Apparatus for making preformed seals

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10272630-B2
Application number	US-201615092727-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 7, 2016
Priority date	Feb 25, 2014
Publication date	Apr 30, 2019
Grant date	Apr 30, 2019

Abstract

A method of making a preformed seal includes coupling first and second sections of a mold to define a mold cavity. A cross-sectional shape of the mold cavity corresponds to a cross-sectional shape of the preformed seal. The method also includes providing a reservoir that has a port in flow communication with a reservoir cavity that extends to a parting surface. The method further includes filling the reservoir cavity with wet sealant such that the wet sealant is flush with the parting surface and a bead of wet sealant protrudes from the port. Additionally, the method includes coupling the reservoir to the first and second sections such that the reservoir cavity is in flow communication with the mold cavity at the parting surface, injecting wet sealant from a nozzle through the reservoir into the mold cavity, and curing the wet sealant in the mold cavity to make the preformed seal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A mold for making a preformed seal, said mold comprising:
a first section;
a second section configured to be removably coupled to said first section such that a mold cavity is defined between said first section and said second section, wherein a cross-sectional shape of said mold cavity corresponds to a cross-sectional shape of the preformed seal; and
a reservoir comprising a port in flow communication with a reservoir cavity, wherein said reservoir cavity extends to a parting surface of said reservoir to define an opening in said parting surface, said reservoir is configured to be removably coupled to said first section and said second section such that said reservoir cavity is in flow communication with said mold cavity at said parting surface, wherein when said first section, said second section, and said reservoir are coupled together, said mold is configured to enable wet sealant injected through said port to extrude from said opening into said mold cavity.

2. A mold in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said first section comprises a first molding surface that is complementary to a first portion of a surface of the preformed seal, and said second section comprises a second molding surface that is complementary to a second portion of the surface of the preformed seal, said mold cavity is defined between said first molding surface and said second molding surface when said first section and said second section are coupled together.

3. A mold in accordance with claim 2 , wherein at least one of said first molding surface and said second molding surface comprises a first portion complementary to a non-contact surface of the preformed seal, said first portion comprises a smooth surface such that the non-contact surface of the preformed seal formed in said mold has a surface roughness of about 63 RMS or lower.

4. A mold in accordance with claim 2 , wherein at least one of said first molding surface and said second molding surface comprises a second portion complementary to a contact surface of the preformed seal, said second portion comprises a rough surface such that the contact surface of the preformed seal formed in said mold has a surface roughness in a range of about 125 RMS to about 250 RMS.

5. A mold in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said reservoir cavity comprises at least one of a cross-sectional size and a cross-sectional shape configured to facilitate a smooth extrusion of wet sealant therefrom into said mold cavity.

6. A mold in accordance with claim 5 , wherein said reservoir cavity is defined by a plurality of surfaces, at least one pair of surfaces of the plurality of surfaces meets at an obtuse angle.

7. A mold in accordance with claim 5 , wherein a cross-sectional area of said reservoir cavity is substantially constant between said port and said parting surface.

8. A mold in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said first section and said second section each comprise an interface end, said reservoir parting surface is adjacent to said interface end when said first section, said second section, and said reservoir are coupled together.

9. A mold in accordance with claim 8 , wherein said first section and said second section each comprise a second end opposite said interface end, said mold cavity extends through said interface end, along a length of said first section and said second section, and through said second end.

10. A mold in accordance with claim 2 , wherein said first molding surface and said second molding surface are coated with a release agent.

11. A mold in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said first section and said second section each comprise at least one cooperating bolt hole sized to receive a bolt therethrough for removably coupling said first section and said second section together.

12. A mold in accordance with claim 6 , wherein no pair of surfaces of the plurality of surfaces meets at an acute angle.

13. A mold in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said reservoir comprises at least one bolt hole configured to cooperate with corresponding bolt holes in said first section and said second section.

14. A mold in accordance with claim 10 , wherein the release agent is a dry lubricant.

15. A mold in accordance with claim 10 , wherein the release agent is a layer of tape.

16. A mold in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said first section and said second section are configured to make a non-linear piece of the preformed seal.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Heath Jonathan Christopher

Classifications

• B29C33/60

  Releasing, lubricating or separating agents {(in general C10M)} · CPC title

• B29C45/37

  Mould cavity walls {, i.e. the inner surface forming the mould cavity, e.g. linings} · CPC title

• B29C45/03

  Injection moulding apparatus (transfer moulding B29C45/02) · CPC title

• B29L2031/26

  Sealing devices, e.g. packaging for pistons or pipe joints · CPC title

• F16J15/022

  characterised by structure or material · CPC title