Adjustaby sizeable ring seal

• US 6,352,267 B1
• Filed: 07/02/1999
• Issued: 03/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John E. Rode
• Original Assignee: John E. Rode
• Inventors: Rode, John E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sandy, Robert J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Schwing, Karlena D.
• Application Number:
  US09/347,158
• Time in Patent Office: 977 Days
• Field of Search: 277/634, 277/647, 277/649
• US Class Current: 277/631
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/0887 the sealing effect being obtained by elastic deformation of the packing

Abstract

An adjustably sizable ring seal includes a monolithic ring having a first end portion and a second overlapping end portion. The first end portion has a first cross-section and the second end portion has an integrally formed reduced cross-section slidably receivable generally within the first cross-section and/or an integrally formed radially offset cross-section slidably receivable generally within the first cross-section so that the monolithic ring seal is circumferentially expandable and contractable in size. Also disclosed is a method for forming an adjustably sizable ring seal which includes providing a continuous generally circular-shaped ring having a first cross-section, forming a portion of the ring into at least one of a reduced cross-section and a radially offset cross-section, and cutting the ring so that the ring comprises a first end portion having the first cross-section and a second end portion slidably receivable within the first cross-section so that the ring seal is circumferentially expandable and contractable in size.

Claims

1. An adjustably sizable ring seal comprising:

a monolithic ring having a first end portion having a first cross-section and a second end portion having at least one of an integrally formed reduced cross-section slidably receivable generally within said first cross-section and an integrally formed radially offset cross-section slidably receivable generally within said first cross-section so that said monolithic ring seal is circumferentially expandable and contractable in size.

2. The adjustably sizable ring seal of claim 1 wherein said second end portion comprises an integrally formed reduced cross-section.

3. The adjustably sizable ring seal of claim 1 wherein said second end portion comprises an integrally formed radially offset cross-section.

4. The adjustably sizable ring seal of claim 1 wherein said second end portion comprises an integrally formed reduced and radially offset cross-section.

5. The adjustably sizable ring seal of claim 1 wherein said ring further comprises a body portion between said first end portion and said second end portion, said first end portion and said body portion defining a gap therebetween across which said second end portion extends, and said gap being substantially closed when said ring seal is disposed in a contracted configuration between at least two circumferentially-extending spaced-apart members.

6. The adjustably sizable ring seal of claim 1 wherein said first end portion comprises an inner surface, said second portion comprises an outer surface, and said outer surface being slidably receivable within said inner surface.

7. The adjustably sizable ring seal of claim 1 wherein said first cross-section and at least one of said reduced cross-section and said radially offset generally comprise corrugated cross-sections.

8. The adjustibly sizable ring seal of claim 1 wherein said ring is formed from a metal.

9. The adjustably sizable ring seal of claim 8 wherein said metal is a nickel alloy.

10. A method for sealing at least two circumferentially-extending spaced-apart members, the method comprising:

providing an adjustably sizeable ring seal of claim 1; and

placing the ring seal between the at least two circumferentially extending spaced-apart members.

11. A method for forming an adjustably sizable ring seal, the method comprising;

providing a continuous generally circular-shaped ring having a first cross-section;

forming a portion of the ring into at least one of a reduced cross-section and a radially offset cross-section; and

cutting the ring so that the ring comprises a first end portion having the first cross-section and a second end portion slidably receivable within the first cross-section so that the ring seal is circumferentially expandable and contractable in size.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein forming the second end portion comprises forming the second end portion into a reduced cross-section.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein forming the second end portion comprises forming a radially offset cross-section.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein forming the second end portion comprises forming the second end portion into a reduced and radially offset cross-section.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the ring further comprises a body portion between the first end portion and the second end portion, the first end portion and the body portion defining a gap therebetween across which the second end portion extends, and the gap being substantially closed when the ring seal is disposed in a contracted configuration between at least two circumferentially-extending spaced-apart members.

16. The method of claim 11 further comprising heat treating the ring prior to cutting the ring.

17. A method for forming an adjustably sizable ring seal, the method comprising;

providing a monolithic ring having a first end portion having a first cross-section and a second end portion;

forming the second end portion into at least one of a reduced cross-section slidably receivable generally within the first cross-section and a radially offset cross-section slidably receivable generally within the first cross-section so that the monolithic ring seal is circumferentially expandable and contractable in size.

18. A portion of an adjustably sizable ring seal comprising:

a monolithic member having a first cross-section and integrally formed therewith at least one of a reduced cross-section and a radially offset cross-section.