Energizing element and methods of making and using the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024384792-A1
Application number	US-202418667660-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 17, 2024
Priority date	May 18, 2023
Publication date	Nov 21, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

An energizing element including: an energizing element body oriented about a central axis, the energizing element body defining an inner radius, IR, and an outer radius, OR, where the difference between the outer radius and the inner radius defines an adjusted width, W, of the energizing element body, where the inner radius and the outer radius determine an average radius, R, of the energizing element body about the central axis, where the energizing element body defines an aspect ratio, W/R, where W/R>0.1, where the energizing element body has a maximum linear contact length on the inner radius, L IR , where the energizing element body has a perimeter on the inner radius, P IR , and L IR /P IR >0.80, where the energizing element body has a maximum linear contact length on the outer radius, L OR , where the energizing element body has a perimeter on the outer radius, P OR , and L OR /P OR >0.55, and where the adjusted width is less than 5 mm.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An energizing element comprising:
an energizing element body oriented about a central axis, the energizing element body defining an inner radius, IR, and an outer radius, OR, wherein the difference between the outer radius and the inner radius defines an adjusted width, W, of the energizing element body, wherein the inner radius and the outer radius determine an average radius, R, of the energizing element body about the central axis, wherein the energizing element body defines an aspect ratio, W/R, wherein W/R>0.1, wherein the energizing element body has a maximum linear contact length on the inner radius, L IR , wherein the energizing element body has a perimeter on the inner radius, P IR , and L IR /P IR >0.80, wherein the energizing element body has a maximum linear contact length on the outer radius, L OR , wherein the energizing element body has a perimeter on the outer radius, P OR , and L OR /P OR >0.55, and wherein the adjusted width is less than 5 mm.

2 . An energizing element comprising:
an energizing element body oriented about a central axis, the energizing element body defining an inner radius, IR, and an outer radius, OR, wherein the difference between the outer radius and the inner radius defines an adjusted width, W, of the energizing element body, wherein the inner radius and the outer radius determine an average radius, R, of the energizing element body about the central axis, wherein the energizing element body defines an aspect ratio, W/R, wherein W/R>0.2, wherein the energizing element body has a maximum linear contact length on the inner radius, L IR , wherein the energizing element body has a perimeter on the inner radius, P IR , and L IR /P IR >0.74, wherein the energizing element body has a maximum linear contact length on the outer radius, L OR , wherein the energizing element body has a perimeter on the outer radius, P OR , and L OR /P OR >0.38, and wherein the adjusted width is less than 5 mm.

3 . A seal comprising:
an annular jacket comprising a body defining an annular recess; and an energizing element disposed within the annular recess, the energizing element comprising:
an energizing element body oriented about a central axis, the energizing element body defining an inner radius, IR, and an outer radius, OR, wherein the difference between the outer radius and the inner radius defines an adjusted width, W, of the energizing element body, wherein the inner radius and the outer radius determine an average radius, R, of the energizing element body about the central axis, wherein the energizing element body defines an aspect ratio, W/R, wherein W/R>0.1, wherein the energizing element body has a maximum linear contact length on the inner radius, L IR , wherein the energizing element body has a perimeter on the inner radius, P IR , and L IR /P IR >0.80, wherein the energizing element body has a maximum linear contact length on the outer radius, L OR , wherein the energizing element body has a perimeter on the outer radius, P OR , and L OR /P OR >0.55, and wherein the adjusted width is less than 5 mm.
radius, P OR , and L OR /P OR >0.38, and wherein the adjusted width is less than 5 mm.

4 . The energizing element of claim 1 , wherein the energizing element is a polymeric material. Exemplary polymers include, acrylates, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), fluorinated ethylene-propylene (FEP), polyvinylidenefluoride (PVDF), polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE), ethylene chlorotrifluoroethylene (ECTFE), perfluoroalkoxy alkane (PFA), polyacetal, polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyimide (PI), polyetherimide, polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polyethylene (PE), polysulfone, polyamide (PA), polyphenylene oxide, polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polyurethane, polyester, liquid crystal polymers (LCP), or any combination thereof.

5 . The energizing element of claim 1 , wherein the energizing element is a metal material. Exemplary metals include steel, spring steel, stainless steel, such as 301 Stainless Steel, 302/304 Stainless Steel, 316 Stainless Steel, or 17-7 Stainless Steel, bronze, copper, molybdenum, cobalt, iron, chromium, copper, manganese, titanium, zirconium, Monel, Inconel, aluminum, carbon, tungsten, Elgiloy, Hastelloy, or an amorphous metal compound, and oil tempered chrome silicon or vanadium.

6 . The energizing element of claim 1 , wherein the energizing element body comprises multiple tabs oriented about the central axis.

7 . The energizing element of claim 6 , wherein at least one tab is oriented radially inward.

8 . The energizing element of claim 6 , wherein at least one tab is oriented radially outward.

9 . The energizing element of claim 1 , wherein the energizing element body comprises a ribbon spring comprising a plurality of circumferential coils oriented about the central axis.

10 . The energizing element of claim 1 , wherein the energizing element body comprises a U-shaped cross-sectional spring oriented about the central axis.

11 . The energizing element of claim 1 , wherein the energizing element body comprises a V-shaped cross-sectional spring oriented about the central axis.

12 . The energizing element of claim 1 , wherein the energizing element body comprises an O-shaped cross-sectional spring oriented about the central axis.

13 . The energizing element of claim 1 , wherein the energizing element body is not welded.

14 . The energizing element of claim 1 , wherein the energizing element body defines a plurality of contact features comprising at least one inner contact feature on the inner radius and at least one outer contact feature on the outer radius.

15 . The energizing element of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of contact features is less than 20.

16 . The energizing element of claim 15 , wherein the cross-sectional shape of the at least one inner contact feature is different than the cross-sectional shape of the at least one outer contact feature.

17 . The energizing element of claim 1 , wherein the energizing element body comprises a plurality of oscillations.

18 . The energizing element of claim 17 , wherein the plurality of oscillations comprise internal oscillations and external oscillations.

19 . The energizing element of claim 1 , wherein the energizing element comprises a plurality of energizing elements.

20 . The energizing element of claim 19 , wherein the plurality of energizing elements are stacked upon each other in the axial direction.

Assignees

• Saint Gobain Performance Plastics Corp

Inventors

• Lebrun Jean-Marie
• Robie Curtis
• Dubois Herman M
• De Gennaro Beatrice
• Keeris Michiel
• Armitage Mark W
• Jiao Tong
• Yan Xiang
• Aerts Peter
• Stevenheydens Gino L
• Ma Jian
• Cooper Jay C
• Stark Colby
• Gabarre Sergio
• Lee J Alex

Classifications

• F16J15/3236

  with at least one lip for each surface, e.g. U-cup packings · CPC title

• F16J15/3212

  with metal springs · CPC title

• F16F2234/02

  cylindrical · CPC title

• F16J15/022 Primary

  characterised by structure or material · CPC title

• F16F1/373

  characterised by having a particular shape {(F16F9/58 takes precedence)} · CPC title