SPRINGS AND METHODS OF FORMING SAME

• US 20110156361A1
• Filed: 12/29/2010
• Published: 06/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Corporation (Compagnie De Saint-Gobain)
• Original Assignee: Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Corporation (Compagnie De Saint-Gobain)
• Inventors: Vaideeswaran, Karthik, Ghalambor, Hamid Reza
• Application Number:
  US12/981,295
• Publication Number:
  US 20110156361A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 277/589
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/0093 combined with mechanical machining or metal-working covered by other subclasses than B23K combined welding or cutting procedures or apparatus B23K28/02
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 1/02 made of steel or other material having low internal friction characterised by their special construction from fibre-reinforced plastics F16F1/366; spring units consisting of several springs F16F3/02; making springs from wire B21F35/00; Wound, torsion, leaf, cup, ring or the like springs, the material of the spring not being relevant
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/3212 with metal springs
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/3236 with at least one lip for each surface, e.g. U-cup packings
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/3452 the pressing force resulting from the action of a spring
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49609 Spring making

Abstract

A seal includes a polymeric jacket defining a seal surface and an inner cavity extending within the polymeric jacket along a length of the polymeric jacket. The seal further includes a spring extending within the inner cavity and including a plurality of laser cut spring elements. The seal can be disposed between a static component and a rotatable component.

Claims

1. A seal comprising:

a polymeric jacket defining a seal surface and an inner cavity extending within the polymeric jacket along a length of the polymeric jacket; and

a spring extending within the inner cavity and including a plurality of laser cut spring elements.

2. The seal of claim 1, wherein an edge of the spring is free of a fracture surface.

3. The seal of claim 1, wherein an edge of the spring is free of a separation.

4. The seal of claim 1, wherein the polymer jacket includes a polymeric material selected from the group consisting of polyketone, polyaramid, a thermoplastic polyimide, a polyetherimide, a polyphenylene sulfide, a polyethersulfone, a polysulfone, a polyphenylene sulfone, a polyamideimide, ultra high molecular weight polyethylene, a thermoplastic fluoropolymer, a polyamide, a polybenzimidazole, a liquid crystal polymer, or any combination thereof.

5. The seal of claim 1, wherein the polymer jacket further comprises a filler selected from the group consisting of a solid lubricant, a ceramic or mineral filler, a polymer filler, a fiber filler, a metal particulate filler, salts, or any combination thereof.

6. The seal of claim 1, wherein the polymer jacket has a coefficient of friction of not greater than about 0.4.

8. The seal of claim 1, wherein the polymer has a Young'"'"'s modulus of at least about 0.5 GPa.

10. The seal of claim 1, wherein the polymer jacket has an elongation of at least about 20%.

12. The seal of claim 1, wherein the spring is formed of a metal alloy selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, a copper alloy, a nickel alloy, or any combination thereof.

13. The seal of claim 1, wherein the spring is formed of a sheet material having a thickness not greater than 10 mils.

7. (canceled)

9. (canceled)

11. (canceled)

14-17. -17. (canceled)

18. A seal comprising:

an annular jacket comprising a polymeric material and defining an annular cavity extending within the annular jacket; and

a spring extending within the annular cavity, the spring comprising a folded sheet metal including a plurality of laser cut spring elements.

21. The seal of claim 18, wherein the polymeric material is selected from the group consisting of polyketone, polyaramid, a thermoplastic polyimide, a polyetherimide, a polyphenylene sulfide, a polyethersulfone, a polysulfone, a polyphenylene sulfone, a polyamideimide, ultra high molecular weight polyethylene, a thermoplastic fluoropolymer, a polyamide, a polybenzimidazole, a liquid crystal polymer, or any combination thereof.

22. The seal of claim 18, wherein the annular jacket further comprises a filler selected from the group consisting of a solid lubricant, a ceramic or mineral filler, a polymer filler, a fiber filler, a metal particulate filler, salts, or any combination thereof.

23. The seal of claim 18, wherein the annular jacket has a coefficient of friction of not greater than about 0.4.

24. The seal of claim 18, wherein the annular jacket has a Young'"'"'s modulus of at least about 0.5 GPa.

25. The seal of claim 18, wherein the annular jacket has an elongation of at least about 20%.

19. (canceled)

20. (canceled)

26. (canceled)

27. (canceled)

28. A method of forming a seal, the method comprising:

dispensing a ribbon of sheet metal;

laser cutting a plurality of spring elements distributed longitudinally along the ribbon to form a spring work piece; and

folding the spring work piece to form a spring.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein laser cutting includes laser cutting with a fiber laser.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein laser cutting includes laser cutting the plurality of spring elements to extend latitudinally across the ribbon.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein the plurality of spring elements extend to have a ratio of the width of a spring work piece formed from the ribbon to the width of the ribbon of at least 0.9.

32-47. -47. (canceled)