Resilient sealing ring
First Claim
1. A diffusion/filtration device comprisinga housing defining a longitudinally extending internal chamber including a first end and a second end,a bundle of semi-permeable hollow fibers disposed within said internal chamber, said hollow fibers extending longitudinally from said first end of said housing to said second end of said housing, said hollow fibers having an outer surface and a first end and a second end corresponding, respectively, to said first end and said second end of said housing,lid means for attachment to said first end of said housing, said lid means including fluid communication means for providing fluid to or withdrawing fluid from said first end of said internal chamber,end wall means supporting said first end of said hollow fibers within said internal chamber so as to sealingly separate said first end of said hollow fibers from said outer surface of said hollow fibers between said first and second ends thereof, andsealing ring means for providing acceptable compression force between said end wall means and said lid means over an extended range of deformations, said sealing ring means comprising an annular ring of resilient material having a cross-sectional configuration such that in its uncompressed condition said sealing ring has a substantially longitudinally extending configuration between first and second ends thereof including a longitudinal dimension which is greater than its transverse dimension, whereby upon being compressed between said end wall means and said lid means said sealing ring bends in a manner such that said first and second ends approach each other.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Resilient sealing rings are disclosed including an annular ring of resilient material having a cross-sectional configuration so that when not compressed the cross section of the sealing ring extends substantially longitudinally and when compressed between two parallel sealing surfaces the sealing ring bends so that the longitudinal ends approach each other. This provides acceptable compression force between the parallel sealing surfaces over an extended range of deformation particularly as compared to conventional O-rings. The use of such sealing rings in filtration and/or diffusion devices is also described, particularly in diffusion devices including a bundle of hollow fibers arranged longitudinally within a housing in which the fiber ends are embedded in end walls and in which a lid including an inlet or outlet for fluid which is intended to flow through the hollow fibers covers the end wall and in which these resilient sealing rings are positioned between the outside of the end walls and the inside of the lid.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A diffusion/filtration device comprising
a housing defining a longitudinally extending internal chamber including a first end and a second end, a bundle of semi-permeable hollow fibers disposed within said internal chamber, said hollow fibers extending longitudinally from said first end of said housing to said second end of said housing, said hollow fibers having an outer surface and a first end and a second end corresponding, respectively, to said first end and said second end of said housing, lid means for attachment to said first end of said housing, said lid means including fluid communication means for providing fluid to or withdrawing fluid from said first end of said internal chamber, end wall means supporting said first end of said hollow fibers within said internal chamber so as to sealingly separate said first end of said hollow fibers from said outer surface of said hollow fibers between said first and second ends thereof, and sealing ring means for providing acceptable compression force between said end wall means and said lid means over an extended range of deformations, said sealing ring means comprising an annular ring of resilient material having a cross-sectional configuration such that in its uncompressed condition said sealing ring has a substantially longitudinally extending configuration between first and second ends thereof including a longitudinal dimension which is greater than its transverse dimension, whereby upon being compressed between said end wall means and said lid means said sealing ring bends in a manner such that said first and second ends approach each other.
Specification