Tank piston with improved seal and wiper
First Claim
1. In a tank of the storage and/or transport in bulk of semisolid and liquid materials, the tank having an outlet for discharging material contained therein and having a generally cylindrical inner surface, a generally cylindrical piston disposed within the tank and adapted to reciprocate therein, a circumferential channel disposed around the piston, and an annular seal disposed within the channel, the seal comprising:
- an elastic essentially annular base;
a cap portion connected to said base, said base and the cap portion defining an essentially annular chamber therebetween, said cap portion extending into an apex;
a support assembly disposed within said annular chamber, said support assembly comprising one or more layers of an open cell foam material and one or more support strips; and
wherein said support assembly displaces nearly all of the space of said annular chamber.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A tank piston is shown with an improved seal and wiper. The piston is used in conjunction with tanks used for transporting semi-solid and viscous materials such as grease, oil, ink, and the like. The improved seal consists of an annular rubber member with a hollow chamber filled with an open cell foam material such as polyurethane, or a gel such as silica gel. The material in the chamber is compressible and expandable to provide a seal about the piston. Optionally, the piston is provided with an annular wiper structure that extends about the outer forward periphery of the piston, and is forwardly angled at about 45° relative to an axis of the piston. The wiper has a beveled end that makes contact with the interior surface of the tank to provide a cleaning action. A complementary second wiper may be added near the outer rearward periphery of the piston. A preferred embodiment is also shown that uses a tiered support assembly.
120 Citations
19 Claims
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1. In a tank of the storage and/or transport in bulk of semisolid and liquid materials, the tank having an outlet for discharging material contained therein and having a generally cylindrical inner surface, a generally cylindrical piston disposed within the tank and adapted to reciprocate therein, a circumferential channel disposed around the piston, and an annular seal disposed within the channel, the seal comprising:
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an elastic essentially annular base;
a cap portion connected to said base, said base and the cap portion defining an essentially annular chamber therebetween, said cap portion extending into an apex;
a support assembly disposed within said annular chamber, said support assembly comprising one or more layers of an open cell foam material and one or more support strips; and
wherein said support assembly displaces nearly all of the space of said annular chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. In a tank of the storage and/or transport in bulk of semisolid and liquid materials, the tank having an outlet for discharging material contained therein and having a generally cylindrical inner surface, a generally cylindrical piston disposed within the tank and adapted to reciprocate therein, a circumferential channel disposed around the piston, and an annular seal disposed within the channel, the method of producing the seal comprising the steps of:
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forming a sheath with an annular base portion and a cap portion, thereby creating an annular chamber within said annular base and cap portions;
laminating a support assembly from one or more layers of an open cell foam material and at least one support strip, with an adhesive between any two adjacent open cell foam layers or support strips;
cutting the edges of the support assembly to a cross-sectional profile that corresponds to the cross-sectional profile of said annular chamber;
pulling said support assembly through said annular chamber; and
connecting two ends of said sheath together to form a seal adapted to be disposed around the piston. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification