Sliding seal

• US 4,076,262 A
• Filed: 11/24/1975
• Issued: 02/28/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Deventer KG
• Original Assignee: Deventer KG
• Inventors: Deventer, Gert
• Primary Examiner(s): Artis, Henry K.
• Application Number:
  US05/634,784
• Time in Patent Office: 827 Days
• Field of Search: 277/227, 277/229, 49/489, 49/488, 49/475, 49/480, 49/496
• US Class Current: 277/569
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 7/2316 used as a seal between the floor and the wing
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/32 with elastic sealings, e.g. O-rings
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/3284 characterised by their structure; Selection of materials

Abstract

Sliding seal constructions including resilient support members carried by a base member in conjunction with a layer of low coefficient friction material extending over the support member at least within a sliding zone of the seal. This layer is connected at respective opposite sides of the support member so that engagement of the seal with a counter surface moving in respective opposite directions does not result in removal of the layer from the sliding zone. Preferred embodiments include arrangements for sealing a rotating shaft, support members with a plurality of lobes for backing the layer in a plurality of positions, unitary base and support member constructions, constructions with separate base members and support members interconnected with one another by dovetail connections, as well as constructions where the layer encapsulates the support member.

Claims

1. A sliding seal comprising:

base member means,

a layer of material having a relatively low coefficient of friction,

support member means carried by said base member means and disposed for supporting said layer at least within a sliding zone of the seal, said layer being fixedly adhered to said base member means in a shear resistant manner only at positions spaced from said sliding zone, whereby said support member means and said layer are movable with respect to one another in said sliding zone,

and connection means for connecting said layer to said base member means in a shear resistant manner at respective opposite sides of said support member means at positions spaced from said sliding zone, said layer covering said support member means at least in the area of said sliding zone when connected by said connection means.

2. A sliding seal according to claim 1, wherein the support member means is constructed as a backing lip tapered from a thin extreme edge to a broader section at the base member means.

3. A sliding seal according to claim 1, wherein said layer is configured so as to be in contact with said support member means only in case of sealing engagement of said seal with a counter surface to be sealed pressed against said layer.

4. A sliding seal according to claim 1, wherein gas under a higher pressure than the ambient pressure outside the seal is provided intermediate the layer and the support member means.

5. A sliding seal according to claim 3, wherein gas under a higher pressure than the ambient pressure outside the seal is provided intermediate the layer and the support member means.

6. A sliding seal according to claim 1, wherein said support member means is completely covered by said layer when connected by said connection means.

7. A sliding seal according to claim 1, wherein said support member means exhibits a cross-section which, during sealing engagement with a member to be sealed, is inclined with respect to the direction of motion of a counter surface to be sealed.

8. A sliding seal according to claim 5, wherein said support member means exhibits a cross-section which, during sealing engagement with a member to be sealed, is inclined with respect to the direction of motion of a counter surface to be sealed.

9. A sliding seal according to claim 1, wherein said support member means consists of an essentially homogeneous material.

10. A sliding seal according to claim 3, wherein said support member means consists of an essentially homogeneous material.

11. A sliding seal according to claim 1, wherein said support member means and said base member means are integrally formed of an essentially homogeneous material.

12. A sliding seal according to claim 1, wherein said support member means and said base member means are formed of respective different materials and joined together by joining means other than said connection means.

13. A sliding seal according to claim 1, wherein said layer and said support member means are configured as a shaft seal for sealing the space between a surface of a rotating shaft and said layer.

14. A sliding seal according to claim 5, wherein said layer and said support member means are configured as a shaft seal for sealing the space between a surface of a rotating shaft and said layer.

15. A sliding seal according to claim 12, wherein said joining means includes a tongue and groove connection between said base member means and said support member means.

16. A sliding seal according to claim 15, wherein said connection means includes grooves formed in said base member means and flexible elements pressed in said grooves to clamp portions of said layer therein.

17. A sliding seal according to claim 16, wherein said layer completely encircles and encases said base member means and said support member means.

18. A sliding seal according to claim 17, wherein said support member means includes a plurality of spaced engagement lobes for engagement with said layer at a corresponding plurality of sliding zones.

19. A sliding seal according to claim 1, wherein said connection means includes grooves formed in said base member means and flexible elements pressed in said grooves to clamp portions of said layer therein.

20. A sliding seal according to claim 1, wherein said layer completely encircles and encases said base member means and said support member means.

21. A sliding seal according to claim 1, wherein said support member means includes a plurality of spaced engagement lobes for engagement with said layer at a corresponding plurality of sliding zones.

22. A sliding seal according to claim 21, wherein said layer is connected by connection means to said base member means at positions intermediate said engagement lobes as well as at opposite sides of the entire support member means.

23. A sliding seal according to claim 12, wherein said layer completely encircles and encloses said support member means.

24. A sliding seal according to claim 15, wherein said layer completely encircles and encloses said support member means, said connection means being formed by clamping action of the tongue and groove connection.

25. A sliding seal according to claim 24, wherein said layer and said support member means are configured as a shaft seal for sealing the space between a surface of a rotating shaft and said layer.

26. A sliding seal according to claim 4, wherein said gas is air.

27. A sliding seal according to claim 4, wherein said gas is an inert gas.

28. A sliding seal according to claim 1, wherein said connection means includes a glued seam.

29. A sliding seal according to claim 1, wherein said connection means includes a textile seam.

30. A sliding seal according to claim 12, wherein said support member means is formed of an elastic material and said base member means is formed of a relatively rigid material.

31. A sliding seal according to claim 1, wherein said support member means is formed of an elastomeric compressible material.

32. A sliding seal according to claim 1, wherein said support member means is formed of a foamed synthetic resin.

33. A sliding seal according to claim 1, wherein said support member means is formed by a tightly coiled spiral spring of a thin, resilient spring wire.