an effective breakaway joint when the cab tilts from over the engine in a cab-over-engine truck, comprising: a bellows having an upper sealing end and being capable of providing self-alignment between the air intake pipe and the canister; means for attaching the lower end of the bellows to the canister; and means encircling the bellows for biasing the sealing end of the bellows away from the canister and for providing a positive preload for the seal, including a plurality of coil springs spaced about the periphery of the bellows, and a free-standing ring encircling the bellows and resting on the canister, the ring having posts to position the springs.

Claim 6

The seal of claim 3 wherein the sealing end of the bellows is deformable to create a better sealing seat with the air intake pipe.

Claim 7

The seal of claim 3 wherein the sealing end of the bellows is flared to mate with the bell housing of a common air intake pipe.

Claim 8

A bellows-type spring seal to connect between a cab-mounted air intake pipe and a frame-mounted air cleaner canister while providing an effective breakaway joint when the cab tilts from over the engine in a cab-over-engine truck, comprising: an elastomeric bellows having an upper, deformable sealing end and being capable of providing self-alignment between the air intake pipe and the canister; a means for clamping the lower end of the bellows to the canister; and a plurality of coil springs spaced about the periphery of the bellows for biasing the sealing end of the bellows away from the canister and for providing a positive preload for the seal, positioned upon posts of a ring which encircles the bellows and rests atop the canister.

Claim 9

A bellows-type spring seal to connect between a cab-mounted air intake pipe and a frame-mounted air cleaner canister while providing an effective breakaway joint when the cab tilts from over the engine in a cab-over-engine truck, comprising: an elastomeric bellows having an upper, deformable sealing end and being capable of providing self-alignment between the air intake pipe and the canister; a means for clamping the lower end of the bellows to the canister; and a plurality of coil springs spaced about the periphery of the bellows for biasing the sealing end of the bellows away from the canister and for providing a positive preload for the seal, positioned upon posts of a ring which encircles the bellows and rests atop the canister.

Claim 10

The seal of claim 6 wherein the sealing end of the bellows is flared to mate with the bell housing of a common air intake pipe.

Claim 11

The seal of claim 6 wherein there are three coil springs.

Claim 12

The seal of claim 8 wherein the springs are equidistantly spaced.

Claim 13

An elastic spring-biased seal assembly to connect between a cab-mounted air intake pipe and a frame-mounted air cleaner canister while providing an effective breakaway joint when the cab tilts from over the engine in a cab-over-engine truck, comprising: an axially elastic, radially flexible, elastomeric tubular member fixedly secured at a first end to one of said canister and air intake pipe and providing self-alignment between the air intake pipe and the canister and having a movable, deformable, sealing second end opposite said first end for sealing with the mating end of the other of said canister and air intake pipe, wherein the elastic spring-biased seal assembly eliminates the need for brackets to properly align piping between the canister and the air intake pipe; and a plurality of three or more independent spring means encircling the tubular member for biasing the sealing end of the tubular member to axially, elastically stretch the tubular member for providing a positive preload for the seal against the mating end of the other of said canister and air intake pipe.

Claim 14

An elastic spring-biased seal assembly to connect between a cab-mounted air intake pipe and a frame-mounted air cleaner canister while providing an effective breakaway joint when the cab tilts from over the engine in a cab-over-engine truck, comprising: an axially elastic, radially flexible, elastomeric tubular member fixedly secured at a first end to one of said canister and air intake pipe and providing self-alignment between the air intake pipe and the canister and having a movable, deformable, sealing second end opposite said first end for sealing with the mating end of the other of said canister and air intake pipe, wherein the elastic spring-biased seal assembly eliminates the need for brackets to properly align piping between the canister and the air intake pipe; and a plurality of three or more independent spring means encircling the tubular member for biasing the sealing end of the tubular member to axially, elastically stretch the tubular member for providing a positive preload for the seal against the mating end of the other of said canister and air intake pipe.

Claim 15

The seal assembly of claim 10 wherein said first end of said tubular member is clamped to said canister and said sealing second end is engageable with said mating end of said air intake pipe.

Claim 16

The seal assembly of claim 10 wherein said tubular member includes a corrugated bellows, said sealing second end including an elastomeric, enlarged conical sealing ring integral with said bellows.