Patents Assigned to Flexitallic Investments, Inc.
  • Patent number: 12163587
    Abstract: There is provided a gasket comprising a rigid core (2) defining an aperture (4). The core has a serrated profile (8) on at least one of its upper and lower outer surfaces and the core is divided into upper and lower parts (2a, 2b) each having a respective outer surface (6a, 6b) and also an inner surface (42, 44) opposite the outer surface. The gasket also includes an optional sealing facing (12, 14) on the at least one outer serrated profile surface, wherein an inner insulating layer (40) is located between the said upper and lower parts so that it is operable to substantially reduce electrical conduction between the said upper and lower parts. There is described a method of production of the gasket and use of the gasket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: Flexitallic Investments, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Peter Bond, Stuart John Shaw, Roberto Yumbla Orbes, Michael Nash, Yi Li
  • Patent number: 12158207
    Abstract: There is provided a gasket (100) for sealing two mating surfaces, the gasket comprising: a rigid non-metal core (102) defining an aperture (104), the core comprising a first face (106) extending away from the aperture and a second face (122) opposite the first face; and at least one sealing layer (108); wherein the first face comprises: a substantially flat inner region (112) defining a plane; and a serrated region (110) comprising a plurality of serrations (118) that extend substantially perpendicular to the plane, wherein the substantially flat inner region is located between the aperture and the serrated region, wherein the serrations are recessed in the first face such that they do not cross the plane, wherein the at least one sealing layer overlays at least part of the serrated region of the first face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2024
    Assignee: Flexitallic Investments, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Peter Bond, Yi Li
  • Patent number: 11536369
    Abstract: A gasket having concentric or spiral serrations around the aperture on each side of the gasket, and wherein a facing is secured to such serrations, wherein each facing comprises a first layer which is in contact with a respective set of such serrations and a second layer which is in contact with the first layer. The first layer could be of a polyaryletherketone or polyimide, and the second layer could be of graphite or vermiculite. The serrations are designed to avoid damage to the first layer. An intact first layer can supply a property to the facing which may be absent in the second layer; for example, good dielectric properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Flexitallic Investments, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Peter Bond, Stuart John Shaw, David Peter Gerrard
  • Patent number: 11492288
    Abstract: A glass coating composition for a fuel cell gasket is described. The coating comprises: a glass component effective to form an alkaline solution in the presence of an equivalent amount of water by weight, a binder component, a liquid carrier which is greater than 50% by volume: water, and a retarder effective to inhibit hardening of the composition. The glass coating composition is particularly useful in fuel cell gaskets and provides improved resistance to solidification in an aqueous dispersion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Flexitallic Investments, Inc.
    Inventor: John Ashworth
  • Patent number: 11345633
    Abstract: A water resistant sealing material suitable as a gasket or valve seal is described. The sealing material comprises modified chemically exfoliated vermiculite (CEV) in a proportion of 30-70% w/w sealing material and a filler in a proportion of 70-30% w/w sealing material, and optionally other additives in a proportion of 0-10% w/w sealing material. The modified CEV comprises water resistance enhancing monovalent cations. The sealing material is particularly useful to provide improved water resistance in gaskets and valve seals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Flexitallic Investments, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Peter Bond, Richard Rodgers, Stephen Woolfenden, Neal Skipper
  • Patent number: 11177486
    Abstract: A gasket sealing material for a fuel cell comprising: at least 25% dry w/w chemically exfoliated vermiculite; and at least 15% dry w/w plate-like filler; wherein the plate-like filler has an average particle size of less than or equal to 10 ?m. Gaskets, fuel cells, uses of the gasket and sealing material are also defined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Flexitallic Investments, Inc.
    Inventors: John Hoyes, Stephen Bond
  • Patent number: 9885435
    Abstract: A method for fluidly sealing two conduits having mating surfaces is described. The method includes positioning a gasket between the surfaces, securing the two conduits together with the gasket interposed between the mating surfaces wherein the gasket includes an outer seal with a first thickness and an inner seal with a thickness greater than that of the outer seal. The step of positioning and/or the step of securing includes compressing the thickness of the inner seal. Methods of making the gaskets are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Flexitallic Investments, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Peter Bond, Anthony Russell Currie, Stephen Woolfenden, Dean John Kirby
  • Patent number: 9793556
    Abstract: A gasket for sealing two mating surfaces of a fuel cell is described. The gasket has a core layer comprising exfoliated vermiculite. The core layer is interposed between a first and second coating layer, the said coating layers each comprising glass, glass-ceramic and/or ceramic material. Methods for producing gaskets according to the invention are also described. A solid oxide cell or a solid oxide cell component comprising one or more of the gaskets; use of the gasket to improve sealing properties in a solid oxide cell; and a method of producing a solid oxide cell or of sealing a solid oxide cell comprising incorporating at least one of the gaskets into the solid oxide cell are also defined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Flexitallic Investments, Inc.
    Inventors: Markus Rautanen, Olli Himanen, Jari Kiviaho, John Hoyes
  • Patent number: 9551422
    Abstract: Gaskets for sealing two mating surfaces are described. The gaskets have an outer portion including a core between two sealing layers and an inner portion made of a deformable material and located in an aperature in the outer portion. The thickness of the inner portion is greater than the thickness of the outer portion. The inner portion may include a chemical treatment agent that can provide chemical protection to the mating surfaces. Methods of producing the gaskets and methods of using the gaskets for sealing joints, including corroded joints, are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Flexitallic Investments, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Peter Bond, Anthony Russell Currie, Stephen Woolfenden, Dean John Kirby
  • Patent number: 9188227
    Abstract: A spirally wound strip (300) is thicker in the middle and is curved on both sides. Short flats (306) are formed at each side by surfaces that converge towards each other. Soft sealant material (316) extends over the flats (306).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Flexitallic Investments, Inc.
