Actuator bushings having integral seals

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10260639-B2
Application number	US-201313914080-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 10, 2013
Priority date	Jun 10, 2013
Publication date	Apr 16, 2019
Grant date	Apr 16, 2019

Abstract

Actuator bushings having integral seals are described herein. An example apparatus includes a bushing having a central bore to receive a stem and an annular groove at an end of the bushing. The annular groove surrounds the bore to define a flexible ring to form a seal against the stem.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a bushing having a central bore to receive a stem;
an annular groove at a longitudinal end of the bushing, the annular groove defining inner and outer radial portions of the bushing at opposite sides of the groove, the inner radial portion surrounding the bore to define an integral flexible ring, the inner radial portion defining at least a portion of an inner diameter of the bushing, the outer radial portion of the bushing defining an outer diameter of the bushing; and
an axisymmetric recess disposed on-the inner diameter of the bushing, the recess to define a tapered hinge portion disposed on the inner radial portion, the tapered hinge portion to increase a flexibility of the integral flexible ring, wherein the tapered hinge portion is to contact the stem to form a circumferential seal against the stem.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the annular groove is to receive pressurized fluid.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the annular groove is to contain a spring.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 3 , wherein the annular groove contains a second recess to retain the spring, the second recess disposed on the inner radial portion.

5. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , further comprising an external surface having a raised annular portion to form a seal against a bore of a yoke.

6. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the tapered hinge portion is to form an edge contact with the stem.

7. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the tapered hinge portion is to form a surface contact with the stem.

8. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the integral flexible ring defines a contact portion having a greater thickness than the tapered hinge portion.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the tapered hinge portion includes a proximal portion having a first thickness and a distal portion having a second thickness, the first thickness being smaller than the second thickness.

10. An apparatus comprising:
a bushing containing an opening to receive a stem;
an integral flexible member fixed to a longitudinal end of the bushing and surrounding the opening;
a groove surrounding the flexible member, the groove defining inner and outer radial portions of the bushing at opposite sides of the groove, the inner radial portion defining the flexible member and an inner diameter of the flexible member, the outer radial portion defining an outer diameter of the bushing; and
a hinge portion of the flexible member, the hinge portion disposed on the inner radial portion, the hinge portion defined by an axisymmetric recess disposed on the inner diameter of the bushing, the hinge portion to increase a flexibility of the flexible member, wherein the hinge portion is to contact the stem to form a circumferential seal against the stem.

11. The apparatus as defined in claim 10 , wherein a force to urge the hinge portion is provided by fluid pressure.

12. The apparatus as defined in claim 10 , wherein a force to urge the hinge portion is provided by a spring.

13. The apparatus as defined in claim 12 , wherein the groove contains a second recess to retain the spring, the second recess disposed on an outer diameter of the inner radial portion.

14. The apparatus as defined in claim 10 , further comprising an external surface having a raised annular portion to form a seal against a bore of a yoke.

15. The apparatus as defined in claim 14 , wherein the raised annular portion is integrally formed with the bushing.

16. An apparatus comprising:
means for guiding a stem, the means for guiding the stem having integral flexible means for sealing against a surface of the stem, the integral flexible means disposed on a longitudinal end of the means for guiding a stem, wherein the means for guiding the stem defines inner and outer radial portions of the means for guiding the stem, the inner radial portion defining the integral flexible means, the outer radial portion defining an outer surface of the means for guiding the stem; and
a hinge portion of the integral flexible means, the hinged portion disposed on the inner radial portion, the hinge portion defined by an axisymmetric taper that is disposed on an inner diameter of the integral flexible means, the axisymmetric taper to increase a flexibility of the integral flexible means, wherein the hinge portion is to contact the stem to form a circumferential seal against the stem.

17. The apparatus as defined in claim 16 , wherein the means for sealing comprises means for receiving a force.

18. The apparatus as defined in claim 16 , further comprising means for sealing to a yoke.

Assignees

• Fisher Controls Int Llc

Inventors

• Jackson Trenton Frank
• Bell Meredith Jan

Classifications

• F16K31/1262

  one side of the diaphragm being spring loaded · CPC title

• F16K5/0694

  Spindle sealings · CPC title

• F16K41/10 Primary

  with diaphragm, e.g. shaped as bellows or tube · CPC title

• F16C33/74 Primary

  of sliding-contact bearings · CPC title

• F16J15/3208

  provided with tension elements, e.g. elastic rings · CPC title