US5215312A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Housing with a pressure-equalizing element which is retained water-tightly around the edges within a housing wall opening
Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile SE and Co KG
•
Filing: 1992-02-13
•
Granted: 1993-06-01
•
Expires: 2012-02-13
Abstract
Abstract A pressure equalizing membrane made of gas permeable, water impermeable polytetrafluoroethlyene is preassembled to a retaining ring and the ring retained within a housing wall with a watertight seal. Either a one or two part retaining ring is used as a holder for the PTFE membrane. The retaining ring is provided with at least one circumferential elastic sealing lip about its periphery for providing a press fit of the membrane and retaining ring assembly into the housing wall opening, and for providing a watertight seal about the membrane.
Inventors
- 👤 Wolfram Knappe
- 👤 Peter Michel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 03:41
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16H; F16H57/00; F16H57/02; F16H57/027; E; E05; E05F; E05F15/00; E05F15/60; E05F15/603; E05F15/665; E05F15/689; E05F15/697; H; H02; H02K; H02K5/00; H02K5/04; H02K5/10; H05; H05K; H05K5/00; H05K5/02; H05K5/0213; H05K5/0216; E05Y; E05Y2900/00; E05Y2900/50; E05Y2900/53; E05Y2900/55; H02K2205/00; H02K2205/09; H02K7/00; H02K7/10; H02K7/116; H02K7/1163; H02K7/1166; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S277/00; Y10S277/926; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/2931; Y10T137/3003; Y10T137/3084; Y10T137/309
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
101 words
An assembly comprising: a housing containing a bore having an opening; a retaining ring having at least one circumferential, elastic sealing lip disposed about the outer portion of said retaining ring, said bore having a depth sufficient to contain said retaining ring so that the elastic sealing lip presses against the bore in a locked, watertight configuration; and a gas-permeable membrane that is impermeable to water and permeable to gas preassembled onto the retaining ring, whereby the membrane and retaining ring will prevent the infiltration of water into the opening while allowing for the equilization of gaseous pressure across the membrane.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
101 words
An assembly comprising: a housing containing a bore having an opening; a retaining ring having at least one circumferential, elastic sealing lip disposed about the outer portion of said retaining ring, said bore having a depth sufficient to contain said retaining ring so that the elastic sealing lip presses against the bore in a locked, watertight configuration; and a gas-permeable membrane that is impermeable to water and permeable to gas preassembled onto the retaining ring, whereby the membrane and retaining ring will prevent the infiltration of water into the opening while allowing for the equilization of gaseous pressure across the membrane.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The assembly of claim 1, wherein the retaining ring has a circumferential contact shoulder on which the membrane is preassembled in a sealing relationship on the side of the retaining ring facing the housing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The assembly of claim 1, wherein said retaining ring includes first and second parts axially assembled and the membrane is sealingly held between said first and second retaining ring parts.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The assembly of claim 3, wherein each of the first and second axially assembled retaining ring parts is provided with at least one circumferential sealing lip about its periphery.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The assembly of claim 1, wherein the outer diameter of the rim of the sealing lip has a diameter in its uninserted state greater than the inner diameter of the housing opening into which the sealing lip is inserted.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The assembly of claim 1, wherein the sealing lip of the retaining ring in its uninserted has a conical outer surface that tapers in the direction of the bore.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
The assembly of claim 1, wherein at least that face of the retaining ring that faces out from the housing opening is provided with a protective covering in the form of a protective strut to shield the membrane.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The assembly of claim 3, wherein said first and second retaining ring parts interlock axially.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
The assembly of claim 1, wherein the membrane is made of polytetrafluoroethylene.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The assembly of claim 1, wherein the retaining ring and sealing lip are a unitary plastic part.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The assembly of claim 7, wherein the retaining ring, sealing lip, and protective covering are a unitary plastic part.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
The assembly of claim 4, wherein the outer diameter of the rim of the sealing lip has a diameter in its uninserted state greater than the inner diameter of the housing opening into which the sealing lip is inserted.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The assembly of claim 4, wherein the sealing lip of the ring in its uninserted configuration is angled with respect to the direction of insertion.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
The assembly of claim 3, wherein at least that face of the retaining ring that faces the housing opening is provided with a protective covering in the form of a protective strut to shield the membrane.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
12 words
The assembly of claim 14, wherein the housing contains a gear assembly.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
83 words
A method for sealing a housing having bore having an opening against the flow of water while allowing for the equalization of gaseous pressure on either side of the seal, comprising the steps of: preassembling a membrane that is permeable to gas and impermeable to water in a watertight manner to a retaining ring having an outer circumferential sealing lip; and inserting the retaining ring into the housing opening, with a watertight press fit between the housing opening and the retainer sealing lip.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
83 words
A method for sealing a housing having bore having an opening against the flow of water while allowing for the equalization of gaseous pressure on either side of the seal, comprising the steps of: preassembling a membrane that is permeable to gas and impermeable to water in a watertight manner to a retaining ring having an outer circumferential sealing lip; and inserting the retaining ring into the housing opening, with a watertight press fit between the housing opening and the retainer sealing lip.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 16, wherein the housing contains a gear assembly to be sealed against water.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
DD44311A
Cited
DE7040982U
Cited
US3507708A
Cited
US3805991A
Cited
US4071040A
Cited
US4624286A
Cited
US4596338A
Cited
US4794942A
Cited
DE8707254U1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-05-31 | 1996-11-30 | 1997-06-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-05-31 | 2000-11-30 | 2001-06-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-05-31 | 2004-11-30 | 2005-06-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |