Slotted elastomeric O-rings

{
  "publication_number": "US6776422B1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B1",
  "title": "Slotted elastomeric O-rings",
  "abstract": "An O-ring is made of elastomeric material. It lies in a plane. The O-ring has a circular radial axial section. The O-ring is provided with a concentric slot that extends perpendicular to the plane from a surface of the ring to a point past the center of the circular axial section. The O-ring conforms to confined spaces by bending and closing the slot.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A sealing ring comprising: a) an annulus of elastic deformable material disposed in a plane, the annulus having the shape of a circle in radial axial section, the circle having a center; and b) a single continuous, concentric slot, the slot extending at right angles to the plane from a surface of the annulus, through said center, and to a point beyond said center.",
    "2. A sealing ring comprising: an annulus of elastic deformable material disposed in a plane, the annulus having the shape of a circle in radial axial section, the circle having a center; the annulus having a single continuous, concentric slot, the slot extending orthogonal to said plane from a surface of the ring through said center to a point beyond the center of the circle.",
    "3. A sealing ring comprising: an O-ring formed of elastic deformable material in the shape of an annulus lying in a plane and having a radial axial section in the shape of a circle having a center; a concentric slot in the ring extending from a surface of the ring through said center to a point past said center; the slot having sides that are substantially perpendicular to said plane."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "This invention relates to O-ring seals, and more specifically to O-rings of elastomeric material that are provided with a particular slot construction.\n\nSeals in the form of O-rings made of rubber or rubber-like materials such as elastomers are well known. They are circular in cross section. They generally fit into rectangular cross section cavities of slightly smaller dimensions. This causes deformation of the ring by forces exerted at the tangential contacts of the ring with the flat walls of the cavity. The deformation provides wide contacts for enhanced sealing. As the ring deforms, material is forced from the circular section. The forces involved increase exponentially with the degree of deformation. Consequently, the dimensions of the cavity must be carefully controlled. For this reason, the sealing cavities generally must be precision machined, rather than economically cast or molded. In dynamic sealing situations, there is a tendency for the ring to roll. Another problem is the tendency for the ring to absorb fluids, such as lubricants. As the ring absorbs fluid, it will swell. This may create excessive friction, heating the ring and even freezing operation.\n\nU.S. Pat. No. 2,521,248 to Parker discloses O-rings with V shaped slots that do not extend beyond the center of the cross section to accommodate swelling and prevent rolling in dynamic sealing situations.\n\nU.S. Pat. No. 2,729,478 to Chambers discloses an O-ring made of tough, substantially nondeformable material such as “Teflon” that is lubricious and resistant to lubricant absorption.",
  "cpc": [
    "F16J 15/025",
    "Y10S 277/91"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "F16J 15/02"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "William W. Toy"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2002-06-26",
  "publication_date": "2004-08-17",
  "grant_date": "2004-08-17",
  "priority_date": "2002-06-26",
  "application_number": "US-18035502-A",
  "family_id": "32849031",
  "cited_by_count": 49,
  "citations": [
    "US2521248A",
    "US2590759A",
    "US2729478A",
    "US3921991A",
    "US4618154A",
    "US5312116A",
    "US5865971A",
    "US6283156B1",
    "US6161841A"
  ]
}