    Inventors: George Deluca, Brian Hasha, Jamal Jamlyaria, John Hoyes, Stephen Peter Bond
  • Patent number: 8876118
    Abstract: The gasket includes a sealing strip comprising a resilient material, the resilient material comprising a chemically exfoliated vermiculite (CEV) component in a proportion of at least 25% w/w of the sealing strip, the said CEV component being at least partially derived from dry CEV, wherein the sealing strip does not include a carrier strip, made by the process of the application of a wet sealing strip material to a forming sheet to form a layer; partially drying the wet sealing strip layer on the forming sheet; removing the layer from the forming sheet; and (d) cutting the layer into strips suitable for use in the formation of a spirally wound gasket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Flexitallic Investments Inc.
    Inventors: John Robert Hoyes, Stephen Woolfenden
  • Publication number: 20140042702
    Abstract: Gaskets for sealing two mating surfaces are described. The gaskets have an outer portion including a core between two sealing layers and an inner portion made of a deformable material and located in an aperture in the outer portion. The thickness of the inner portion is greater than the thickness of the outer portion. The inner portion may include a chemical treatment agent that can provide chemical protection to the mating surfaces. Methods of producing the gaskets and methods of using the gaskets for sealing joints, including corroded joints, are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: Flexitallic Investments, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Peter Bond, Anthony Russell Currie, Stephen Woolfenden, Dean John Kirby
  • Publication number: 20120068415
    Abstract: A spirally wound strip (300) is thicker in the middle and is curved on both sides. Short flats (306) are formed at each side by surfaces that converge towards each other. Soft sealant material (316) extends over the flats (306).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: Flexitallic Investments, Inc.
    Inventors: George Deluca, Brian Hasha, Jamal Jamlyaria, John Hoyes, Stephen Peter Bond
  • Patent number: 6610771
    Abstract: A gasket is described. The gasket comprises a sealing layer and a support layer. The sealing layer is formed from a resilient material which comprises a CEV component in a proportion of at least 25% w/w of the sealing layer. The CEV component is at least partially derived from dry CEV. A hydrolysis resistant polymer to improve the water resistance of the sealing layer is also provided in the proportion of less than 20% w/w of the sealing layer. Generally, the level of CEV falls within the range 25-80% w/w of the sealing layer. A method of producing a gasket is also described. The method involves applying a wet sealing layer dough to a support material, and drying the wet sealing layer dough on the support material. The solids content of the wet sealing layer dough prior to the drying step is in the range 30-80% w/w of the dough material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: Flexitallic Investments, Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Hoyes, Alan W. Atkinson, Stephen P. Bond, Adam M. West
  • Patent number: 6540234
    Abstract: A gasket (10; 40; 50; 70) comprises a sealing member which forms a closed loop extending around a hole. The sealing member is formed from resilient metal and has a transverse cross section which is generally X-shaped and comprises two arms (12, 14) which project inwardly of the hole, and two arms (16, 18) which project outwardly of the hole. The inwardly projecting arms form a first seal around said hole, and the outwardly projecting arms form a second seal around said hole. Each arm extends from a junction (22) with the remainder of the gasket to a tip (24) of the arm which engages one of the bodies. Each arm has its greatest thickness at said junction (22) and its smallest thickness at a point adjacent to or at said tip (24), the arm continuously reducing in thickness between said junction and said point. The gasket can yield from the tips of the arms inwardly as the pressure on the gasket increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Flexitallic Investments, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan William Atkinson, Stephen Peter Bond, John Robert Hoyes, Gary Briggs, Stephen Alexander Schultze, Kevin Richard Holmes, Julia Rosalind Mary Hood
  • Patent number: 6318732
    Abstract: A gasket (10) comprises a first sealing member (12) and a second sealing member (14) both made of springy metal, and a clamping member (16) which holds the first and the second sealing members in an overlying relationship. The first sealing member (12) has an arm portion (12a) projecting from the clamping member (16), the arm portion being adapted to resiliently form a seal with a first body. The second sealing member (14) has an arm portion projecting from the clamping member (16), the arm portion being adapted to resiliently form a seal with a second body. A compression limiting stop (16e) is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Flexitallic Investments, Inc.
    Inventors: John Robert Hoyes, Anthony Russel Currie, Peter George Mowvley, Alan William Atkinson, Stephen Peter Bond
  • Patent number: 6121360
    Abstract: A gasket comprises a sealing layer formed from a resilient material which comprises particles of chemically-exfoliated vermiculite bonded together. The layer also comprises a hydrolysis-resistant polymer coupled to the vermiculite by a coupling agent. A further gasket comprises a sealing strip wound into a spiral. The sealing strip comprises a resilient layer comprising particles of chemically-exfoliated vermiculite. The sealing strip also comprises a flexible carrier strip to which said resilient layer is bonded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: Flexitallic Investments, Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Hoyes, Alan W. Atkinson, Stephen P. Bond, Adam M. West
  • Patent number: D644720
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Flexitallic Investments, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Peter Bond, Anthony Russell Currie, Stephen Woolfenden, Dean John Kirby
  • Patent number: D644721
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Flexitallic Investments, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Peter Bond, Anthony Russell Currie, Stephen Woolfenden, Dean John Kirby
  • Patent number: D644722
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Flexitallic Investments, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Peter Bond, Anthony Russell Currie, Stephen Woolfenden, Dean John Kirby