Block fitting and seal structure

• US 8,104,773 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2009
• Issued: 01/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hanon Systems (Hahn & Co. Auto Holdings Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Inventors: Schroeder, Fred Georg, Nader, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): DUNWOODY, AARON M
• Application Number:
  US12/577,338
• Publication Number:
  US 20100052268A1
• Time in Patent Office: 841 Days
• Field of Search: 285/205, 285/124.5, 285/336, 285/349, 285/378, 285/328, 285/124.3, 285/124.2, 277/608, 277/609, 277/616
• US Class Current: 277/608
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/061 with positioning means F16J15/0831 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/062 characterised by the geometry of the seat
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/121 with metal reinforcement
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 23/18 the sealing means being rings
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 41/086 fixed with screws

Abstract

An air conditioner system fitting is disclosed including a first seal portion with a metal material adapted to provide a primary scat, and a second seal portion attached to a free edge of said first seal portion and adapted to provide a secondary seal, wherein the fitting militates against leakage during operation of the air conditioning system.

Claims

1. A seal structure for assembly between a male block portion and a female block portion of a block fitting for an air conditioning system, the seal structure comprising:

a first seal portion forming an annular ring including an outer free edge and an inner free edge, the first seal portion formed from a soft metal or plastic material, the first seal portion including a first surface spaced apart from a second surface, each of the first surface and the second surface being substantially planar and extending from the inner free edge toward the outer free edge of the first seal portion, the outer free edge having a chamfer formed thereon; and

a second seal portion disposed on the chamfer of the outer free edge of the first seal portion and extending outwardly from the outer free edge of the first seal portion, the inner free edge and portions of the first surface and the second surface of the first seal portion exposed and extending inwardly from the second seal portion,

wherein the outer free edge of the first seal portion is disposed in an annular channel formed in a radially inner portion of the second seal portion, and the chamfer formed on the outer free edge of the first seal portion includes a first chamfer surface extending laterally inwardly from the first surface of the first seal portion and a second chamfer surface extending laterally inwardly from the second surface of the first seal portion, the first chamfer surface and the second chamfer surface connected by a third chamfer surface forming a blunt end of the outer free edge,

wherein opposing sides of the second seal portion are substantially V-shaped in cross-section, the second seal portion having a first rounded lobe disposed opposite of the annular channel, a second rounded lobe disposed adjacent the first surface of the first seal portion, and a third rounded lobe disposed adjacent the second surface of the first seal portion, and

wherein the soft metal or plastic material of the first seal portion is deformed upon installation of the seal structure under a force applied to sealingly engage the male block portion and the female block portion, the first seal portion forming a primary seal and the second seal portion fanning a secondary seal in the block fitting upon application of the force.

2. The seal structure of claim 1, wherein the annular channel of the second seal portion substantially conforms to a shape of the chamfer of the first seal portion.

3. The seal structure of claim 1, wherein the second seal portion is attached to the outer free edge of the first seal portion by one of vulcanizing, press fitting, heat welding, a mechanical means, and an adhesive.

4. The seal structure of claim 1, wherein the second seal portion is an elastomer.

5. The seal structure of claim 4, wherein the elastomer is one of an ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM), and a hydrogenated acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (HNBR).

6. The seal structure of claim 1, wherein the first seal portion is formed from one of tin-coated copper, laminated tetrafluoroethylene, rubber-coated aluminum, PEEK, polyimide-based polymer, pewter, Babbit metal, bronze, nickel, polyamide, and aluminum.

7. The seal structure of claim 1, wherein the first seal portion is tin-coated copper.