Seals for housing of a rotary actuator

Claim 1

A fluid operated reciprocatory device, comprising in combination: a body member formed of metal and having a cylindrical bore therein, first and second unitary head members formed of metal and fixedly mounted to said body over the respective ends of said bore with an annular end surface on each of said head members abutting a respective annular outer end surface of said body, a shaft extending through said bore and through at least one of said head members, said shaft being journalled for rotation in said head members, a radially disposed longitudinal stator mounted in said body member between said head members, a radially disposed, longitudinal vane fixedly mounted to said shaft and extending from said first head member to said second head member, first sealing means carried by said stator for sealing said stator to said shaft and to said head members, second sealing means carried by said vane for sealing said vane to said body and said head members, said head members each having an annular counterbore defining said annular end surface and an annular sealing surface which engages an annular sealing surface on said body member, said body being provided with counterbores at the ends thereof defined by outwardly facing annular shoulders on said body member, one of said annular shoulders on said body being said sealing surface on said body, said annular sealing surfaces on said body member being spaced from the respective ends of said body member by distances sufficiently less than the distances from the ends of said annular sealing surfaces on said head members and said annular end surfaces on said head members, such that said annular sealing surface on each of said head members is deformed beyond its elastic limits along an annular line surrounding said bore in said body member.