Appliance for making isotropically finished seal ring of seal assembly for machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11149857-B2
Application number	US-202017120383-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 14, 2020
Priority date	Feb 27, 2019
Publication date	Oct 19, 2021
Grant date	Oct 19, 2021

Abstract

A seal ring for a seal assembly includes a body and a seal flange. The body is generally cylindrical, extending along a longitudinal axis between a load end and a seal end. The seal flange is disposed adjacent the seal end of the body, projecting radially in a circumscribing manner from the body. The seal flange includes a sealing face having a sealing band for sealing contact with a mating seal ring. A layer of coating composition formulated to help increase the corrosion resistance of the seal ring is applied to at least the body. A mask is applied to the seal ring to cover at least a portion of the seal ring having the layer of coating composition applied thereto such that the sealing band remains exposed. The sealing band is polished by an isotropic finishing process. The mask is removed after the sealing band is isotropically polished.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An appliance for use in a method of making an annular seal ring of a seal assembly, the annular seal ring having a load end, a seal end, a loading surface, and a sealing face, the loading surface extending axially between the load end and the seal end, the sealing face extending radially at the seal end, and the sealing face having a sealing band, the appliance comprising:
a masking member, the masking member defining a circumferential groove;
wherein the circumferential groove being configured such that the annular seal ring is disposable within the circumferential groove with the load end being within the circumferential groove, the loading surface being covered by the masking member, and the sealing band being exposed.

2. The appliance according to claim 1 , wherein the masking member is made from an acid-resistant material that is non-reactive with a predetermined polishing media for an isotropic finishing process.

3. The appliance according to claim 1 , wherein the masking member includes a first masking part and a second masking part, the first masking part including an inner sidewall and a base defining a circular recess, the second masking part having an outer perimeter, the second masking part being configured such that the second masking part is positionable within the circular recess of the first masking part, the inner sidewall of the first masking part and the outer perimeter of the second masking part cooperating together to define the circumferential groove.

4. The appliance according to claim 1 , wherein the annular seal ring comprises a first annular seal ring and the circumferential groove comprises a first circumferential groove, wherein the masking member defines a second circumferential groove, the second circumferential groove being configured such that a second annular seal ring is disposable within the second circumferential groove with the load end of the second annular seal ring being within the second circumferential groove, the loading surface of the second annular seal ring being covered by the masking member, and the sealing band of the second annular seal ring being exposed.

5. The appliance according to claim 4 , wherein the masking member includes a first portion and a second portion, each of the first portion and the second portion including a base and a face, the face of the first portion defining the first circumferential groove, and the face of the second portion defining the second circumferential groove, the appliance further comprising:
a connector assembly, the connector assembly for removably connecting the first portion and the second portion together such that the base of the first portion and the base of the second portion are in abutting relationship to each other, and the face of the first portion and the face of the second portion are in outward opposing relationship to each other.

6. The appliance according to claim 4 , wherein the masking member includes a first masking part, a second masking part, and a third masking part,
the first masking part including a first face and a second face each with an inner sidewall and a base defining a first circular recess and a second circular recess, respectively,
the second masking part and the third masking part each having an outer perimeter,
the second masking part being configured such that the second masking part is positionable within the first circular recess of the first masking part, the inner sidewall of the first face of the first masking part and the outer perimeter of the second masking part cooperating together to define the first circumferential groove, and
the third masking part being configured such that the third masking part is positionable within the second circular recess of the first masking part, the inner sidewall of the second face of the first masking part and the outer perimeter of the third masking part cooperating together to define the second circumferential groove, the appliance further comprising:
a connector assembly, the connector assembly for removably connecting the first masking part, the second masking part, and the third masking part together such that the first masking part is interposed between the second masking part and the third masking part.

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Feng Bao
• Haas Connor J
• Every Joseph J
• Vertenten Daniel P
• Spangler John M

Classifications

• F16J15/3496 Primary

  use of special materials · CPC title

• F16J15/344 Primary

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

• B21K1/20

  valve parts · CPC title

• F16J15/3404 Primary

  and characterised by parts or details relating to lubrication, cooling or venting of the seal · CPC title

• Y10T29/49297

  Seal or packing making · CPC title