Housing with a pressure-equalizing element which is retained water-tightly around the edges within a housing wall opening
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An assembly comprising:
- a housing containing a bore having an opening;
a retaining ring having at least one circumferential, elastic sealing lip disposed about the outer portion of said retaining ring, said bore having a depth sufficient to contain said retaining ring so that the elastic sealing lip presses against the bore in a locked, watertight configuration; and
a gas-permeable membrane that is impermeable to water and permeable to gas preassembled onto the retaining ring, whereby the membrane and retaining ring will prevent the infiltration of water into the opening while allowing for the equilization of gaseous pressure across the membrane.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A pressure equalizing membrane made of gas permeable, water impermeable polytetrafluoroethlyene is preassembled to a retaining ring and the ring retained within a housing wall with a watertight seal. Either a one or two part retaining ring is used as a holder for the PTFE membrane. The retaining ring is provided with at least one circumferential elastic sealing lip about its periphery for providing a press fit of the membrane and retaining ring assembly into the housing wall opening, and for providing a watertight seal about the membrane.
105 Citations
17 Claims
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1. An assembly comprising:
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a housing containing a bore having an opening; a retaining ring having at least one circumferential, elastic sealing lip disposed about the outer portion of said retaining ring, said bore having a depth sufficient to contain said retaining ring so that the elastic sealing lip presses against the bore in a locked, watertight configuration; and a gas-permeable membrane that is impermeable to water and permeable to gas preassembled onto the retaining ring, whereby the membrane and retaining ring will prevent the infiltration of water into the opening while allowing for the equilization of gaseous pressure across the membrane. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for sealing a housing having bore having an opening against the flow of water while allowing for the equalization of gaseous pressure on either side of the seal, comprising the steps of:
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preassembling a membrane that is permeable to gas and impermeable to water in a watertight manner to a retaining ring having an outer circumferential sealing lip; and inserting the retaining ring into the housing opening, with a watertight press fit between the housing opening and the retainer sealing lip. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification