Seals
First Claim
1. A seal comprising at least two sealing members which when closed together define a central aperture and provide a surface of the aperture for sealing against a substantially cylindrical article when surrounded by the seal, each sealing member comprising a resiliently flexible arcuate body having a partially arcuate periphery and a concave sealing portion projecting from the body radially inwardly of the arc of the body, opposite said arcuate periphery, to provide a part of the sealing surface, the body flexibly and resiliently connected to a rigid support means located axially of the body, the support means and body connected at two fixed mounting positions spaced from and located radially outwardly of said arcuate periphery and spaced apart circumferentially around the body, each position being connected to said body by an extension projecting radially outwardly from the body between said arcuate periphery and the respective mounting position, said body being an intermediate arcuate body portion extending circumferentially between said two mounting positions and arcuate end portions extending circumferentially from opposite ends of said intermediate body portion, the intermediate body portion and end portions having freedom to move radially of the arc of the body from a normal unstrained position of the body, such that resiliently, flexibly moving the intermediate body portion about the two positions in one radial direction of the arc of the body resiliently, flexibly moves the end portions in an opposite radial direction of the arc of the body.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A seal for a cylindrical article and having two sealing members which coact to form the seal. Each sealing member has a resiliently flexible body which is connected to a rigid support at two spaced positions around the body. An intermediate portion of the body is resiliently flexible outwards between the two spaced positions while two body end portions extending beyond the spaced positions are caused to resiliently flex inwards. Alternatively, outward flexing of the end portions is accompanied by inward flexing of the intermediate portion. The change in shape caused by this flexibility enables the seal to be used upon a range of different diameters of articles.
78 Citations
6 Claims
- 1. A seal comprising at least two sealing members which when closed together define a central aperture and provide a surface of the aperture for sealing against a substantially cylindrical article when surrounded by the seal, each sealing member comprising a resiliently flexible arcuate body having a partially arcuate periphery and a concave sealing portion projecting from the body radially inwardly of the arc of the body, opposite said arcuate periphery, to provide a part of the sealing surface, the body flexibly and resiliently connected to a rigid support means located axially of the body, the support means and body connected at two fixed mounting positions spaced from and located radially outwardly of said arcuate periphery and spaced apart circumferentially around the body, each position being connected to said body by an extension projecting radially outwardly from the body between said arcuate periphery and the respective mounting position, said body being an intermediate arcuate body portion extending circumferentially between said two mounting positions and arcuate end portions extending circumferentially from opposite ends of said intermediate body portion, the intermediate body portion and end portions having freedom to move radially of the arc of the body from a normal unstrained position of the body, such that resiliently, flexibly moving the intermediate body portion about the two positions in one radial direction of the arc of the body resiliently, flexibly moves the end portions in an opposite radial direction of the arc of the body.
Specification