Ring seal

US6357760B1 · kind B1 · utility

Inventor

• Michael Doyle · Santa Clara, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 19, 2000
• Grant date: Mar 19, 2002
• Expiry date: May 19, 2020

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F16J15/0893
• WIPO field: Mechanical elements
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

The improved ring seal includes an annularly shaped body element having a radial inner surface, a radial outer surface, a first axial end surface and a second axial end surface. The ring seal also includes a plurality of bores which project radially inward from the radial outer surface toward the radial inner surface. The projection of the bores through the ring seal form sidewalls which project between the axial end surfaces and radially from the ring seal's radial outer surface towards the ring seal's radial inner surface. The addition of the bores to the ring seal increases the ring seal's deformation during sealing compression, while the sidewalls provide elastic recovery of the ring seal during repeated cycles of compression and decompression. The ring seal also includes a circular ridge axially projecting from both axial end surfaces. The axial ridges separate the end surfaces into inner axial end surfaces and outer axial end surfaces. The inner axial end surfaces are recessed relative to the outer axial end surfaces such that the thickness of the ring seal as measured at the inner axial end surfaces is thinner than as measured at the outer axial end surfaces.