Gasket

{
  "publication_number": "US10777916B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Gasket",
  "abstract": "A gasket providing electrical conductivity between components is disclosed. The gasket comprises a body having a fastener hole extending therethrough and an electrically conductive insert lining at least part of the fastener hole in the body. The insert has a first contact face disposed for electrically contacting a first component and a second contact face disposed for electrically contacting a second component. The first contact face is in electrical communication with the second contact face.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A gasket for installation between a first and a second component, the gasket comprising: a body having a fastener hole extending therethrough, the fastener hole having a hole height corresponding to a thickness of the body in an uncompressed state; and an electrically conductive insert lining at least part of the fastener hole in the body, the insert having an insert height along the fastener hole of the body, the hole height being greater than the insert height, the insert having: a first contact face disposed for electrically contacting the first component; a second contact face disposed for electrically contacting the second component, the first contact face being in electrical communication with the second contact face; and a through passage extending from the first contact face to the second contact face for receiving a fastener through the body.",
    "2. The gasket as defined in claim 1, wherein: the first contact face is annular; and the second contact face is annular.",
    "3. The gasket as defined in claim 1, wherein the first contact face defines at least a majority of an annulus.",
    "4. The gasket as defined in claim 1, wherein the insert defines an annular electrically conductive path extending between the first and second contact faces.",
    "5. The gasket as defined in claim 1, wherein the insert is more rigid than the body.",
    "6. The gasket as defined in claim 5, wherein the body is electrically conductive.",
    "7. The gasket as defined in claim 1, wherein the body is overmolded to the insert.",
    "8. The gasket as defined in claim 1, wherein the insert is metallic.",
    "9. The gasket as defined in claim 1, wherein: the first contact face is sunk below a first opening of the fastener hole in the body; and the second contact face is substantially flush with a second opening of the fastener hole in the body.",
    "10. The gasket as defined in claim 1, wherein the insert is more electrically conductive than the body.",
    "11. The gasket as defined in claim 1, wherein the insert has a cross-sectional profile that is uniform between the first contact face and the second contact face.",
    "12. An assembly comprising: a first component; a second component; and a gasket disposed between the first and second components, the gasket having: a body having a fastener hole extending therethrough, the fastener hole having a hole height corresponding to a thickness of the body in an uncompressed state; and an electrically conductive insert lining at least part of the fastener hole in the body, the insert having an insert height along the fastener hole of the body, the hole height being greater than the insert height, the insert having: a first contact face electrically contacting the first component; and a second contact face electrically contacting the second component, the first contact face being in electrical communication with the second contact face.",
    "13. The assembly as defined in claim 12, wherein the insert defines an annular electrically conductive path extending between the first and second contact faces.",
    "14. The assembly as defined in claim 12, wherein the insert is more rigid than the body.",
    "15. The assembly as defined in claim 12, wherein the body is electrically conductive.",
    "16. The assembly as defined in claim 12, comprising a fastener securing the first and second components together, wherein: the fastener extends through the fastener hole of the body; a head of the fastener is in electrical contact with the first component; the first component is in electrical contact with the insert; and the insert is in electrical contact with the second component.",
    "17. The assembly as defined in claim 12, wherein: the first contact face is annular; and the second contact face is annular.",
    "18. The assembly as defined in claim 12, wherein the first component is an electrical receptacle."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The disclosure relates generally to gaskets.\n\nIn some installations, it is desirable to provide electrical conductivity across gaskets. Some gaskets include a metallic mesh embedded within a soft gasket material to provide an electrical path across a joint once assembled. However, in some instances where the gasket is disposed in a bolted joint, the preload on the bolt can cause the gasket material to deform and migrate away from the bolt head or other contact surface and such deformation can reduce the effectiveness of the electrical path. Improvement is desirable.\n\nIn one aspect, the disclosure describes a gasket for installation between a first and a second component. The gasket comprises:\n\na body having a fastener hole extending therethrough; and\n\nan electrically conductive insert lining at least part of the fastener hole in the body, the insert having:\n\na first contact face disposed for electrically contacting the first component; and\n\na second contact face disposed for electrically contacting the second component, the first contact face being in electrical communication with the second contact face.\n\nThe first contact face may be annular. The second contact face may be annular.\n\nThe first contact face may define at least a majority of an annulus.\n\nThe insert may define an annular electrically conductive path extending between the first and second contact faces.\n\nThe fastener hole may have a hole height corresponding to a thickness of the body in an uncompressed state. The insert may have an insert height along the fastener hole of the body. The hole height may be greater than the insert height.",
  "cpc": [
    "H01R 9/18",
    "F16B 2200/93",
    "F16B 5/02",
    "H01R 13/2414",
    "H01R 13/5219",
    "H01R 4/34",
    "H01R 4/56"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "H01R 4/34",
    "H01R 4/56",
    "H01R 9/18"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Pratt and Whitney Canada Corp"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Richard Robert Kudrna",
    "Benjamin James RENAUD",
    "Pierre HUPPE"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2019-02-19",
  "publication_date": "2020-09-15",
  "grant_date": "2020-09-15",
  "priority_date": "2019-02-19",
  "application_number": "US-201916278790-A",
  "family_id": "72040498",
  "cited_by_count": 0,
  "citations": [
    "US3301121A",
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    "US5453027A",
    "US5524908A",
    "US6142483A",
    "US6114629A",
    "US6720494B1",
    "US20050067037A1",
    "US20060220324A1",
    "US9703109B2",
    "US10003113B1",
    "US10212864B1"
  ]
}