Seal

• US 8,714,565 B1
• Filed: 01/19/2010
• Issued: 05/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
• Original Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
• Inventors: Cornett, Kenneth W., Stone, Stephen S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Vishal
• Assistant Examiner(s): WARREN, STACY N
• Application Number:
  US12/689,645
• Time in Patent Office: 1,568 Days
• Field of Search: 277/564, 277/566, 277/567, 277/644, 277/647, 277/603
• US Class Current: 277/644
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 11/005 Sealing means between non relatively rotating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2250/75 given by its similarity to a letter, e.g. T-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/0893 the packing having a hollow profile

Abstract

A seal has a first endplate and has a second endplate. A first bellow spring spans first lateral portions of the first and second endplates. A second bellow spring spans second lateral portions of the first and second endplates.

Claims

1. A seal comprising:

a longitudinally segmented first endplate;

a second endplate; and

a first bellows spring extending along and spanning longitudinally-extending first lateral portions of the first and second endplates; and

a second bellows spring extending along and spanning longitudinally-extending second lateral portions of the first and second endplates, laterally opposite the respective first lateral portions of the first and second endplates, the first and second bellows springs biasing the first and second endplates apart when the seal is placed under compression.

2. The seal of claim 1 wherein:

at least one of the first and second endplates includes a plurality of venting apertures; and

the first and second springs include one or more slots effective to reduce their spring constants by at least 30%.

3. A method for manufacturing the seal of claim 2 comprising:

forming the first and second endplates by;

forming one or more first sheet metal strips;

machining vent apertures into the first sheet metal strips; and

shaping the first sheet metal strips;

forming the first and second springs by;

forming one or more second strips;

cutting the slots; and

shaping the second strips to bellows shapes; and

welding the first and second springs to the first and second endplates.

4. The seal of claim 1 being a linear seal.

5. The seal of claim 1 wherein:

the second endplate is unsegmented and longitudinally coextensive with the first endplate.

6. The seal of claim 1 wherein:

the first and second endplates are welded to the first and second bellows springs.

7. The seal of claim 1 wherein:

the first and second springs are formed of a nickel- or cobalt-based alloy.

8. The seal of claim 1 wherein:

the first and second endplates are formed of a nickel- or cobalt-based alloy.

9. The seal of claim 8 wherein:

the first and second endplates are formed of different materials from each other.

10. The seal of claim 8 wherein:

the first and second endplates are formed of different characteristic thicknesses from each other.

11. The seal of claim 1 wherein:

the first bellows spring and second bellows spring are minor images of each other across a longitudinal medial plane.

12. The seal of claim 1 wherein:

the first and second endplates are respectively formed of first and second pieces; and

the first and second springs are respectively formed of third and fourth pieces.

13. The seal of claim 1 consisting essentially of:

the first and second endplates; and

the first and second springs.

14. A method for manufacturing the seal of claim 1 comprising:

forming the first and second endplates by;

forming one or more first sheet metal strips; and

shaping the first sheet metal strips;

forming the first and second springs by;

forming one or more second strips; and

shaping the second strips to bellows shapes; and

welding the first and second springs to the first and second endplates.