Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
A spacing ring for placement between a radially inwardly facing annular surface on a first member and a radially outwardly facing annular surface on a second member to maintain the first and second members in predetermined radially spaced relationship, said spacing ring comprising: a plurality of matted metal threads formed into an annular configuration, said ring having a radially inwardly facing surface to surroundingly engage the radially outwardly facing annular surface on the second member and a radially outwardly facing surface to be surroundingly engaged by the inwardly facing annular surface on the first member with the radially inwardly facing annular surface on the first member and the radially outwardly facing annular surface on the second member in axially overlapping relation, wherein said metal threads have a diameter substantially less than 100 microns.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
133 words
A spacing ring for placement between a radially inwardly facing annular surface on a first member and a radially outwardly facing annular surface on a second member to maintain the first and second members in predetermined radially spaced relationship, said spacing ring comprising: a plurality of matted metal threads formed into an annular configuration, said ring having a radially inwardly facing surface to surroundingly engage the radially outwardly facing annular surface on the second member and a radially outwardly facing surface to be surroundingly engaged by the inwardly facing annular surface on the first member with the radially inwardly facing annular surface on the first member and the radially outwardly facing annular surface on the second member in axially overlapping relation, wherein said metal threads have a diameter substantially less than 100 microns.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The spacing ring of claim 1 wherein said metal threads have a diameter greater than 50 microns.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The spacing ring of claim 1 wherein said metal threads are formed from stainless steel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The spacing ring of claim 1 wherein said metal threads are formed from SUS 434.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The spacing ring of claim 1 wherein said metal threads are compacted with a sufficient compressive force that the ring will substantially maintain itself in a predetermined configuration.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
138 words
A spacing ring for placement between a radially inwardly facing annular surface on a first member and a radially outwardly facing annular surface on a second member to maintain the first and second members in predetermined radially spaced relationship, said spacing ring comprising: a plurality of matted metal threads formed into an annular configuration, said ring having a radially inwardly facing surface to surroundingly engage the radially outwardly facing annular surface on the second member and a radially outwardly facing surface to be surroundingly engaged by the inwardly facing annular surface on the first member with the radially inwardly facing annular surface on the first member and the radially outwardly facing annular surface on the second member in axially overlapping relation, wherein said ring is defined by a plurality of turns of a rope of matted metal threads.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
138 words
A spacing ring for placement between a radially inwardly facing annular surface on a first member and a radially outwardly facing annular surface on a second member to maintain the first and second members in predetermined radially spaced relationship, said spacing ring comprising: a plurality of matted metal threads formed into an annular configuration, said ring having a radially inwardly facing surface to surroundingly engage the radially outwardly facing annular surface on the second member and a radially outwardly facing surface to be surroundingly engaged by the inwardly facing annular surface on the first member with the radially inwardly facing annular surface on the first member and the radially outwardly facing annular surface on the second member in axially overlapping relation, wherein said ring is defined by a plurality of turns of a rope of matted metal threads.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
132 words
A spacing ring for placement between a radially inwardly facing annular surface on a first member and a radially outwardly facing annular surface on a second member to maintain the first and second members in predetermined radially spaced relationship, said spacing ring comprising: a plurality of matted metal threads formed into an annular configuration, said ring having a radially inwardly facing surface to surroundingly engage the radially outwardly facing annular surface on the second member and a radially outwardly facing surface to be surroundingly engaged by the inwardly facing annular surface on the first member with the radially inwardly facing annular surface on the first member and the radially outwardly facing annular surface on the second member in axially overlapping relation, wherein said metal threads have a diameter of approximately 80 microns.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
132 words
A spacing ring for placement between a radially inwardly facing annular surface on a first member and a radially outwardly facing annular surface on a second member to maintain the first and second members in predetermined radially spaced relationship, said spacing ring comprising: a plurality of matted metal threads formed into an annular configuration, said ring having a radially inwardly facing surface to surroundingly engage the radially outwardly facing annular surface on the second member and a radially outwardly facing surface to be surroundingly engaged by the inwardly facing annular surface on the first member with the radially inwardly facing annular surface on the first member and the radially outwardly facing annular surface on the second member in axially overlapping relation, wherein said metal threads have a diameter of approximately 80 microns.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The spacing ring of claim 7 wherein the metal threads are formed from stainless steel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
147 words
A spacing ring for placement between a radially inwardly facing annular surface on a first member and a radially outwardly facing annular surface on a second member to maintain the first and second members in predetermined radially spaced relationship, said spacing ring consisting of: a plurality of matted metal threads formed into an annular configuration, said ring having a radially inwardly facing surface to surroundingly engage the radially outwardly facing annular surface on the second member and a radially outwardly facing surface to be surroundingly engaged by the inwardly facing annular surface on the first member with the radially inwardly facing annular surface on the first member and the radially outwardly facing annular surface on the second member in axially overlapping relation, said matted metal threads being compacted with a compressive force sufficient to produce a density for the ring threads of approximately 500 Kg/m 3 .
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
147 words
A spacing ring for placement between a radially inwardly facing annular surface on a first member and a radially outwardly facing annular surface on a second member to maintain the first and second members in predetermined radially spaced relationship, said spacing ring consisting of: a plurality of matted metal threads formed into an annular configuration, said ring having a radially inwardly facing surface to surroundingly engage the radially outwardly facing annular surface on the second member and a radially outwardly facing surface to be surroundingly engaged by the inwardly facing annular surface on the first member with the radially inwardly facing annular surface on the first member and the radially outwardly facing annular surface on the second member in axially overlapping relation, said matted metal threads being compacted with a compressive force sufficient to produce a density for the ring threads of approximately 500 Kg/m 3 .
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The spacing ring of claim 9 wherein the metal threads have a diameter in the range of 50 to 100 microns.