Sealing member with visible pressure and temperature indication
First Claim
1. A sealing member for a machine, comprising:
- an elastomeric body configured to fit at least partially into a recess defined in at least one of two sealing surfaces of two mating parts of the machine, the elastomeric body including;
a visible indicator portion extending out from between the two mating parts;
an elastomeric compound;
a thermochromic dye; and
a piezochromic dye,wherein the thermochromic dye is adapted to change color upon exposure of the elastomeric body to a temperature above a threshold temperature, and the piezochromic dye is adapted to change color upon exposure of the elastomeric body to a pressure above a threshold pressure.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A sealing member for a machine may include an elastomeric body configured to fit at least partially into a recess defined in at least one of two sealing surfaces of two mating parts of the machine. The elastomeric body may include a visible indicator portion extending out from between the two mating parts. The elastomeric body may further include an elastomeric compound, and at least one of a thermochromic dye and a piezochromic dye mixed into the elastomeric compound, wherein the thermochromic dye is adapted to change color upon exposure of the elastomeric body to a temperature above a threshold temperature, and the piezochromic dye is adapted to change color upon exposure of the elastomeric body to a pressure above a threshold pressure.
-
Citations
16 Claims
-
1. A sealing member for a machine, comprising:
an elastomeric body configured to fit at least partially into a recess defined in at least one of two sealing surfaces of two mating parts of the machine, the elastomeric body including; a visible indicator portion extending out from between the two mating parts; an elastomeric compound; a thermochromic dye; and a piezochromic dye, wherein the thermochromic dye is adapted to change color upon exposure of the elastomeric body to a temperature above a threshold temperature, and the piezochromic dye is adapted to change color upon exposure of the elastomeric body to a pressure above a threshold pressure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
9. A sealed sub-assembly of a machine, the sealed sub-assembly comprising:
-
a first machine part, the first machine part having a first sealing surface; a second machine part configured to mate with the first machine part, the second machine part having a second sealing surface; and an elastomeric body configured to be retained between the first and second sealing surfaces, the elastomeric body including; a visible indicator portion extending out from between the two machine parts; an elastomeric compound; a thermochromic dye; and a piezochromic dye, wherein the thermochromic dye is adapted to change color upon exposure of the elastomeric body to a temperature above a threshold temperature, and the piezochromic dye is adapted to change color upon exposure of the elastomeric body to a pressure above a threshold pressure. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A method of maintaining a sealed interface between two mating parts of a machine, the method comprising:
-
assembling the two mating parts with an elastomeric body positioned between two surfaces of the two mating parts of the machine, the elastomeric body including; a visible indicator portion extending out from between the two mating parts; an elastomeric compound; at least one of a thermochromic dye; and a piezochromic dye, wherein the thermochromic dye is adapted to change color upon exposure of the elastomeric body to a temperature above a threshold temperature, and the piezochromic dye is adapted to change color upon exposure of the elastomeric body to a pressure above a threshold pressure; receiving an indication of a color change of the visible indicator portion correlating to the elastomeric body having been exposed to at least one of a temperature above a threshold temperature and a pressure above a threshold pressure; disassembling the two mating parts and removing the elastomeric body from between the two mating parts; and replacing the elastomeric body with another elastomeric body.
-
Specification