Sealing device for a vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9360140-B2
Application number	US-201314101716-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 10, 2013
Priority date	Dec 10, 2013
Publication date	Jun 7, 2016
Grant date	Jun 7, 2016

Abstract

A sealing device is insertable into a port having an internal wall. The device includes a seal member and a ring member operatively connected to each other. The seal member includes an inner seal surface defining a seal opening. The ring member includes an inner ring surface defining a ring opening. The seal opening and the ring opening share a common central axis. The seal member defines a first rib extending circumferentially around the seal opening, the first rib being raised a first height relative to the inner seal surface at the seal opening. The first rib is configured to be deformable in response to a compression force from the internal wall of the port when the seal member is inserted into the port. The seal member may define a second rib axially spaced from the first rib.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A sealing device insertable into a port having an internal wall, the device comprising:
a seal member and a ring member operatively connected to each other;
wherein the seal member has an inner seal surface defining a seal opening;
wherein the ring member includes an inner ring surface defining a ring opening, the seal opening and the ring opening sharing a common central axis;
wherein the seal member includes an inwardly-protruding groove extending circumferentially around the seal opening, the ring member being configured to be at least partially inserted into the groove;
wherein the seal member includes at least one first lip and at least one first plateau defined on a first edge of the groove, the at least one first lip being adjacent to the at least one first plateau;
wherein the seal member includes at least one second lip and at least one second plateau defined on a second edge of the groove, the at least one second lip being adjacent to the at least one second plateau;
wherein the seal member defines a first rib extending circumferentially around the seal opening, the first rib being raised a first height relative to the inner seal surface at the seal opening; and
wherein the first rib is configured to be deformable in response to a compression force from the internal wall of the port when the seal member is inserted into the port.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the seal member is composed of an elastomeric material.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the ring member is composed of a metal.

4. The device of claim 1 , in combination with a tube configured to be inserted within the seal opening of the seal member, wherein the tube includes a hollow cavity configured to transport a fluid to the port when the seal member is inserted into the port.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein:
the seal member defines a second rib extending circumferentially around and raised a second height relative to the inner seal surface at the seal opening, the second rib being axially spaced from the first rib; and
the seal member defines a valley between the first and second ribs, the first and second ribs being raised third and fourth heights relative to a bottom of the valley.

6. The device of claim 5 , wherein the third and fourth heights are each between approximately 1 and 2 mm.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein:
the inner ring surface of the ring member defines first and second portions positioned between a middle portion;
the middle portion is spaced a first distance from the common central axis;
the first portion defines at least one first tooth and at least one first recess spaced second and third distances, respectively, from the common central axis, the at least one first tooth being adjacent to the at least one first recess;
the first distance is less than each of the second and third distances; and
the second distance is less than the third distance.

8. The device of claim 7 , wherein:
the at least one first recess of the ring member is configured to contact the at least one first lip of the seal member when the ring member is at least partially inserted into the groove of the seal member; and
the at least one first tooth is configured to contact the at least one first plateau of the seal member when the ring member is at least partially inserted into the groove of the seal member.

9. The device of claim 7 , wherein the second portion of the ring member defines at least one second tooth and at least one second recess spaced at the second and third distances, respectively, from the common central axis.

10. The device of claim 9 , wherein:
the at least one second recess of the ring member is configured to contact the at least one second lip of the seal member when the ring member is at least partially inserted into the groove of the seal member; and
the at least one second tooth is configured to contact the at least one second plateau of the seal member when the ring member is at least partially inserted into the groove of the seal member.

11. A sealing device insertable into a port having an internal wall, the device comprising:
a seal member and a ring member operatively connected to each other;
wherein the seal member has an inner seal surface defining a seal opening;
wherein the ring member includes an inner ring surface defining a ring opening, the seal opening and the ring opening sharing a common central axis;
wherein the seal member defines first and second ribs extending circumferentially around the seal opening, the second rib being axially spaced from the first rib;
wherein the seal member defines a valley between the first and second ribs, the first and second ribs being raised third and fourth heights relative to a bottom of the valley;
wherein the first and second ribs are configured to be deformable in response to a compression force from the internal wall of the port when the seal member is inserted into the port;
wherein the seal member includes an inwardly-protruding groove extending circumferentially around the outer surface of the seal member, the ring member being configured to be at least partially inserted into the groove;
wherein the seal member includes at least one first lip and at least one first plateau defined on a first edge of the groove, the at least one first lip being adjacent to the at least one first plateau; and
wherein the seal member includes at least one second lip and at least one second plateau defined on a second edge of the groove, the at least one second lip being adjacent to the at least one second plateau.

12. A vehicle comprising:
a sealing device including a seal member and a ring member operatively connected to each other;
a port having an internal wall, the sealing device being configured to be insertable into the port;
wherein the seal member has an inner seal surface defining a seal opening;
wherein the ring member includes an inner ring surface defining a ring opening, the seal opening and the ring opening sharing a common central axis;
wherein the seal member includes an inwardly-protruding groove extending circumferentially around the seal opening, the ring member being configured to be at least partially inserted into the groove;
wherein the seal member includes at least one first lip and at least one first plateau defined on a first edge of the groove, the at least one first lip being adjacent to the at least one first plateau;
wherein the seal member includes at least one second lip and at least one second plateau defined on a second edge of the groove, the at least one second lip being adjacent to the at least one second plateau;
wherein the seal member defines a first rib extending circumferentially around the seal opening, the first rib being raised a first height relative to the inner seal surface at the seal opening;
wherein the first rib is configured to be deformable in response to a compression force from the internal wall of the port when the seal member is inserted into the port; and
a tube configured to be inserted within the seal opening of the seal member, the tube including a hollow cavity configured to transport a fluid to the port when the seal member is inserted into the port.

13. The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein:
the seal member defines a second rib extending circumferentially around and raised a second height relative to the inner seal surface at the seal opening, the second rib being axially spaced from the first rib; and
the seal member defines a valley between the first and second ribs, the first and second ribs being raised third and fourth heights relative to a bottom of the valley.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Inc

Inventors

• Sasinowski Raymond H
• Balmaceda Adrian O

Classifications

• F16L19/00 Primary

  Joints in which sealing surfaces are pressed together by means of a member, e.g. a swivel nut, screwed on, or into, one of the joint parts (F16L17/00 takes precedence; if using bolts or equivalent connecting means F16L23/00; connecting arrangements or other fittings specially adapted to be made of plastics or to be used with pipes made of plastics F16L47/00 {; specially adapted for pipes of brittle material F16L49/06}) · CPC title

• F16L21/035 Primary

  placed around the spigot end before connection ({F16L21/022,} F16L21/025 take precedence) · CPC title

• F16J15/104

  characterised by structure · CPC title