System and method for processing elastomeric load rings of face seals to provide improved load tolerance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10406727-B2
Application number	US-201615142006-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 29, 2016
Priority date	Apr 29, 2016
Publication date	Sep 10, 2019
Grant date	Sep 10, 2019

Abstract

A system for processing elastomeric load rings may include an elastomeric load ring defining an initial width. The system may also include a fixture assembly configured to receive the load ring between first and second clamp members. The second clamp member may be spaced apart from the first clamp member such that a gap is defined between the clamp members when the load ring defines the initial width. The fixture assembly may also include a load member configured to apply a compressive load through the first clamp member and/or the second clamp member such that the load ring is compressed between the clamp members. When the load ring is heated, a spring force of the load ring may be reduced as the load ring is compressed between the clamp members such that the initial width of the load ring is reduced to a final width.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for processing elastomeric load rings of face seals, the system comprising:
an elastomeric load ring configured for use with a face seal, the elastomeric load ring defining an initial width;
a fixture assembly configured to receive the elastomeric load ring, the fixture assembly comprising:
a first clamp member;
a second clamp member positioned relative to the first clamp member such that the elastomeric load ring is positioned between the first and second clamp members, the second clamp member being spaced apart from the first clamp member such that a gap is defined between the first and second clamp members when the elastomeric load ring defines the initial width; and
a load member configured to apply a compressive load through at least one of the first clamp member or the second clamp member such that the elastomeric load ring is compressed between the first and second clamp members; and

a heating device configured to heat the elastomeric load ring;
wherein, when the elastomeric load ring is heated by the heating device, a spring force associated with the elastomeric load ring is reduced as the elastomeric load ring is compressed between the first and second clamp members such that the initial width of the elastomeric load ring is reduced to a final width,
wherein the first clamp member contacts the second clamp member when the elastomeric load ring defines the final width.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric load ring corresponds to a first elastomeric load ring of a face seal set, the face seal set including a first face seal and a second face seal, the first face seal including a first sealing ring and the first elastomeric load ring, the second face seal including a second sealing ring and a second elastomeric load ring, the first and second face seals collectively defining an initial seal width of the face seal set, the load member being configured to apply the compressive load through the at least of the first clamp member or the second clamp member such that the first and second face seals are compressed between the first and second clamp members.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the first clamp member includes a first end wall and a first sidewall extending from the first end wall so as to define a first seal cup having a first depth, the first face seal being at least partially received within the first seal cup, the second clamp member including a second end wall and a second sidewall extending from the second end wall so as to define a second seal cup having a second depth, the second face seal being at least partially received within the second seal cup, the first and second clamp members being positioned relative to one another such that the first and second seal cups face one another.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the initial seal width of the face seal set is greater than a summation of the first and second depths, wherein, when the fixture assembly is heated by the heating device, a spring force associated with the first and second elastomeric rings is reduced as the first and second face seals are compressed between the first and second clamp members such that the initial seal width of the face seal set is reduced to a final seal width corresponding to the summation of the first and second depths.

5. The system of claim 3 , wherein the first face seal is received within the first seal cup such that an outer portion of the first elastomeric ring contacts at least one of the first end wall or the first sidewall of the first seal cup and wherein the second face seal is received within the second seal cup such that an outer portion of the second elastomeric ring contacts at least one of the second end wall or the second sidewall of the second seal cup.

6. The system of claim 3 , wherein an outer end of the first sidewall contacts an outer end of the second sidewall when the initial seal width has been reduced to the final seal width.

7. The system of claim 3 , wherein the gap defines a height when the face seal set is initially installed within the fixture assembly corresponding to a difference between the initial seal width and the summation of the first and second depths.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the load member comprises a spring compressed between the first clamp member and a retention plate spaced apart from the first clamp member.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the retention plate is coupled to the second clamp member such that the retention plate is maintained at a fixed distance from the second clamp member as the initial width of the elastomeric load ring is reduced to the final width.

10. The system of claim 9 , further comprising a retention bolt extending between a first end coupled to the retention plate and a second end coupled to the second clamp member.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the retention bolt extends through an opening defined in the first clamp member such that the first clamp member is movable relative to the retention bolt.

12. The system of claim 11 , further comprising a rigid collar extending directly between the retention plate and the second clamp member, the rigid collar extending through the opening defined in the first clamp member.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the spring comprises a coil spring or a spring washer.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the compressive load applied by the load member corresponds to a desired spring force for the elastomeric load ring.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second clamp members form a pair of clamp members, the fixture assembly comprising a plurality of pairs of clamp members stacked one on top of another, each pair of clamp members being configured to receive at least one elastomeric load ring.

16. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first clamp member includes a first end wall and a first sidewall extending from the first end wall so as to define a first seal cup, the elastomeric load ring being at least partially received within the first seal cup such that an outer portion of the elastomeric load ring contacts at least one of the end wall or the sidewall, the second clamp member including an annular projection extending outwardly in the direction of the first clamp member, the second clamp member being positioned relative to the first clamp member such that an inner portion of the elastomeric load ring is supported on the annular projection.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the first clamp member corresponds to a top clamp member of the fixture assembly and the second clamp member corresponds to a bottom clamp member of the fixture assembly, further comprising a plurality of intermediate clamp members stacked between the top and bottom clamp members.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein each intermediate clamp member includes an end wall having an annular projection extending outwardly from a top side of the end wall and a sidewall extending outwardly from a bottom side of the end wall, each intermediate clamp member configured to be positioned between separate elastomeric load rings installed within the fixture assembly.

19. The system of claim 1 , wherein the gap defines a height when the elastomeric load is initially installed within the fixture assembly corresponding to a difference between the initial width and the final width.

20. The system of claim 1 , wherein the heating device corresponds to an oven configured to receive the fixture assembly and the elastomeric load ring.

Assignees

• Cnh Ind America Llc

Inventors

• Vik Brian
• Kost Robert

Classifications

• F16J15/344

  the pressing force being applied by means of an elastic ring supporting the slip-ring · CPC title

• F16J15/328 Primary

  Manufacturing methods specially adapted for elastic sealings (moulding B29C) · CPC title

• B29C43/36

  Moulds for making articles of definite length, i.e. discrete articles · CPC title

• B29C43/003 Primary

  characterised by the choice of material · CPC title

• B29K2995/0082

  Flexural strength; Flexion stiffness · CPC title