Patent US4508356A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4508356A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Modified C-shaped mechanical spring seal
Assignee: JANIAN LIVING TRUST
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Filing: 1984-06-06
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Granted: 1985-04-02
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Expires: 2004-06-06
Abstract
Abstract A mechanical spring seal comprising in combination an elastomeric jacket and a resilient spring insert having modified and matching C-shaped cross-sectional configurations. The major portion of the length of the spring follows a relatively straight path between a curved base and a position along the cross section at which the spring is widest, forming a pair of opposed cantilever arms which provide the major sealing force. From this region of greatest width to the tips of the spring, the curvature is substantially sharper, enabling the end of the spring to fit in fixed locked position within the jacket which conforms to it. At the base of the C-shaped spring, the curvature is also sharper than it is in the long cantilever arm portions. The spring receiving interior concavity in the jacket is complementary in nature to the shape of the spring, and has an open side for insertion of the spring into the jacket, the inwardly angled tips of the spring preventing its release from the jacket although the spring can also be replaced by an O-ring.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert Janian
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 16:00
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16J; F16J15/00; F16J15/16; F16J15/32; F16J15/328; F16J15/3204; F16J15/3208; F16J15/3212; F16J15/3232; F16J15/3236
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
97 words
A resilient spring element for insertion in a jacket having a generally C-shaped cavity comprising: an elongated member of substantially constant cross section having a sinuous longitudinal configuration, wherein the cross section of the member comprises a modified C-shaped outline having at least two different curvatures, the member including cantilever arm portions of relatively large radius of curvature between the base thereof and a region of greatest width of the member, and terminal portions from the region of greatest width on each side to the tips being of smaller radius of curvature than the cantilever arm portions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
97 words
A resilient spring element for insertion in a jacket having a generally C-shaped cavity comprising: an elongated member of substantially constant cross section having a sinuous longitudinal configuration, wherein the cross section of the member comprises a modified C-shaped outline having at least two different curvatures, the member including cantilever arm portions of relatively large radius of curvature between the base thereof and a region of greatest width of the member, and terminal portions from the region of greatest width on each side to the tips being of smaller radius of curvature than the cantilever arm portions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The spring element as set forth in claim 1, wherein the cross section of the modified C-shaped member further comprises a base segment of a third radius of curvature smaller than the cantilever arm portions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
The spring element as set forth in claim 2 above, wherein the base segment has a radius of curvature R 1 and the terminal portion has a radius of curvature R 2 greater than R 1 , the cantilever arm portion including straight sides tangential to the base segment and terminal portion curvatures.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The spring element as set forth in claim 2, wherein the elongated member is of metal, and the sinuous longitudinal configuration is defined by notches interdigitated from opposite sides.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
125 words
A spring element for insertion in a jacket to form a mechanical seal, said spring element having a modified C-shaped cross section and formed of a pair of oppositely disposed cantilever arms and a curved base portion connected thereto, said cantilever arms terminating in a pair of inwardly curved tip portions, the cantilever arms of said spring element having a first relatively large radius of curvature extending from said base portion to the widest point of said spring element on opposite sides thereof, said spring element including a second radius of curvature smaller than said first radius of curvature and defined by said curved tip portions, and a third radius of curvature smaller than said first radius of curvature, and defined by said base portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
125 words
A spring element for insertion in a jacket to form a mechanical seal, said spring element having a modified C-shaped cross section and formed of a pair of oppositely disposed cantilever arms and a curved base portion connected thereto, said cantilever arms terminating in a pair of inwardly curved tip portions, the cantilever arms of said spring element having a first relatively large radius of curvature extending from said base portion to the widest point of said spring element on opposite sides thereof, said spring element including a second radius of curvature smaller than said first radius of curvature and defined by said curved tip portions, and a third radius of curvature smaller than said first radius of curvature, and defined by said base portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The spring element as defined in claim 5, said third radius of curvature defined by said base portion being smaller than said second radius of curvature defined by said tip portions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
70 words
The spring element as defined in claim 6, wherein said spring element is an elongated member of substantially constant cross section having a sinuous longitudinal configuration and defined by spaced parallel notches extending from opposite sides of said spring element, forming arm members, with adjacent arm members being interconnected at one end thereof, and wherein the cantilever arms are relatively straight sided segments between the base portion and tip portions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
91 words
A spring seal comprising: a jacket having a base and curved side arms defining a modified C-shaped interior cross section, the side arms of the jacket extending from the base along an arc having a first large radius of curvature to a point at which the jacket has a maximum selected width, the arms including tip portions from the region of maximum width having a smaller radius of curvature, and a metallic spring strip having a modified C-shaped cross sectional configuration conforming to and registrable within the cavity in the jacket.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
91 words
A spring seal comprising: a jacket having a base and curved side arms defining a modified C-shaped interior cross section, the side arms of the jacket extending from the base along an arc having a first large radius of curvature to a point at which the jacket has a maximum selected width, the arms including tip portions from the region of maximum width having a smaller radius of curvature, and a metallic spring strip having a modified C-shaped cross sectional configuration conforming to and registrable within the cavity in the jacket.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
82 words
The spring seal as set forth in claim 8, wherein the metallic spring strip includes a base portion of relatively small radius of curvature, a pair of cantilever arm sections of relatively large radii of curvature extending outwardly from the base portion to the region of greatest width of the spring strip, and a pair of terminal portions each extending inwardly from a different one of the cantilever arm sections with a relatively smaller radius of curvature than said cantilever arm sections.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
The spring seal as set forth in claim 9, wherein the spring strip includes means defining interdigitated notches extending inwardly from opposite sides thereof such that the spring strip has resilience along its length.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
193 words
A spring seal comprising in combination a spring element and a jacket of an elastomeric material receiving said spring element to form a mechanical seal, said jacket having a base and curved side arms defining a modified C-shaped interior cavity, the side arms of the jacket extending from the base along an arc having a first large radius of curvature to a point at which the jacket has a maximum selected width, the arms including converging curved tip portions from the region of maximum width having a smaller radius of curvature than the side arms; said spring element having a modified C-shaped cross section and formed of a pair of oppositely disposed cantilever arms connected to and extending from a curved base portion, said cantilever arms terminating in a pair of inwardly curved tip portions and conforming in curvatures to the interior cavity of the jacket and wherein said spring element is an elongated metal member of substantially constant cross section having a sinuous longitudinal configuration and defined by spaced parallel notches extending from opposite sides of said spring element, forming arm members, with adjacent arm members being interconnected at one end thereof.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
193 words
A spring seal comprising in combination a spring element and a jacket of an elastomeric material receiving said spring element to form a mechanical seal, said jacket having a base and curved side arms defining a modified C-shaped interior cavity, the side arms of the jacket extending from the base along an arc having a first large radius of curvature to a point at which the jacket has a maximum selected width, the arms including converging curved tip portions from the region of maximum width having a smaller radius of curvature than the side arms; said spring element having a modified C-shaped cross section and formed of a pair of oppositely disposed cantilever arms connected to and extending from a curved base portion, said cantilever arms terminating in a pair of inwardly curved tip portions and conforming in curvatures to the interior cavity of the jacket and wherein said spring element is an elongated metal member of substantially constant cross section having a sinuous longitudinal configuration and defined by spaced parallel notches extending from opposite sides of said spring element, forming arm members, with adjacent arm members being interconnected at one end thereof.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
53 words
The spring seal as set forth in claim 11 above, wherein the radius of curvature of the base is approximately half the length of the cantilever arm portions and wherein the tips of the terminal portions of the spring element are spaced apart by approximately twice the radius of curvature of the base.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
42 words
The spring seal as defined in claim 11, said jacket being of a low resilience synthetic resin material having relatively small shape memory capability and having a base portion integral with the side arms for seating in a recess to be sealed.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
84 words
A seal jacket receiving an internal spring element or O-ring comprising: a base portion and extending side arms having spaced apart ends defining a modified C-shaped cross-section and being of a low friction, low resilience material having relatively small shape memory capability, the base portion and side arms defining an open-sided interior cavity having at least two different radii of curvature along the length of each side arm, a first curvature at the base portion being smaller than a second curvature at the ends.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
84 words
A seal jacket receiving an internal spring element or O-ring comprising: a base portion and extending side arms having spaced apart ends defining a modified C-shaped cross-section and being of a low friction, low resilience material having relatively small shape memory capability, the base portion and side arms defining an open-sided interior cavity having at least two different radii of curvature along the length of each side arm, a first curvature at the base portion being smaller than a second curvature at the ends.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
70 words
The seal jacket as defined in claim 14, said side arms extending tangentially from the base portion along a substantially straight path to a region at which the jacket has a maximum selected width, and wherein the spacing between the ends of the arms is approximately twice the radius of curvature of the base portion such that a metal spring element or an O-ring may be inserted between the arms.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
81 words
A spring seal comprising in combination a jacket having a base and curved side arms defining a generally C-shaped interior cross section, the side arms of the jacket extending from the base along an arc having a first large radius of curvature to a point at which the jacket has a maximum selected width, the arms including tip portions from the region of maximum width having a smaller radius of curvature; and an O-ring seated within the cavity in the jacket.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
81 words
A spring seal comprising in combination a jacket having a base and curved side arms defining a generally C-shaped interior cross section, the side arms of the jacket extending from the base along an arc having a first large radius of curvature to a point at which the jacket has a maximum selected width, the arms including tip portions from the region of maximum width having a smaller radius of curvature; and an O-ring seated within the cavity in the jacket.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-04-01 | 1988-10-01 | 1989-04-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-04-01 | 1992-10-01 | 1993-04-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-04-01 | 1996-10-01 | 1997-04-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |